The 2000s marked a new, exciting era in sports cards, driven by premium sets, low print runs, and high-end parallels that transformed the hobby.
Rookie autographs, patch cards, and modern grading standards all played a role in pushing values to record-breaking levels.
Here’s a look at the ten most expensive sports cards from 2000-2010, based on confirmed public sales.
There are millions of dollars worth of sports cards here; In fact, all 10 on the list have broken the 7-figure barrier.
The Most Valuable 2000s Sports Cards Based On Record Auction Sales
Each card appears only once on the list, based on its highest recorded sale, even if multiple copies could rank in the top 10 (unless it’s a different parallel version).
*The list is based on previous auction sales prices according to Market Movers*
10. 2009-10 Panini National Treasures Autograph Jersey Century Platinum Stephen Curry #206
Steph Curry’s rookie cards are some of the most important basketball cards of their era.
Steph Curry’s key rookie card from National Treasures features an on-card autograph, game-worn patch, and extremely low print run – It ticks a lot of boxes for collectors.
This Platinum parallel is limited to just 5 copies, and the high-grade PSA 9 helped it achieve a 7-figure sale.
Record Sale: $1,080,000 (graded PSA 9) – August 2022.
9. 2009-10 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual Logoman Autograph LeBron James / Kobe Bryant #DL-BJ
Upper Deck’s Exquisite patch autograph cards are some of the most sought-after cards of the modern era, especially when they feature two of the NBA’s greatest ever players like this one.
This 1-of-1 treasure contains game-used NBA Logoman patches from both players, alongside their blue-ink signatures.
Despite its modest grade, it’s still an incredibly prestigious card, and it’s one of the most valuable of its era.
Record Sale: $1,161,440 (graded PSA 9) – August 2024.
8. 2003-04 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Ultimate Logos Signature Kobe Bryant #KB-L
This is one of Kobe Bryant’s greatest and most valuable cards ever. It’s the 1-of-1 Logoman autograph card from 2003-04 UD Ultimate Collection.
It features an on-card blue-ink signature alongside a game-used NBA Logoman patch, which make it an absolute gem of a card.
Record Sale: $1,584,643 (graded PSA 9) – August 2024.
7. 2006-07 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection All NBA Access Triple Logoman Michael Jordan / LeBron James / Kobe Bryant #TL-JJB
Here’s another great 1-of-1 card that features Kobe Bryant and a game-used NBA Logoman patch, but this time he’s alongside fellow basketball legends Michael Jordan and LeBron James.
There are no autographs on this one, but the unique concept of having 3 game-used Logoman patches from 3 of the NBA’s greatest ever gives the card huge prestige.
Record Sale: $1,680,000 (graded PSA Authentic) – August 2022.
6. 2003-04 Upper Deck Exquisite Rookie Patch Autograph LeBron James #78
LeBron’s Exquisite Rookie Patch Autograph is considered the definitive rookie card of the modern basketball era.
It’s a premium card from a timeless, beloved set and the base version is limited to just 99 numbered copies.
The BGS 9.5 grade on this example helped make it a multi-million dollar card, confirming its place as a grail card for basketball collectors.
Record Sale: $2,400,000 (graded BGS 9.5) – October 2022.
5. 2000 Playoff Contenders Rookie Ticket Autograph Tom Brady #144
This is Tom Brady’s most iconic rookie card and one of the most recognizable football cards ever produced.
With only a small number of PSA 10s in circulation for the base card, this example hit nearly $3 million in 2021, amid strong demand for all-time NFL greats.
However, it became a horror story for the collector who paid that, as another PSA 10 copy of the card sold for only $289,000 just two years later, making it one of the biggest sports card losses ever.
Record Sale: $2,880,000 (graded PSA 10) – August 2021.
4. 2003-04 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Ultimate Logos Signature Michael Jordan #MJ-L
Here’s one of the GOAT’s greatest ever cards – The 1-of-1 Michael Jordan card from 03-04 UD Ultimate Collection, which features a game-used NBA Logoman patch alongside his on-card blue-ink signature.
It’s no surprise to see it high on the list of the most expensive cards of the 2000s, although I think if it had sold a couple of years earlier, during the height of the pandemic sports card boom, it would’ve been even higher.
Record Sale: $2,928,000 (graded PSA Authentic) – June 2024.
3. 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Rookie Ticket Autograph Tom Brady #144
We’ve seen the base version of this card above, but here’s the Championship parallel of the Brady Rookie Ticket, which adds scarcity and value.
This one is limited to 100 numbered copies, and this BGS 9 graded copy set a record for the most expensive football card of all time, when it sold for almost $4 million in 2022.
Record Sale: $3,800,000 (graded BGS 9) – February 2022.
2. 2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Autograph Superfractor Mike Trout #BDPP89
Mike Trout’s earliest cards are some of the most important baseball cards of his era.
The 1-of-1 Superfractor parallel of his coveted Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Autograph is one of the most desirable Trout cards in existence.
It’s the ultimate Mike Trout card and a centerpiece of modern baseball card collecting.
When it sold for nearly $4 million, in 2020, it became the most valuable sports card ever sold, at that time.
Record Sale: $3,840,000 (graded BGS 9) – August 2020.
1. 2003-04 Upper Deck Exquisite Rookie Patch Autograph Gold LeBron James #78
Here’s the most expensive sports card from 2000-2010, and one of the most expensive sports cards ever.
It’s yet another that we’ve already seen on this list, with the base version (/99) above, but this Gold parallel of the 03-04 UD Exquisite LeBron James RPA adds further rarity, with only 23 numbered copies – A nod to his jersey number.
The record-setting #7/23 card is helped by being one of very few BGS 9 graded copies of the iconic gem.
It’s LeBron’s best card, and it’s cemented as one of the most sought-after, and premium, modern sports cards ever produced.
Record Sale: $5,200,000 (graded BGS 9) – April 2021.
