Aesthetically best cards: Kobe Bryant edition

[GOATcards]

I'm gonna leave this thread to the Kobe collectors since I know of only a few. Thanks, e.g., to Chris P for this fan-favorite:


another fan-favorite, courtesy of Reggie206 and others:


This one stands (edit: stood alone, not considering 96F Refractor) way out in my head the most as the ultimate Kobe RC, I have to think it looks pretty swell in person with the shimmering border etc.



I also like the simplicity and slick production values of the Hoops RC (at or close to Stadium Club by that year [edit: by '96, SC had advanced beyond '92 SC-ish production values where 96H was at -ish]), it's something like an ultimate base-level Kobe RC?:



Much the same might be said for his SP RC (from UD) esp. if you like close-ups:



and how about a top product from Topps from Kobe's RC? ideally the 'grail' card here is the refractor parallel of the Chrome parallel of the RC, and without the "greening" that has plagued the chrome and the refractor parallel (and also without fatally distracting refractor lines, anything else about these to look out for? lol). (Had me one of these once, an uncomfortably off-centered 9 and I probably needed to sell anyway. But definitely a looker otherwise, I had it right there alongside my prized SPx Finite Radiance VC/Half-Amazing.)



another all-time favorite of mine, the 2006 Topps Turkey Red:



last but not least...


(https://www.tcdb.com/ViewCard.cfm/si...nt?PageIndex=1)

[mc1]

[IMG] 2000 Upper Deck NBA Title Threads Employee - [Base] #2000 - Kobe Bryant /300 Courtesy of COMC.com[/IMG]

Credentials not a RC - thanks

[Kobefan]

Originally Posted by mc1

Credentials not a RC - thanks

Huh? You means it's not a base rc card, right? Cause it's a rookie parallel card.

[mc1]

Originally Posted by Kobefan

Huh? You means it's not a base rc card, right? Cause it's a rookie parallel card.

Rookie Year Card

Also, that SP RC is horrible. Ive never liked it much.

[Dame]

Too many to mention but off the top of my head.

Ultra Stars Gold
Jambalaya
Base EX2000
Fleer Ultra Fresh Faces
2019 Impeccable Numbers /8
2016 Noir Spotlight
1999 Topps Chrome Refractor
02-03 Finest Gold Refractor
97 Planet Metal
2019 Contenders Kobe Tribute (Championships)
Kobe and LBJ dual exquisite auto-inscriptions
98-99 Skybox base
98-99 Bowmans Best Atomic Refractor Auto

[GOATcards]

Originally Posted by Dame

Too many to mention but off the top of my head.

Ultra Stars Gold
Jambalaya
Base EX2000
Fleer Ultra Fresh Faces
2019 Impeccable Numbers /8
2016 Noir Spotlight
1999 Topps Chrome Refractor
02-03 Finest Gold Refractor
97 Planet Metal
2019 Contenders Kobe Tribute (Championships)
Kobe and LBJ dual exquisite auto-inscriptions
98-99 Skybox base
98-99 Bowmans Best Atomic Refractor Auto

maybe help to make the thread more gallery-like with some images posted to go with the make/models?

[OddityCards]

[Dame]

Originally Posted by GOATcards

maybe help to make the thread more gallery-like with some images posted to go with the make/models?

Yep, will add a few during my spare time.

[Lee42]

Always like the look of this one:

[Chris P]

I'm biased but this is my favorite Kobe

[regularp]

I prefer the 2014 version but those are his two best looking autos in my book. My biggest hobby regret is not buying one after release when they were in the $1,000 range.

[Onions]

Originally Posted by Chris P

I'm biased but this is my favorite Kobe

Don't show that to me! I pulled that card a couple months after the product dropped. Bought 3 boxes and swore I was just going to stash them for resale down the road. My 17 year old self cracked all 3 boxes the first snowstorm we had! I traded it back to the store and did get another box of 96-97 Finest to open out of the deal though. Probably still have all the Jermaine O'neals and Shariff Abdur Rahim's out of the breaks from back then.

[kkkz]

[bkcardcollector]

dang dp13 corners sides, surface, that is it mi amigo

[bkcardcollector]

that heirs is gd beautiful as well

[duron]

You guys are killing me with the base

96-97 Bowman’s Best Picks Atomic
97-98 Showcase Row 0
97-98 Finest Silver Embossed Refractor
97-98 Fleer Thrill Seekers
97-98 Ultra Ultrabilities Superstar
97-98 Skybox Premium Golden Touch
97-98 Skybox Premium Silky Smooth (with net plz. Copies with it ripped off (and in psa 10 slabs rofl) have been making the rounds on social)
97-98 Skybox Premium Thunder & Lightning
97-98 SPx Hardcourt Holoview
97-98 Z-Force Big Man on Court
98-99 Fleer Electrifying
98-99 SPx Finite Spectrum (any of them)
99-00 Mystique Raise the Roof
99-00 Showcase Elevators
99-00 Skybox Premium More Good Stuff
99-00 Topps Prodigy Refractor
00-01 Stadium Club Beam Team
02-03 Stadium Club Beam Team

Left off a lot of insert sets that I love but don’t like the photo used

[jcardstore]

Originally Posted by mc1

Rookie Year Card

Also, that SP RC is horrible. Ive never liked it much.

I have to agree, that card is hideous

[Chris P]

Originally Posted by Onions

Don't show that to me! I pulled that card a couple months after the product dropped. Bought 3 boxes and swore I was just going to stash them for resale down the road. My 17 year old self cracked all 3 boxes the first snowstorm we had! I traded it back to the store and did get another box of 96-97 Finest to open out of the deal though. Probably still have all the Jermaine O'neals and Shariff Abdur Rahim's out of the breaks from back then.

I kept Josh Rosen cards over Josh Allen cards when I would pull them so yeah been there man!

[stalemonkey30]

Here is my small contribution. Unfortunately I don't own these anymore.

[2010GBPackers]

This is the only answer. It may be the most aesthetically beautiful card ever produced.

Originally Posted by Chris P

I'm biased but this is my favorite Kobe

[Asian62150]

Originally Posted by regularp

I prefer the 2014 version but those are his two best looking autos in my book. My biggest hobby regret is not buying one after release when they were in the $1,000 range.

I'm not a big Kobe fan, but that Spotlight Sigs is one of the best looking cards ever made. If UD had ever made something similar for MJ, it would be one of those cards where I'd be willing to overpay and not really care because I would keep that in my collection as long as I could.

[kkkz]

Net effect

[Dame]

Yep that’s nice^ Another one I like from fleer is the Vivid Soar.

[nbatopshot]

Originally Posted by Chris P

I'm biased but this is my favorite Kobe

I'm with this one too

[GOATcards]

Originally Posted by nbatopshot

I'm with this one too

96 Finest Refractor now the headliner in the OP, thanks to Chris P