eBay Buzz: This perfect Kobe Bryant 1996-97 Topps Chrome rookie Refractor is how much?

When Topps Chrome arrived in basketball, it was a bit simpler time than it is today — so much so that the brand was a retail-only release because the idea of merely Chroming a set perhaps wasn’t a sure thing.

Plenty of time has passed since 1996 and in that time so has the career of Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant who was a rookie back in 1996-97 Topps Chrome.

The best card in that landmark product is arguably Bryant’s Refractor version of his Rookie Card and this copy is the best of the best of the thousands that were pulled and saved since then.

Sure, this will be Kobe Bryant’s final season — but he’s far from done appearing on basketball cards

After a rough start to his 20th season in the NBA, a 37-year-old Kobe Bryant confirmed in a Players Tribune essay published Sunday night that this year will be his last.

It’s probably not a surprise to most NBA fans given his injuries in recent years, but an end to a career doesn’t mean an end to cardboard, either. In fact, we’re probably just getting started with this Panini America spokesman.