It seems almost hard to believe that Kobe Bryant didn't start for the Lakers when he joined the team at the start of the 1996-97 season. Of course, he was only 18 years old at the time, another fact that makes that debut season seem like such a long time ago. Time flies! It also seems strange that in 1996-97 Topps Chrome Basketball was a retail-only product. Dealers and collectors went scrambling for boxes and cases once it became clear that the ’96-97 rookie class, headed by the young Laker, was going to be great. This week, we’re offering a 1996-97 Chrome Kobe Bryant rookie card graded mint 9 by PSA. Bidding has already been strong. There’s always a market for cards of the record-setting son of “Jellybean Joe” Bryant. Since those humble beginnings as a high school phenom turned NBA player, Kobe has established himself as one of the game’s all-time greats and collectors clamor for his best rookie cards. Chrome remains a popular product to this day and that helps keep this particular card at the top of many collectors’ want lists. Chrome was fresh then and it was the ’96-97 basketball set that helped establish the brand as something to reckon with. Many times collectors and those who see some of what we offer at shows around the country believe that Just Collect handles only vintage stars and commons. Not true! We have a dedicated core of collectors who prefer ‘the shiny stuff’ and that means whether you’re buying or selling, our weekly eBay auctions are a must see. Each week we have a mix of some of the best cards in both markets. Collectors often consign modern era rookie cards, knowing we will get them strong prices because of our popularity, how we present our material and a long, reliable record of customer service. Whether you’re buying 1996-97 Topps Chrome Kobe Bryant rookie cards or selling high quality modern era material, please be sure to bookmark our eBay listings and our website to stay connected all year.
