In an arena not of hardwood courts but coated paper, ink, and rare collectibles, two titans of basketball lore collaborate one last time. This time, however, it’s not on the basketball court bringing fans to their feet, but on a small, glossy piece of cardstock that has collectors in a spin. A rare card featuring NBA juggernauts LeBron James and the immortal Kobe Bryant has just leap-frogged the million-dollar mark, closing at an eyebrow-raising $1,161,440 during Goldin Auctions’ hyper-competitive 2025 Spring Elite event.
Highly sought after, the 2009 Upper Deck Exquisite Dual Logoman Autograph card is much like a flawless game-winning season—a veritable one-of-one spectacle. The card, which showcases on-card autographs of both players accompanied by prestigious NBA Logoman patches, managed a PSA 6.5 grade. While such a score in the arena of mint-condition fanatics may seem pedestrian, it certainly did nothing to dampen its allure. Notably, the card’s desirability towers above its numeric grade, almost mirroring its NBA subjects’ undeniable charisma and skill.
The card might be a literal product of age and thickness, but its true value lies far beyond ink on cardboard. It is a vibrant emblem of modern basketball’s storied past, immortalizing two men who have etched their signatures into the NBA’s granite-like Hall of Memory. Collectors everywhere are proving that the thirst for Kobe Bryant’s autograph is deeply unquenched, particularly after his tragic, untimely departure in 2020. Reverence for Bryant’s contribution to the sport has had the side-effect of swirling like a tempest through the collectables domain, driving values ever higher.
Attracting eleven fervent bids before settling at its final figure, this card’s swath of attention may have the feel of a dramatic buzzer-beater—it’s impressive, no doubt, but it doesn’t set the all-time record. That coveted title is clutch-held by a 2006 Upper Deck Exquisite Triple Logoman, in which LeBron and Kobe teamed up with none other than the indomitable Michael Jordan. Back in August 2022, this trinity of talent within one card sold for a cool $1.68 million.
Goldin Auctions, meanwhile, aren’t novices when it comes to whetting collectors’ appetites with James/Bryant artefacts of opulent distinction. The resale of another dual Logoman autograph from the 2004–05 Upper Deck Exquisite collection raked in $840,000 as recently as June 2023, Card Ladder reports. In that instance, the card had achieved a PSA Authentic designation coupled with a peak 10 auto grade.
This latest auction isn’t merely a transaction; it’s a proclamation. Its final hammer stroke reverberates a melody of increasing demand for dual-signed Logoman artefacts, enriching both LeBron James’ and Kobe Bryant’s enduring sporting legacies. With Kobe’s signature becoming ever scarcer—a phenomenon only heightened by its owner’s absence—collectors are more than living up to their name. They’re willingly parting with full pockets to possess what equates to royal NBA heritage.
In the wide world of collecting, a physical card might appear insignificant, no bigger than a bolster of nostalgia. Yet, much like Kobe’s ferocious determination on the court or LeBron’s unmatched versatility, its significance is colossal and transcends the ink and cardboard of its construct. Such pieces are gateways to the legacy of sports giants, crystallizing those golden moments where talent met perseverance.
Collectors, awash with the spirit of competition and nostalgia, are drooling over these once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. As the universe of sports memorabilia only expands and evolves, stories like these, fueled by passion and investment, remind us of a once remarkable presence and an enduring present. After all, the game may be temporary, but its legends are eternal.