Unique Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant basketball card sells for record $13 million

The world of sports collectibles has just witnessed a historic milestone: a one-of-a-kind card featuring Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant sold at Heritage Auctions for a record $12.9 million. The hammer price nearly doubled its pre-sale estimate of $6 million, setting a new benchmark as the most expensive sports card ever sold.

The card in question is the 2007-08 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual Logoman Autographed Patch Card — a true gem among modern basketball collectibles. It features NBA logo patches from the game-worn jerseys of both legendary athletes, along with their autographs. Experts are already calling it the most valuable card in modern basketball collecting history.

The sale marks a turning point: for the first time, a contemporary card has surpassed the value of iconic vintage artifacts such as the T-206 Honus Wagner and the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle. The buyer was a group of investors that included Matthew Allen, Paul Warshaw, and TV personality Kevin O’Leary, a well-known collector of sports memorabilia.

O’Leary has already made it clear that he doesn’t intend to resell the piece: “For us, this isn’t just about collecting. We view the card as part of an investment portfolio — alongside Bitcoin, Ethereum, and gold,” he said.

The previous record was set just a year ago, when the same auction house sold Babe Ruth’s jersey from his legendary “called shot” at the 1932 World Series for $12.6 million.