Panini unleashed the first iteration of its NT basketball set in 2009. The product would go on to help define high-end sports card collecting for more than a decade, delivering some of the most sought-after inserts and parallels of hoops royalty. With LeBron James unable to sign cards for Panini due to an exclusive agreement with Upper Deck, outside of Steph Curry’s now-iconic RPA, serial-numbered Kobe Bryant autographs stand as arguably the most coveted cards to come out of the landmark release. One such Kobe card is his entry in the 20-card Notable Nicknames checklist, an example of which is offered here.
Any of the 99 examples in the print run is worthy of the attention of serious Kobe collectors thanks to its gorgeous design and Bryant’s signature and inscription. But those featuring his famous Black Mamba nickname, such as the example seen here, offer more personalization than the “MVP” inscriptions he added to some other examples. A bookend 01/99 stamp and PSA 10 / DNA 10 condition make this particular printing even more intriguing, with this one of only five examples of this majestic Mamba to earn that 10/10 holder.
The certification number on this card has been checked against the third-party grader's online database and is active as of 1/6/2025.
