Alt Purchases 1997 Kobe Bryant Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems Green Card for Record $3.15 Million, Highest Price Ever Paid for a Solo Bryant Card

A 1997 Kobe Bryant Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems Green trading card has been purchased by alternative trading platform Alt for $3.15 million, establishing a new record as the highest price ever paid for a solo Kobe Bryant card in either public or private sale.

The acquisition was completed through Alt’s dedicated investment fund, which launched in 2021 as one of the earliest vehicles purpose-built to invest in elite trading cards as an alternative asset class. The card originates from Bryant’s second NBA season and is graded PSA 5 by Professional Sports Authenticator.

This proves one of only ten green Parallels (often referred to as “Emerald” versions) produced in the 1997 Metal Universe set. Of these ten green Parallels for Bryant, only three have been graded by PSA, with this particular card being one of the two highest-graded examples known to exist.

The serial number on the card’s back reads “009/100,” though numbers 11 through 100 of each player’s Parallels in the set were red, while only numbers 1 through 10 were green. This distinction contributes significantly to the card’s rarity and desirability among collectors.

Growing up, the Kobe PMG Green was the card you dreamed about. It was on every collector’s wall, in every price guide, at the top of every wish list.

Leore Avidar, Founder and CEO of Alt

Avidar added that acquiring the card for Alt’s fund was both personal and reflective of the broader trajectory of the trading card market, stating that “the best cards in the world are now recognized as serious assets” and that Alt has been building the infrastructure to support that view since the fund’s inception.

With this acquisition, Alt’s investment fund has now secured record-setting cards at the time of purchase for four of the defining players of the modern NBA era: Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The card will be securely stored in the Alt Vault in Delaware following the private transaction. The sale surpasses a previously reported record of $2.4 million for a Bryant card.

The global sports memorabilia and trading card market is currently valued at approximately $14.9 billion and is projected to grow to $52.8 billion by 2032, according to industry analyses cited in related reporting.