Kobe 2006-07 Exquisite Number Pieces /24 sells for $36K

The 2006-07 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Number Pieces #EN-KB Kobe Bryant Signed Game-Used Patch Card is one of the more respected modern-era Kobe autos, and a good example of how focused, low-serial inserts behave in today’s market.

On March 15, 2026, Goldin sold a copy numbered 03/24, graded BGS EX-MT+ 6.5 with a Beckett 10 autograph, for $36,600.

In this post, we’ll walk through what this card is, why collectors care about it, and how this sale fits into the broader Exquisite and Kobe market.

The card at a glance

• Player: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
• Year: 2006-07
• Set: Upper Deck Exquisite Collection – Number Pieces
• Card ID: #EN-KB
• Serial number: 03/24 (only 24 copies produced)
• Autograph: On-card, Beckett 10 auto grade
• Memorabilia: Signed game-used patch
• Grading company: Beckett Grading Services (BGS)
• Grade: BGS 6.5 (EX-MT+) with 10 auto

This is not a rookie card; it’s a key mid-career Kobe issue from Exquisite, a product line that helped define high-end basketball collecting in the 2000s. The "Number Pieces" subset is known for pairing very low serial numbering with bold on-card autographs and large patches.

Why Exquisite Number Pieces matter

Upper Deck Exquisite Collection changed the modern basketball market when it was introduced in 2003-04. The brand pushed the idea of:

• True super-premium boxes
• On-card signatures instead of sticker autographs
• Large, multi-color game-used patches
• Very low serial numbering on key stars

The Number Pieces inserts are themed around the player’s jersey number, with print runs matching that number. For Kobe Bryant, whose iconic Lakers number was 24 in this era, that means just 24 serial-numbered copies.

For collectors, that matters in a few ways:

• Built-in scarcity: A production run of 24 is low even by premium insert standards, especially for a major star.
• Clear theme: The jersey-number tie-in gives the card a concept that many collectors remember and understand quickly.
• On-card auto + game-used patch: Both are still viewed as best-in-class features today.

Grading overview: BGS 6.5 with a 10 auto

This particular copy received a BGS 6.5 (EX-MT+) grade with a Beckett 10 autograph. In plain terms:

• The card itself has notable wear compared with higher-grade copies (for example surface or corner issues), but is still presentable.
• The signature is graded as gem-quality: clean, bold, and fully visible.

In many high-end patch-auto cards, the split between card grade and auto grade matters. Collectors who prioritize eye appeal often prefer a strong-looking patch and autograph, even if the card grade is lower, especially when the overall print run is tiny.

Market context and recent sales

To understand what the $36,600 result at Goldin on March 15, 2026 means, it’s helpful to think in terms of:

• Comps: Short for “comparables,” meaning recent sales of the same or very similar cards.
• Grade tiers: The same card can trade in very different ranges depending on condition and auto grade.
• Adjacent cards: Similar Kobe Exquisite autos, especially from Number Pieces and Limited Logos, can give useful context.

For this Kobe Number Pieces #EN-KB /24, public auction records show that higher-grade copies and visually strong raw examples have generally commanded a premium over lower-grade, more visibly worn copies. As with many Exquisite-era cards, realized prices tend to reflect:

• Eye appeal of the patch (more colors and breaking up of the logo typically draw higher bids).
• Strength of the on-card autograph (streak-free, centered, bold ink).
• Grading outcomes (particularly in the 8.5–9.5 range versus mid- or low-tier grades).

Against that backdrop, a BGS 6.5 /10 auto at $36,600 slots into what you would expect for a low-grade but still on-card, low-serial Kobe Exquisite patch autograph from a respected subset. This result doesn’t break any clear records for Kobe or for Exquisite, but it does reinforce a few patterns:

1. Autograph quality still matters. A Beckett 10 auto helps hold value even when the base card grade is below near mint.
2. Low-serial Kobe Exquisite remains steady. While pricing can move with broader market cycles, key Kobe Exquisite inserts have generally retained collector demand.
3. Grade sensitivity shows up more at the top. The biggest step-ups in price tend to occur in the strong mid-to-high grades. Below that, rarity and presentation drive more of the pricing story than the precise number on the flip.

Collector significance of this specific card

A few reasons this particular card resonates with collectors:

1. Kobe’s place in the hobby

Kobe Bryant remains one of the most collected modern basketball players. Key drivers include:

• Multiple championships and a long Lakers tenure.
• A dedicated global fanbase that spans from his playing days through the present.
• The emotional weight his cards took on after his passing, which pushed more collectors toward long-term ownership rather than quick flips.

Kobe’s autograph cards, especially on-card autos from important brands like Exquisite, tend to be treated more as long-term collection pieces than quick-trade inventory.

2. Exquisite as a foundational high-end brand

For many basketball collectors, Exquisite is a benchmark set. Even as new ultra-premium releases appear, Exquisite cards maintain a kind of historical status:

• They represent an early era of truly high-end basketball products.
• Many of the hobby’s most important modern patch-autos—across LeBron, Jordan, Kobe, and others—come from Exquisite.

Number Pieces inserts fit directly into that lineage, which supports ongoing demand even in slower market periods.

3. Ultra-low print run

Only 24 copies of this card exist. When you layer on:

• Copies locked away in long-term collections.
• Condition-sensitive surfaces and corners on 2000s high-end stock.

…it becomes clear that very few examples change hands each year in public auctions. That lack of liquidity is part of what keeps interest steady—collectors who want one often have to wait.

How to read this sale if you’re a collector

This Goldin sale from March 15, 2026, doesn’t need to be interpreted as a market signal for every Kobe card. Instead, it’s more useful as a case study in how one specific lane of the hobby behaves:

• Tier: High-end, low-serial, on-card auto, game-used patch.
• Era: Mid-2000s, a key stretch for the rise of premium basketball products.
• Player: An all-time star with sustained global demand.

Within that lane, the $36,600 sale price suggests that collectors continue to:

• Reward true scarcity (24 copies) over mass-produced parallels.
• Care deeply about on-card signatures.
• Differentiate strongly between premium brands like Exquisite and more standard issues.

Takeaways for newer or returning collectors

If you’re just getting familiar with Kobe or Exquisite cards, here are a few practical observations drawn from this sale:

1. Brand and subset matter. “Exquisite Collection Number Pieces” is not just another line on a label—it’s shorthand for a specific tier of product and scarcity.
2. Read the entire label, not just the grade. A BGS 6.5 with a 10 auto on a /24 patch-auto Kobe can be more desirable than a higher-grade but less important card from a lower-tier set.
3. Use comps as context, not predictions. Past sales, including this $36,600 result, are helpful reference points, but they’re not guarantees of future pricing. Condition, timing, and bidder interest can all shift.

Final thoughts

The sale of the 2006-07 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Number Pieces #EN-KB Kobe Bryant Signed Game-Used Patch Card (#03/24) in BGS EX-MT+ 6.5 with a Beckett 10 autograph for $36,600 at Goldin on March 15, 2026, is another data point in a larger story:

• Early ultra-premium brands like Exquisite continue to command respect.
• True scarcity, on-card autos, and strong player demand create a durable niche, even when card grades are imperfect.

For collectors tracking Kobe or Exquisite, this sale reinforces how tightly held and carefully watched these Number Pieces remain in the modern high-end basketball market.

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If you’re cataloging your own high-end Kobe or Exquisite cards, consider noting not just grade and serial number, but also patch quality and autograph strength. Those details often matter just as much as the number on the slab.