2007 Exquisite Collection Limited Logos Kobe Bryant PATCH AUTO DNA 10 /50 #LL-KB PSA 7.5 NRMT+

Following a heavy-handed 4-1 series loss to the Phoenix Suns in the opening round of the 2007 NBA playoffs, Kobe Bryant had had enough. Lakers management seemed more concerned with beginning a rebuild around the blossoming Andrew Bynum than surrounding Kobe with championship-caliber talent, leading the disgruntled superstar to demand a trade during the ‘07 offseason. “Just so you know, we feel you’re the best player in the world,” then-team president Mitch Kupchak told Bryant. “Any team we talk to, we’re gonna want the best player [in return].” Although that fact certainly threw a wrench in Kobe’s plan to join a contender, teams showed no shortage of interest in trading for the three-time NBA champion. The Mavericks pushed to pair Kobe with the legendary Dirk Nowitzki, and the Bulls reportedly offered an enticing package of Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, Tyrus Thomas, and Ben Gordon. L.A. even considered dealing the “Black Mamba” to Cleveland in exchange for 22-year-old LeBron James (the Cavs shut that one down immediately). Finally, after weeks of negotiations, the Lakers settled on a trade to Detroit, with Kobe heading to the Motor City in exchange for a treasure trove of picks and young players. However, Kobe had not greenlit the Pistons as one of his preferred trade destinations, leading him to enact his no-trade clause and remain in L.A. Spurred by Kobe’s unhappiness, the Lakers ultimately traded for All-Star big man Pau Gasol midway through the 2007-08 season. The pair clicked immediately, and after only one season together, Bryant and Gasol led L.A. to back-to-back championships in 2009 and 2010. Just as Lakers fans remain forever grateful that Bryant stuck it out in L.A., the winner of this 2007-08 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Limited Logos Patch Auto will certainly be glad the “Black Mamba” never traded his signature purple and gold for any other colors. A stunning limited issue featuring a beautiful three-color game-used patch and a hard-signed, 10-grade autograph, this example could transform any collection into a contender. This dual-grade NM+ PSA 7.5 with a PSA/DNA 10 autograph is a pop 1 in the company's registry with just two copies ranking higher. The certification number on this card has been checked against the third-party grader's online database and is active as of 05/14/2026.