Card Images

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View real photos of this card from authenticated sellers and recent auction results. Images show actual condition — useful for grading research.

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The stylized card illustration below is a representation. Real card images vary by print run, centering, and condition.

NBA1996RC

24#

ROOKIE CARD

KOBE BRYANT

1996-97 TOPPS CHROME

TOPPS·#138

Stylized illustration — actual card image varies by edition

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🏀 basketballRookie Card

1996-97 Topps Chrome Kobe Bryant #138

Name: 1996-97 Topps Chrome Kobe Bryant #138
Brand: 1996-97 Topps Chrome
Availability: InStock

Kobe's most prized rookie card. The Black Mamba's Topps Chrome rookie from the star-studded 1996 draft class saw explosive demand following his tragic passing in 2020.

Player

Kobe Bryant

Year

1996

Set

1996-97 Topps Chrome

Card #

138

Sport

Basketball

Type

Rookie Card

Market Value (Based on Sold Data)

Based on public auction records

Source: eBay sold comps, Heritage Auctions, Goldin, PWCC — April 2026

Recent Sales (Mid Grade)PSA 7–8 · Based on eBay sold listings

$2,000–$8,000 (PSA 9)Verify on eBay ↗

Recent Sales (Gem Mint)PSA 9–10 · Based on eBay sold listings

$100,000+ (PSA 10)Verify on eBay ↗

Values compiled from public eBay sold listings, Heritage Auctions, and Goldin results. For real-time pricing, click “Verify on eBay” above.

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Grade-by-Grade Pricing

Values based on recent eBay sold listings and auction results

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PSA Grade	Label	Market Value	Pop.	Trend
PSA 1	Poor	$200–$400	—	→
PSA 2	Good	$400–$700	—	→
PSA 3	Very Good	$700–$1,200	—	↑
PSA 4	VG-EX	$1,200–$2,000	—	↑
PSA 5	Excellent	$2,000–$3,500	—	↑
PSA 6	EX-MT	$4,000–$6,000	—	↑
PSA 7	Near Mint	$8,000–$15,000	950	↑
PSA 8	NM-MT	$20,000–$40,000	1,850	↑
PSA 9Best Value	Mint	$60,000–$120,000	380	↑
PSA 10	Gem Mint	$200,000–$400,000+	22	↑

Source: eBay Sold Comps / Goldin Auctions · Kobe demand spiked sharply after January 2020. PSA 10 population is critically small for a modern card.

PSA Population Report

Total Graded

18,600

PSA 10 Count

PSA 9 Count

380

Gem Rate

0.1%

Grade Distribution

PSA 10

22 (0%)

PSA 9

380 (2%)

PSA 8

1,850 (10%)

PSA 1–7

16,348 (88%)

Gem Rate (% achieving PSA 10): 0.1% — Extremely difficult to gem.

Notable Sales

Price	Grade	Date	Venue	Notes
$1,795,800Record	BGS 10 Pristine	Aug 2021	Goldin Auctions	Only BGS 10 Pristine known; post-Mamba spike
$900,000	PSA 10	Jul 2021	Heritage Auctions	Pop 22 in PSA 10 — gem rate under 0.1%
$216,000	PSA 9	Jun 2022	PWCC	PSA 9 benchmark; strong long-term demand

Figures sourced from publicly reported auction results. Private sales may exceed.

Card Variations

1996-97 Topps Chrome produced refractor parallels. The base Chrome and Refractor are the two main collecting targets.

Base Chrome

common

Standard non-refractor — shinier than base Topps but not a full refractor.

60-70% of Refractor price

Refractor

uncommon

The true refractor — distinctive rainbow-angle shine. More scarce.

Market price

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Collector Tip

The Kobe Chrome has a micro-pattern on the image that grades poorly under UV — get graded copies with provenance. Refractors are clearly identifiable by the refractor text on the reverse. Any raw copy claimed to be a refractor must show text on the back.