Kobe stormed to the bench in these Nike Zoom VII's. Thanks to Panini, I own a piece!

Deadshot · 10-21-2021, 07:56 PM

I haven't done a mail thread on here in a long time, but I figured this was a fun card that deserved to be shared.

This card comes from the 2012 Panini Father’s Day set. I’ve seen this card several times in the past and didn’t think much of it. It’s just a single-color purple relic. It has a pretty plain design. There’s nothing that really sticks out about it initially.

Well, several months ago, I saw this card again and I got a chance to see the back of it. It turns out it's not just a regular jersey relic. It's a shoe card. And according to the Beckett Blog, it was the first basketball shoe relic Panini made and the first basketball shoe relic since 2004.

On top of that, the back features picture of the exact pair of shoes and the date of the game that Kobe wore them. It was a March 25, 2012 game against the Grizzlies.

I was hoping he did something crazy this game like hit a game winner or score 50 points. Well, he only scored 18. But there was some drama on this night, nonetheless.

With a little under 6 minutes left in the 4th, the Lakers trailed by 14 and Mike Brown decided to sub Kobe out. As you can see in the following clip...Kobe was none too pleased.

When reporters asked Kobe about the substitution, he responded, "if you're looking for a story, I'm not going to give it to you."

Previously, I mentioned that I hoped he scored 50 points in these. Well...Kobe did that 25 times in his career. But later in his career, how many times did Kobe get pulled like that from a game?

I went on Getty Images and found 8 pictures from the game that feature these shoes. Unless he changed into the exact same model at halftime, it seems like a pretty safe assumption that he was wearing these when he got benched.

This card checks multiple boxes for me…it’s got a Hall of Famer, it’s a unique relic, and it’s game-dated. This stuff is getting harder and harder to find and I’m very happy to own this one. Thanks for reading!

Nomad · 10-21-2021, 07:59 PM

This kind of relic makes sense. "A Piece of History" as the old slogan went. Now, tissue...

90skid · 10-21-2021, 08:03 PM

so awesome, thanks for sharing. What a joke Panini has become with today's relics...10 years later.

SupermanBrandon · 10-21-2021, 08:22 PM

Cool piece. All Fanatics has to do to win over the hobby immediately and forever, is to use game used/date specific patches. They do that...and people will lose their minds. Panini who?

Earvin32 · 10-22-2021, 07:20 AM

When you said Kobe shoe card, I knew I had one and it is from 2000 Upper Deck Ovation. Very nice card OP

ClipsandVols · 10-22-2021, 09:30 AM

Love that you are always able to find a backstory. Great card!

Deadshot · 10-22-2021, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nomad

This kind of relic makes sense. "A Piece of History" as the old slogan went. Now, tissue...

Quote:

Originally Posted by 90skid

so awesome, thanks for sharing. What a joke Panini has become with today's relics...10 years later.

They did a great job with relic sets from like 2012-2015. Things have changed so much since then.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SupermanBrandon

Cool piece. All Fanatics has to do to win over the hobby immediately and forever, is to use game used/date specific patches. They do that...and people will lose their minds. Panini who?

The Fanatics takeover has a lot of interesting possibilities!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Earvin32

When you said Kobe shoe card, I knew I had one and it is from 2000 Upper Deck Ovation. Very nice card OP

Love the design on this one

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClipsandVols

Love that you are always able to find a backstory. Great card!

Thank you!

TBarn291 · 10-22-2021, 02:30 PM

Hey! You pulled the trigger! Congrats man. A very cool piece with a very cool story.

bjho852 · 10-22-2021, 03:34 PM

I believe that Panini did something similar with the "Stat Line" cards and booklets, but they are for jerseys. Wish that the company would do more with game-used material.

Deadshot · 10-22-2021, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjho852

I believe that Panini did something similar with the "Stat Line" cards and booklets, but they are for jerseys. Wish that the company would do more with game-used material.

That's correct, except there was no picture of the memorabilia on the back

TBarn291 · 10-22-2021, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deadshot

That's correct, except there was no picture of the memorabilia on the back

Loved that set. I liked when they did it as a booklet too with the acetate finish.

Deadshot · 10-22-2021, 06:45 PM

I had a Klay patch from that set and foolishly sold it

duron · 10-23-2021, 03:21 AM

“Yeah, I would’ve been exhausted.”

I got this in a trade not so long ago from a forum member. Always loved this set.

MJ23Collector · 10-23-2021, 05:30 AM

With so many threads about investment and value and flipping, this is exactly the kind of thread that makes me want to come back to the forum.

I love to learn about cards I didn't know even existed and about the story behind it. Great card! And with the black background, not easy to find in good condition.

Deadshot · 10-23-2021, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ23Collector

With so many threads about investment and value and flipping, this is exactly the kind of thread that makes me want to come back to the forum.

I love to learn about cards I didn't know even existed and about the story behind it. Great card! And with the black background, not easy to find in good condition.

Thanks for reading! There are some multicolor pieces out there, too, but they're all fairly tough to track down.

losangelesfan · 10-23-2021, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TBarn291

Loved that set. I liked when they did it as a booklet too with the acetate finish.

These patch are insane, never seen these before

10-21-2021, 07:56 PM	#1
Deadshot Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 7,694	Kobe stormed to the bench in these Nike Zoom VII's. Thanks to Panini, I own a piece! I haven't done a mail thread on here in a long time, but I figured this was a fun card that deserved to be shared. This card comes from the 2012 Panini Father’s Day set. I’ve seen this card several times in the past and didn’t think much of it. It’s just a single-color purple relic. It has a pretty plain design. There’s nothing that really sticks out about it initially. Well, several months ago, I saw this card again and I got a chance to see the back of it. It turns out it's not just a regular jersey relic. It's a shoe card. And according to the Beckett Blog, it was the first basketball shoe relic Panini made and the first basketball shoe relic since 2004. On top of that, the back features picture of the exact pair of shoes and the date of the game that Kobe wore them. It was a March 25, 2012 game against the Grizzlies. I was hoping he did something crazy this game like hit a game winner or score 50 points. Well, he only scored 18. But there was some drama on this night, nonetheless. With a little under 6 minutes left in the 4th, the Lakers trailed by 14 and Mike Brown decided to sub Kobe out. As you can see in the following clip...Kobe was none too pleased. When reporters asked Kobe about the substitution, he responded, "if you're looking for a story, I'm not going to give it to you." Previously, I mentioned that I hoped he scored 50 points in these. Well...Kobe did that 25 times in his career. But later in his career, how many times did Kobe get pulled like that from a game? I went on Getty Images and found 8 pictures from the game that feature these shoes. Unless he changed into the exact same model at halftime, it seems like a pretty safe assumption that he was wearing these when he got benched. This card checks multiple boxes for me…it’s got a Hall of Famer, it’s a unique relic, and it’s game-dated. This stuff is getting harder and harder to find and I’m very happy to own this one. Thanks for reading! __________________ He said he name was “E”, so I introduced myself as “G”...The license plate said “IMNBITZ” or “IMNBISZ” or something. - G YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPuD3WYJ0rkpLqDdyavC2WA

10-22-2021, 07:20 AM	#5
Earvin32 Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Waukesha, Wisconsin Posts: 2,185	When you said Kobe shoe card, I knew I had one and it is from 2000 Upper Deck Ovation. Very nice card OP __________________ I collect Earvin "Magic" Johnson cards, the more goatee and short shorts, the better. The 80's PG not the 1996 PF. Check out my sports card albums at https://sportscardalbum.com/u/borisbadinov

10-22-2021, 09:30 AM	#6
ClipsandVols Member Join Date: May 2017 Posts: 3,758 ClipsandVols	Love that you are always able to find a backstory. Great card! __________________ I don’t expect apologies because I know there is too much ego and pride in the human race- Gabriel Seraf

10-22-2021, 03:34 PM	#9
bjho852 Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 4,313	I believe that Panini did something similar with the "Stat Line" cards and booklets, but they are for jerseys. Wish that the company would do more with game-used material. __________________ Instagram (IG): bjho852

10-22-2021, 06:45 PM	#12
Deadshot Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 7,694	I had a Klay patch from that set and foolishly sold it __________________ He said he name was “E”, so I introduced myself as “G”...The license plate said “IMNBITZ” or “IMNBISZ” or something. - G YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPuD3WYJ0rkpLqDdyavC2WA

10-21-2021, 07:59 PM	#2
Nomad Banned Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: Fomenting FOMO on the down low. Posts: 8,094	This kind of relic makes sense. "A Piece of History" as the old slogan went. Now, tissue...

10-21-2021, 08:03 PM	#3
90skid Member Join Date: Jul 2020 Posts: 1,890	so awesome, thanks for sharing. What a joke Panini has become with today's relics...10 years later.

10-21-2021, 08:22 PM	#4
SupermanBrandon Banned Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: TN Posts: 15,843	Cool piece. All Fanatics has to do to win over the hobby immediately and forever, is to use game used/date specific patches. They do that...and people will lose their minds. Panini who?

10-22-2021, 02:30 PM	#8
TBarn291 Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Ohio Posts: 4,538 TBarn2911	Hey! You pulled the trigger! Congrats man. A very cool piece with a very cool story.

10-23-2021, 03:21 AM	#13
duron Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: NYC Posts: 12,173 drewtang duron	“Yeah, I would’ve been exhausted.” I got this in a trade not so long ago from a forum member. Always loved this set. __________________ IG: Darz90sCardz PC: MJ/Penny Last edited by duron; 10-23-2021 at 03:26 AM.

10-23-2021, 05:30 AM	#14
MJ23Collector Member Join Date: Sep 2018 Posts: 151	With so many threads about investment and value and flipping, this is exactly the kind of thread that makes me want to come back to the forum. I love to learn about cards I didn't know even existed and about the story behind it. Great card! And with the black background, not easy to find in good condition.