Kobe Bryant 2015-16 Flawless Ruby Auto PSA 10 Sells

2015-16 Panini Flawless Now & Then Signatures Ruby #NT-KB Kobe Bryant Signed Card (#07/15) - PSA GEM MT 10, PSA/DNA GEM MT 10 - Pop 1 Sells for $695,400

On January 4, 2026, Goldin auctioned one of the most premium modern Kobe Bryant autographs on the market: a 2015-16 Panini Flawless Now & Then Signatures Ruby #NT-KB, serial-numbered 07/15, graded PSA GEM MT 10 with a PSA/DNA GEM MT 10 autograph. The card realized $695,400.

For Kobe collectors and high-end basketball investors alike, this result adds another data point to how the hobby currently values low-serial, on-card Kobe autos from a top-tier premium brand in true gem condition.

Card breakdown: what exactly sold?

Let’s unpack the full title and what it means:

• Player: Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers)
• Year: 2015-16
• Product: Panini Flawless Basketball
• Subset: Now & Then Signatures
• Parallel: Ruby
• Card number: #NT-KB
• Serial numbering: 07/15 (only 15 copies of the Ruby parallel exist)
• Autograph: On-card (signed directly on the card, not a sticker)
• Grading company: PSA
• Card grade: PSA GEM MT 10
• Autograph grade: PSA/DNA GEM MT 10
• Population: Pop 1 (this is the only copy with this exact grade combination in PSA’s census at the time of sale)

This is not a rookie card—Kobe’s flagship rookies are from 1996-97—but within the modern, ultra-premium era of his cards, Flawless on-card autographs are considered among the most desirable.

Why 2015-16 Flawless and Now & Then Signatures matter

Panini Flawless is one of Panini’s highest-end products, positioned above sets like National Treasures and Immaculate. Boxes are extremely expensive, production is tightly controlled, and the checklist leans heavily into low-serial-numbered autographs and premium memorabilia.

The Now & Then Signatures subset is designed to contrast a player’s earlier and later career phases. For a long-tenured, one-team star like Kobe, that concept fits especially well and adds thematic appeal beyond just the autograph.

The Ruby parallel is one of the low-numbered color variants in Flawless. With just 15 copies, this card is scarce by design. When we overlay that limited print run with PSA’s population report (a public count of how many copies have been graded at each grade level), the pop 1 GEM MT 10 / GEM MT 10 designation highlights just how hard it is to find a copy in this condition.

Key points that matter to collectors:

• Ultra-premium brand: Flawless is widely viewed as a top-tier Panini release, particularly for autos.
• On-card signature: Many modern autographs are on stickers; on-card autos are generally preferred because the player signed the actual card surface.
• Low serial number: /15 is a true short print, which naturally limits supply.
• Gem/10-10 combo: A PSA 10 card with a PSA/DNA 10 auto is a difficult combination to achieve, especially on thick, foil-heavy Flawless stock, which is prone to edge and corner flaws.
• Kobe’s legacy: As a global icon and five-time NBA champion, Kobe has one of the deepest collector bases in basketball.

Market context and price comparison

This card sold at Goldin on January 4, 2026 for $695,400. To understand that number, it helps to look at the broader landscape rather than pretending there’s a thick sales history for this exact card and grade. Ultra-low-pop, premium parallels like this don’t trade frequently, so “comps” (recent comparable sales used as price references) are often imperfect.

1. Direct comps: this exact card and parallel

Based on available public auction records and marketplace data up to early 2026:

• This specific 2015-16 Flawless Now & Then Signatures Ruby #NT-KB, PSA 10, auto 10, /15 has very limited recorded public sales. Pop 1 status suggests this may be the first known PSA 10 / 10 at public auction.
• Lower grades or raw (ungraded) copies of the same Ruby parallel appear infrequently and at much lower price levels, reflecting both the grade gap and evolving Kobe demand.

Because of the small sample size, it’s more accurate to view this result as a fresh benchmark rather than a straightforward continuation of a clear price trend.

2. Nearby comps: other Kobe Flawless autos

To get practical context, collectors often compare across:

• Other Flawless Kobe on-card autos from 2012-13 through 2015-16
• Different parallels (Emerald, Sapphire, Diamond, base auto versions)
• Other high-end Panini brands like National Treasures and Immaculate

Patterns from public sales:

• Low-serial Kobe Flawless on-card autos (≤ /25) regularly clear five figures, and truly premium examples—especially in gem condition, with key parallels or inscriptions—have pushed deeply into six figures.
• Kobe’s most iconic rookie-era autograph cards, particularly high-grade, low-pop issues, continue to command some of his strongest prices. Modern high-end autos like this Flawless run just behind those historically important rookies but still occupy the top tier of his market.

Within that framework, $695,400 for a pop 1, gem-grade, /15 Flawless Now & Then Ruby fits into the very high end of the non-rookie Kobe autograph spectrum. It sits below the absolute record-setting Kobe cards but clearly signals that elite modern autos from prestige brands remain heavily pursued.

3. Where this fits among notable Kobe sales

While some of Kobe’s most expensive cards are:

• Early, low-numbered rookie autographs
• 1/1 (one-of-one) logo patches and unique Flawless or National Treasures cards
• Key refractor or parallel rookies in top grades

this 2015-16 Flawless Now & Then Ruby occupies a different lane:

• It is a late-career, ultra-premium auto from a flagship high-end product.
• It has a clearly capped print run (/15).
• The population data emphasizes condition rarity (only one in PSA 10 with a 10 auto at the time of sale).

The Goldin sale effectively plants a flag for what the market is currently willing to pay for that specific intersection of brand (Flawless), scarcity (/15), condition (10/10), and Kobe’s enduring appeal.

Why collectors care about this specific card

1. Intersection of brand and era

2015-16 was one of Kobe’s final active seasons and part of his farewell run. Flawless from this period has a special appeal because it bridges late-career Kobe with the modern ultra-premium hobby environment:

• Era: This is the modern/ultra-modern era—products are highly curated and designed to be scarce from the start.
• Brand prestige: Flawless delivers what premium basketball collectors seek: low print runs, on-card autos, and high-end design.

For collectors who prefer Kobe in a Lakers uniform from later in his career rather than as a young rookie, cards like this carry strong emotional resonance.

2. Design and theme: “Now & Then”

The Now & Then concept plays directly into Kobe’s long, narrative-rich career:

• Early-career explosiveness versus late-career skill and leadership
• Visual and thematic contrast that sets the card apart from a standard autograph

This kind of storytelling element is subtle but important for many PC (personal collection) focused collectors who want more than just a signature on cardboard.

3. Condition rarity and thick-stock challenges

Thick premium cards like Flawless often suffer from:

• Edge chipping
• Corner wear
• Surface lines or minor defects from production and handling

Achieving a PSA GEM MT 10 on this type of card is far from automatic. Pair that with a PSA/DNA 10 auto (which typically implies a bold, centered, streak-free signature), and you have a combination that’s statistically and practically tough to replicate.

That is why “Pop 1” matters: it signals that among all submitted copies, none have matched this exact grade combo at PSA so far.

Factors that may be influencing demand

Without speculating about future prices, it’s fair to note a few ongoing dynamics that likely support strong demand for this card type:

• Kobe’s enduring global following: Kobe’s legacy, especially after his passing, continues to attract both long-time collectors and newer fans.
• High-end basketball consolidation: Many serious basketball collectors are focusing capital on a smaller number of truly elite cards rather than spreading across large quantities of mid-tier items.
• Preference for on-card autographs: In the modern hobby, clear, on-card autos from premier brands regularly rank at the top of want lists.

This doesn’t guarantee any specific future outcome, but it helps explain why a card like this can draw aggressive bidding when it does surface.

What this Goldin sale tells the hobby

The $695,400 result at Goldin on January 4, 2026 offers a few takeaways for collectors, flippers, and small sellers:

1. Top-tier Kobe autos remain a cornerstone segment. Even outside his rookie-year issues, Kobe’s best modern autographs—especially in sets like Flawless—continue to command meaningful attention and capital.

2. Condition and population data matter. The difference between a high-grade card and a true pop 1 gem can be massive, particularly in high-end products where supply is already low.

3. Ultra-premium modern isn’t just about rookies. While rookie cards are still the hobby’s foundation, late-career, premium autos with strong narratives and tough grades are establishing their own lanes.

4. Comps on ultra-rare cards require nuance. With so few public sales, each new auction can reset or refine expectations. Collectors looking at similar pieces—different parallels, grades, or years—should treat this as a data point, not a rigid price rule.

How collectors might use this sale as a reference

If you’re a Kobe collector or a seller evaluating your own high-end cards, here are some ways to think about this result:

• Benchmarking: Use the $695,400 Goldin sale as a reference when assessing other Kobe Flawless autos, adjusting for serial numbering, parallel tier, on-card vs. sticker auto, and grade.
• Tier mapping: Place your card into a tier—ultra-rare late-career auto, mid-tier serial, or more common insert—and look for recent sales within the same tier rather than anchoring directly to this pop 1 result.
• Rarity vs. recognizability: Cards like this score high on both rarity (low print run, pop 1) and recognizability (Flawless brand, Kobe, on-card auto), a mix that often drives the strongest long-term collector interest.

Final thoughts

The sale of the 2015-16 Panini Flawless Now & Then Signatures Ruby #NT-KB Kobe Bryant Signed Card (#07/15), PSA GEM MT 10 with PSA/DNA GEM MT 10, Pop 1 for $695,400 at Goldin on January 4, 2026 underscores how the hobby currently values the intersection of:

• An all-time great player
• An ultra-premium brand
• True scarcity (/15 and pop 1)
• Top-tier grading

For Kobe collectors, it’s another reminder that his premium, on-card autographs—particularly from Flawless and similar high-end releases—sit near the top of the modern basketball market. For the broader hobby, it’s a clean, data-backed example of how quality, scarcity, and condition combine to shape prices in today’s trading card landscape.