1996 Upper Deck Basketball Rookies Strip (Kobe Bryant, Jermaine O'Neal, Kevin Garnett)
Collectible Trading Card Strip / Ephemera on cardstock • Upper Deck Company (Corporate Design Team)
Style & Movement
Late 20th-century Sports Commercial Graphic Design
Medium & Technique
Four-color offset lithography with protective gloss coating and micro-perforation
Creation Period
1996
Dimensions & Format
Standard trading card dimensions (approx. 2.5 x 3.5 inches per panel) in a vertical triptych format
Subject Description
A vertical strip of three basketball rookie cards. The top panel features Kobe Bryant (Lakers) in a draft-day suit; the middle panel features Jermaine O'Neal (Trail Blazers); the bottom panel features Kevin Garnett (Timberwolves) in mid-action. The composition utilizes team-specific color palettes and typography typical of mid-90s memorabilia.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good; visible surface wear, softened edges, and potential moisture damage or staining on the lower yellow support paper.
Estimated Market Value
$150 - $450 (highly dependent on professional grading of the Kobe Bryant panel)
Auction Estimate
$200 - $400
Provenance History
Likely sourced from a retail or hobby-exclusive uncut sheet or promotional strip common in the mid-1990s basketball card market.
Art Historical Significance
Significant as a cultural artifact from the 'NBA Draft Class of 1996,' widely considered one of the greatest in history. It represents the height of the 1990s sports card boom and the early iconography of Kobe Bryant.
Notable Features
Features a rare 'uncut' or 'strip' format which is less common than individual base cards; includes the Upper Deck holographic logo security mark.
Condition Issues
Notable surface abrasions, corner blunting, and environmental staining on the backing material which may affect the card edges.
Conservation Recommendations
Remove from acidic yellow paper backing, place in PVC-free archival semi-rigid holders, and store in a temperature-controlled environment away from UV light.