Israeli entrepreneur Lior Avidar, CEO of ALT — a platform for high-value collectibles — has purchased the most expensive Kobe Bryant card ever sold, for $3.15 million. The card, from the Metal Universe series and the “Precious Metal Gems Green” edition, was printed in 1997.
The high price tag, according to ESPN, reflects the card’s extreme rarity: only 10 were produced, and just three have been graded by Professional Sports Authenticator, widely considered the leading grading authority. The card in question received a PSA 5 grade, with only one card in the series rated higher.
“In my view, this is the best Kobe Bryant card out there,” Avidar said after the purchase. “Only 10 were made, it has a distinctive shine, and it’s from the debut year of PMG basketball cards — there’s a strong collector base for it. I’ve personally been trying to get one for a long time. It’s always been my goal.”
The previous record for a single Bryant card stood at $2.4 million, set in a private sale in September 2025. Another card from the same series sold for $2 million in February 2022, with a grade of 8.5 from Beckett Grading Services.
ALT acquired about 51% of a 2009 Stephen Curry rookie card in mid-2021, then valued at approximately $5.9 million. According to Avidar, the company purchased the remaining 49% in February 2022 in a deal totaling $6.684 million. At the time, the most expensive basketball card ever sold was a LeBron James rookie card, which fetched $5.2 million.