1996-97 Skybox E-X2000 raised the bar for basketball cards with a breathtaking design that incorporated foil, die-cut images, and a bright blue sky background done using acetate. It did not hurt that the rookie class included Kobe Bryan, Allen Iverson, Stephon Marbury, and Ray Allen – exciting newcomers who drew collectors to the premium release.
The Credentials parallel of the base set – including this gorgeous Kobe – is /499 and identifiable by its label in the top right portion of the card.
The color foil borders make grading a challenge, so issues from this release rarely surface with this example’s level of preservation. Only nine of the 222 BGS-graded copies have earned a higher grade than this one.
The certification number on this card has been checked against the third-party grader's online database and is active as of 03/10/2026.
