A one-of-a-kind trading card featuring NBA legends Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant has set a new world record, selling for $12.932 million at auction. Initially projected to fetch $6 million, the card far surpassed expectations, eclipsing the previous record for the most expensive sports card ever sold.
The 2007-08 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual Logoman Autographs card is the only one of its kind, featuring Logoman patches and autographs from both Jordan and Bryant. According to Chris Ivy, director of sports auctions at Heritage, the card represents "the pinnacle" of modern sports card collecting. "Another can’t be created", Ivy emphasized.
The auction took place during Heritage’s Summer Platinum Night Sports Auction, held from August 23 to 24, 2025. The card received a total of 82 bids, ultimately more than doubling its initial valuation. Ivy highlighted the significance of taking such unique items to auction: "The pre-auction estimate was $6m-plus. So sometimes if a piece is unique like this, it's really beneficial to let it have its day."
The record-breaking sale now places the Jordan-Bryant card just behind Babe Ruth's 1932 World Series "called shot" jersey, which sold for $24.12 million in August 2024, as the most expensive sports collectible ever auctioned. It also surpasses the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311 card, which previously held the record after selling for $12.6 million.
The Jordan-Bryant card was ultimately purchased by a trio of investors, including "Shark Tank" star and Canadian billionaire Kevin O'Leary, as revealed by CNBC. Despite receiving multiple private offers in the seven-figure range, the card was made available to the public, where it achieved its historic price.
This card holds particular significance for NBA fans. Michael Jordan, widely considered the greatest basketball player of all time, played during the league’s 50th anniversary season in 1996-97, leading the NBA in scoring with 29.6 points per game. The Logoman patch included in the card originates from that remarkable season, which fell during the Chicago Bulls' second championship three-peat.
Kobe Bryant, regarded as one of the most decorated players in NBA history, won five championships with the Los Angeles Lakers before his tragic death in a helicopter crash in 2020. Together, Jordan and Bryant are celebrated as two of the greatest icons in basketball history, making this card an extraordinary piece of memorabilia.
The previous record for an NBA card was $5.9 million, set by a Stephen Curry rookie card. This latest sale not only shattered that record but also further solidified the ever-growing value of rare sports collectibles.
"This is a 1-of-1", Ivy said, underscoring the card’s exclusivity. "Grades matter for standard-issue cards, but this is a 1-of-1."
The extraordinary price reflects the card’s unmatched rarity and the enduring legacies of two sports legends, ensuring its place in the pantheon of collectible history.
