Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant, a legendary NBA player drafted 13th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in 1996 and traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, became one of basketball's greatest scorers, winning 5 NBA championships, 2 Finals MVPs, 1 regular season MVP, and 18 All-Star selections before his tragic death in 2020. This early insert card captures him in his second season at age 19.

1997-98 NBA Hoops set, released in 1997 by Hoops as part of the Talkin' Hoops insert series.

• Not a rookie card; Kobe's true rookies are from 1996-97 sets.
• Part of a 30-card Talkin' Hoops insert set featuring player images with speech bubbles.
• Recognized as an early, desirable Kobe insert for Lakers and HOF collectors.

Condition. Check centering on borders, sharp corners free of dings, clean edges without print defects or scratches, and glossy surface without clouding or print lines; common flaws include off-centering and edge wear from pack pulling.

Storage. Store in semi-rigid holders or top-loaders with soft sleeves in a cool, dry place away from sunlight; use card savers for ungraded copies and avoid stacking without protection.

Authenticity. Verify print quality, holofoil patterns if present, and card stock thickness; check graded/graded population reports (e.g., graded 10 pop around 51); fakes rare but watch for blurry speech bubble text or incorrect fonts; authenticate via graded, graded, or graded slab.