Five years ago, a $5 million basketball card made headlines. Today, three basketball cards have been reported above $8 million, and the record has more than doubled. This list ranks the most expensive basketball cards ever sold. It uses only sales confirmed by major news outlets, auction houses or Guinness World Records, and it notes whether each price came from a public auction or a reported private deal.

Why make that distinction? A public auction result is visible and timestamped, and every bidder sees it. A private sale is reported by the buyer, the seller or a broker and usually cannot be checked independently. Both count, but they are different kinds of evidence.

Figure: The top reported basketball card sales. Navy bars are public auctions; orange bars are reported private sales.

The Top Basketball Card Sales, Ranked

1. Jordan/Kobe 2007-08 Exquisite Dual Logoman Auto 1/1: $12,932,000

On August 24, 2025, Heritage Auctions sold the 2007-08 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual Logoman Autographs card of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant for $12.932 million. Guinness World Records lists it as the most expensive basketball card ever sold at auction. It drew 82 bids and finished at more than double the pre-auction estimate. The card is graded PSA EX-MT 6, and it beat the $12.6 million 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle as the most expensive sports card ever sold at public auction. ESPN reported that the buyers were Kevin O'Leary, collector Matt Allen ("Shyne150") and Paul Warshaw.

Why it sold so high: it combines two all-time greats, two NBA-logo patches and two on-card autographs on a single 1-of-1. As a PSA 6, it also shows that at this level, the subject and scarcity count for far more than the condition grade.

2. Jordan/LeBron 2006-07 Exquisite Dual Logoman Auto 1/1: $10,000,000 (private)

Seven weeks later, Sports Collectors Digest reported that the same investor group bought the 2006-07 Exquisite Dual Logoman of Jordan and LeBron James for $10 million. That is a record for any LeBron card.

3. Cooper Flagg 2025-26 Topps Chrome Update Rookie Debut Patch Auto 1/1: $8,040,000

On September 25, 2026, Fanatics Collect sold Cooper Flagg's 1-of-1 Rookie Debut Patch Autograph for $8.04 million, including buyer's premium. The card is graded PSA 10 with a 10 autograph and holds the patch Flagg wore in his NBA debut. It drew 83 bids. This is the highest price ever paid for a rookie-year card. Read the full story in our Rookie Debut Patch Autograph guide.

4. Kobe/LeBron 2007-08 Exquisite Dual Logoman Auto 1/1: $6,501,840

In September 2026, Alt sold the PSA 8 Kobe Bryant/LeBron James Dual Logoman for $6,501,840. The winning bid was $5,418,200, plus a 20% buyer's premium. Sports Illustrated reported that the card had sat in a private collection for nearly two decades.

5. Stephen Curry 2009-10 National Treasures Logoman Auto 1/1: $5.9M valuation

In July 2021, Alt bought a 51% stake in Curry's rookie Logoman at a $5.9 million valuation. It is listed here with a caveat: this was a fractional purchase at an implied value, not a full sale of the card.

6. LeBron James 2003-04 Exquisite RPA /23 (BGS 9): $5,200,000 (private)

In April 2021, PWCC brokered the private sale of LeBron's Exquisite Rookie Patch Auto parallel, numbered to 23 and graded BGS 9, for $5.2 million. Reuters reported that it set the basketball card record at the time and tied the all-time sports card record.

7. Victor Wembanyama 2023-24 Prizm Black 1/1 (PSA 10): $5,110,000 (private)

In May 2026, Fanatics Collect brokered the sale of Wemby's Prizm Black 1/1 for $5.11 million. The Los Angeles Times reported that it is the highest known price for a non-autographed NBA card. See our Wembanyama rookie card guide.

8. Luka Doncic 2018-19 Flawless Rookie Logoman Auto 1/1: $4,700,000 (private)

In October 2025, Sports Collectors Digest reported that the O'Leary/Allen/Warshaw group paid $4.7 million for Luka's Flawless Logoman. It is the most expensive Luka card on record.

9. Luka Doncic 2018-19 National Treasures RPA Logoman 1/1: $4,600,000 (private)

In early 2021, collector Nick Fiorello reportedly paid $4.6 million for this card. When it later sold publicly at PWCC in November 2022, it brought $3.12 million (Beckett). We discuss that drop in investing in basketball cards.

Honorable Mentions

• Michael Jordan 1997-98 Upper Deck Game Jersey Auto /23: Basketball Card Insider lists a $4.25 million private sale announced by Goldin in April 2026. Another copy brought $2.7 million at Goldin in 2021.
• LeBron James 2003-04 Exquisite RPA Gold /23 (PSA 9): listed by Basketball Card Insider at $4.25 million in a private sale in August 2025.
• Giannis Antetokounmpo 2013-14 National Treasures Logoman Auto 1/1: sold at Goldin in September 2020 for $1,857,300 including premium, then a record for a modern basketball card.

What the Most Expensive Basketball Cards Have in Common

1. Logoman patches dominate

Six of the nine cards ranked above carry an NBA-logo patch. Our Logoman explainer covers why.

2. Upper Deck Exquisite owns the very top

Exquisite holds the top two spots and four of the top six. It is the original ultra-premium basketball set, and our Exquisite Collection guide explains its history.

3. One-of-ones and very low numbering

Every card in the top nine is either a 1/1 or numbered to 23.

4. Grade is secondary at this level

The record card is a PSA 6, and the Kobe/LeBron Dual Logoman is a PSA 8. When only one copy exists, buyers compete for the card itself, not a grade.

5. Concentrated buyers

One investor group was involved in three of the top eight sales. That concentration can lift prices quickly, and it also means the market depends on a small number of deep-pocketed buyers. We track this in our 2026 market trends report.

How to Read Record-Sale Headlines

• Check for buyer's premium. Most auction records include the premium. The Giannis "$1.812 million" headline, for example, became $1,857,300 once the premium was added.
• Separate private from public. Private prices cannot be audited.
• Watch for fractional deals. The Curry figure is an implied valuation from a 51% stake.
• Compare like with like. A 1/1 Logoman and a PSA 10 base rookie are different markets.

For a look at the companies behind these sales, see our auction house comparison.

FAQ

What is the most expensive basketball card ever sold?

The 2007-08 Upper Deck Exquisite Dual Logoman Autographs card of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. It sold for $12.932 million at Heritage Auctions on August 24, 2025.

What is the most expensive LeBron James card?

The 2006-07 Exquisite Dual Logoman with Michael Jordan, reported sold privately for $10 million in 2025. His most expensive solo rookie card is the 2003-04 Exquisite RPA /23, which brought $5.2 million in 2021.

What is the most expensive rookie card ever sold?

Cooper Flagg's 2025-26 Topps Chrome Update Rookie Debut Patch Auto 1/1, which sold for $8.04 million in September 2026.

Are private sales counted in record lists?

Many lists include them, but they are reported rather than publicly verified. We label them clearly.

Do these prices include buyer's premium?

Usually, yes. Auction houses and the press generally report the total paid, including the premium.

Related Articles (Internal Links)

• What Is a Logoman Card? The NBA's Ultimate Patch
• Upper Deck Exquisite Basketball: Why It Still Rules
• Rookie Debut Patch Autographs: Topps' New NBA Grail
• Goldin vs Heritage vs Fanatics Collect: Card Auctions
• Basketball Card Market Trends 2026: What's Moving

Sources

1. ESPN, "'Holy grail' Jordan-Bryant sports card sells for record $12.9M" (Aug 2025). https://www.espn.com/nba/story?_slug_=holy-grail-jordan-bryant-sports-card-sells-record-129m&id=46061949
2. Guinness World Records, "Most expensive basketball trading card sold at auction". https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/624187-most-expensive-basketball-trading-card-sold-at-online-auction
3. Auction Report, "Heritage's Summer Platinum Night Sports Auction Brings in $50 Million" (Aug 2025). https://www.auctionreport.com/heritages-summer-platinum-night-sports-auction-brings-in-50-million/
4. NBC Sports, "One-of-a-kind Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant Logoman card sells for record $12.9 million" (Aug 24, 2025). https://www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/one-of-a-kind-michael-jordan-kobe-bryant-logoman-card-sells-for-record-12-9-million
5. Sports Collectors Digest, "Michael Jordan, LeBron James #1/1 Logoman card sells for $10 million" (Oct 13, 2025). https://sportscollectorsdigest.com/michael-jordan-lebron-james-1-1-logoman-card-sells-for-10-million-as-investment-group-adds-to-growing-portfolio
6. Los Angeles Times, "Cooper Flagg debut patch trading card sparks $8.04M auction frenzy" (Sep 25, 2026). https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2026-09-25/cooper-flagg-topps-card-sells-8-04-million
7. Yahoo Sports, "Cooper Flagg's NBA Rookie Debut Patch Autograph sells for $8.04M at auction" (Sep 2026). https://sports.yahoo.com/collectibles/article/cooper-flaggs-nba-rookie-debut-patch-autograph-sells-for-804m-at-auction-becomes-third-most-expensive-nba-card-ever-092031187.html
8. Sports Illustrated, "One of A Kind Kobe and LeBron Dual Logoman Autograph Card Sets New Sales Record" (Sep 26, 2026). https://www.si.com/collectibles/one-of-a-kind-kobe-lebron-dual-logoman-autograph-card-sets-new-sales-record
9. PR Newswire, "Alt Announces Record-Breaking Purchase of 2009 National Treasures Logoman 1/1 Stephen Curry Card for $5.9M" (Jul 2021). https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alt-announces-record-breaking-purchase-of-2009-national-treasures-logoman-11-stephen-curry-card-for-5-9m-301325830.html
10. Beckett News, "Stephen Curry 2009 National Treasures Logoman Auto Nets $5.9 Million" (Jul 2021). https://www.beckett.com/news/2009-10-national-treasures-stephen-curry-rookie-logoman-autograph-sells-for-record-5-9-million/
11. Reuters, "'Ultra-rare' LeBron rookie card sells for record-breaking $5.2 million" (Apr 26, 2021). https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/ultra-rare-lebron-rookie-card-sells-record-breaking-52-million-2021-04-27/
12. Forbes, "Most Expensive Basketball Card Ever: LeBron James Rookie Card Sells For $5.2 Million" (Apr 27, 2021). https://www.forbes.com/sites/tommybeer/2021/04/27/most-expensive-basketball-card-ever-lebron-james-rookie-card-sells-52-million/
13. Los Angeles Times, "Victor Wembanyama rookie card sells for a record $5.11 million" (May 26, 2026). https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2026-05-26/victor-wembanyama-rookie-card-sells-for-record-5-11-million
14. ESPN, "Victor Wembanyama card sells for $5.11 million in private sale" (May 2026). https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/48881993/victor-wembanyama-card-sells-511-million-private-sale
15. Business Insider, "A one-of-a-kind Luka Doncic rookie card sold for $4.6 million" (Mar 1, 2021). https://www.businessinsider.com/luka-doncic-rookie-card-sold-46-million-2021-3
16. Dallas Morning News, "One-of-a-kind Luka Doncic rookie card sells for a record-setting $4.6 million" (Feb 28, 2021). https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/mavericks/2021/03/01/one-of-a-kind-luka-doncic-rookie-card-sells-for-a-record-setting-46-million/
17. Beckett News, "2018-19 National Treasures Luka Doncic Logoman Autograph Tops $3 Million" (Nov 2022). https://www.beckett.com/news/2018-19-national-treasures-luka-doncic-logoman-autograph-tops-3-million/
18. Basketball Card Insider, "25 Most Expensive Basketball Cards Ever Sold" (verified Sep 25, 2026). https://www.basketballcardinsider.com/top-basketball-card-sales-all-time

Figures are reported prices from the cited sources at the time of research (October 2026). Private-sale prices are as reported and were not independently audited. Nothing here is financial advice.

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