Could another modern sports card break Jordan-Kobe record? The top candidates among #1/1 gems
Just a few weeks removed from a record-breaking price for a trading card, hobbyists have had time to take a deep breath and collect themselves.
The sale of the #1/1 2007-08 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual Logoman Autographs Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant card for $12.9 million sent shockwaves through the industry.
The Jordan-Bryant card, sold through Heritage Auctions, is truly a one-of-a-kind card—it is the only time those two basketball legends shared and signed the same card. The massive transaction helped brighten the spotlight on the increasingly attractive space.
“No one thought that this was going to hit $12 million. This is an incredible price for this card,” Heritage Auctions Consignment Director Jason Simonds said. “There are some cards that are in the same caliber.”
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Jesse Craig, the former head of PWCC Marketplace and current CEO and founder of Acquire.com, noted the Jordan-Bryant card was the perfect storm and the timing was perfect for the sale.
“I couple of big players were going after it, and it did a great number,” Craig said. “It was a battle for a few guys trying to win it. For a card like that, once it surfaces and hits a collection, it’s probably not going to transact for at least 10 years, if not longer.
“There’s just a lot of special features for that card that it had going for it. So, for me, it’s the best Dual Logoman that exists on the planet. No question. It’s probably the best 1-of-1 that exists on the planet.”
In August 2022, the hobby received a jolt when a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card graded SGC 9.5 went for a then-record $12.6 million. That sale might not have been all that eye-opening due to the fact it was a high-graded example of one of the most iconic cards in the hobby. For an iconic vintage card that’s nearly 75 years old, it wasn’t that shocking.
But the sale of a modern card that was produced just 18 years ago speaks volumes about where the industry is heading. With the Jordan-Bryant card now on top of the list of highest selling sports cards, it drives home the fact that modern cards are becoming as relevant as vintage.
“MJ stuff is just hot,” said Nat Turner, CEO of Collectors, the parent company of PSA. “I think with Kobe, too. Kobe’s having a resurgence in the value of his cards.”
With a modern-day card now setting the bar, it begs the question, “Is there another modern card or cards that could eclipse this price?”
SCD spoke with five well-respected experts in the industry to get their thoughts.
“It would have to be the best of the best, so you’re talking like Jordan, Tiger,” said Grant Sandground, head of product development for Upper Deck. “I don’t even know if LeBron has a card that would get that high because he’s kind of a polarizing athlete.”
THE CONTENDERS
According to the experts, there are a number of viable contenders that could get close to or break the $13 million barrier.
One card is the 1997 Skybox Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems (PMG) Green Michael Jordan. There were only 100 PMG Jordans produced with the first 10 in Green and the other 90 in Red. PSA has graded six of the 10 Greens with no other third-party authentication company grading any. Because of their foil finish and chipping due to sensitive edges, it’s hard to find a PMG that grades very high. The best examples are two PSA 6.5s and one 6.
The last time one of the PMG Green Jordans went to auction was in December 2020. It sold for $915,000 through Heritage Auctions.
“That is a card that has probably [gone up] four or five times its value since then,” Simonds said. “To me, that’s the modern equivalent of a T206 Honus Wagner. It’s one of those cards where if you own it, you’re part of a club, and there can only be 10 people in the club. The only people who are in the club are people who own this exact card.
“There’s a lot more Wagners out there than these Green PMGs.”
Simonds believes Jordan’s 1998 Metal Universe Gem Masters 1-of-1 Masterpiece is in the conversation to potentially top $10 million.
“If it gets in a bidding war, it could reach that level,” Simonds said. “Some people probably would have considered it [Jordan’s] best card at one point. I believe it’s one of his first 1-of-1s. Like these other grails, they just don’t appear in the market.”
Craig, whose company helps clients buy and sell high-end cards, believes James’ 2003 Ultimate Collection Logoman 1-of-1 card would be in contention. However, the card has never surfaced.
“The horizontal variation of that card is owned by a collector in our space, and that card is not as important as the Dual, in my opinion, that sold,” Craig said. “But the vertical, if that ever surfaced, you could make an argument that’s a $15-plus million-dollar card. That’s the biggest rookie that’s ever been made.”
Ken Goldin—owner of the Goldin auction house—agrees that the vertical Logoman of James is an important piece in the hobby.
“That may or may not exist, who the hell knows,” joked Goldin. “That card is maybe more likely to be sitting inside a pack than the Curry, just because that was a better year.”
Steph Curry’s 2009 Topps Chrome Superfractor has also never surfaced. If it ever sees the light of day, it could sell for over $5 million, according to Craig.
Turner believes the only PSA 10 for the LeBron James 2003 Exquisite Collection Rookie Patch Autograph card numbered to 99 could fetch a handsome price tag.
“I think that has a chance to go crazy,” said Turner, who is a huge basketball card collector. “I’m not saying it would beat the $12 or $13 million, but I could see it getting to like $10 million.”
In 2003, when the first Upper Deck Exquisite Collection set came out, it featured some monster 1-of-1 cards. That includes the first-ever Dual Logoman non-autograph cards of Jordan and James, Jordan and Kobe, and James and Bryant. Turner owns all three of these cards.
“I think some people would say they wouldn’t surpass [the record high price], some would say they would,” Turner said. “I personally think they would.”
The Jordan-James Dual Logoman is high on Simonds’ list of which cards could break the record.
“If that were to come to auction, it’s definitely a multi-seven-figure card,” Simonds said. “I don’t know if it quite gets to that $10 million price point. If it was signed, I think it gets to that $10 million-plus price point.”
A 2004 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection All NBA Access Pass Triple Logoman Patch card of Jordan, James and Bryant in a PSA 10, pop one, could pull in $5-10 million, according to Simonds.
“You could make an argument that card could be worth more,” Craig said. “Personally, I prefer autographs.”
Jordan’s 1998 Metal Universe Gem Masters 1-of-1 card is another contender to possibly reach eight figures.
Jordan, who has had an exclusive autograph deal with Upper Deck for decades, hasn’t had any NBA-licensed autographs in a product since 2009.
“The day that another Jordan Logoman autographed card that is licensed appears, that will be the day where we start to see Fanatics printing seven-figure cards,” Simonds said. “Those would be highly desirable.”
Craig doesn’t envision a card that could get manufactured in the next few years that could sell close to $12.9 million.
However, Goldin doesn’t hold back in making a prediction.
“I’m going to project into the future, because you need a lot more years down the road added to this card and then pad it to his resume and the hobby growing, but maybe the Shohei [Ohtani] rookie Superfractor,” Goldin said.
Added Simonds: “Is there going to be another $12 million sale? Yes. Eventually there will, just seeing how the market’s going, especially for ultra-modern basketball. Is it going to happen anytime soon? I don’t know. You’d have to see some of these grails, these forever pieces appear in the market.”