Counterfeit Card Alert: 1997 SkyBox Premium #23 Kobe Bryant - Star Rubies

Since entering the NBA as a teenager, five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant has been one of the most collected basketball players in the hobby. His astounding pro career with the Los Angeles Lakers — one of the NBA's most storied franchises — garnered a huge fanbase and, in return, created a healthy marketplace for Bryant's cards and other memorabilia.

Although his collectibles have been highly sought-after since the late 1990s, Bryant's passing in 2020 stunned the sports world and created renewed fervor for them. Items tied to his illustrious career continue to increase in value, including some of his rarest cards, like the 1997 SkyBox Premium #23 Star Rubies parallel.

Star Rubies were parallels made of every base set card, making the debut 1997-98 version a 248-card Star Rubies set. They featured a shimmering wave-patterned foil background and red-foil SkyBox Premium, but most importantly, only 50 copies of each Star Rubies parallel were produced, making them one of the rarest parallels of the 1990s. Today, a Star Rubies parallel of Bryant is easily worth five figures, making these extremely valuable cards a prime target for counterfeiters.

Front views of the counterfeit 1997 SkyBox Premium #23 Kobe Bryant - Star Rubies compared to an authentic 1997 SkyBox Premium #18 Sherman Douglas - Star Rubies.

To the naked eye, this Bryant example is a very good counterfeit. If you did not have another Star Rubies card in hand to compare it to, it would be very difficult to determine its authenticity. That's because the card is very similar in feel, and it is correct in size and thickness compared to a real example. However, there are a few things that do not match up compared to an authentic example of a Star Rubies card.

Back views of the counterfeit 1997 SkyBox Premium #23 Kobe Bryant - Star Rubies compared to an authentic 1997 SkyBox Premium #18 Sherman Douglas - Star Rubies.

While the red foiling of the two cards looks incredibly similar, they illuminate differently under certain light settings that the grading team uses to help determine whether a card is genuine or counterfeit. It is easiest to see the difference between the two based on how the backs illuminate differently in the picture below.

Back views of the counterfeit 1997 SkyBox Premium #23 Kobe Bryant - Star Rubies compared to an authentic 1997 SkyBox Premium #18 Sherman Douglas - Star Rubies under a special light source.

When attempting to distinguish between an authentic and a counterfeit version of these Star Rubies cards, it can be helpful to check the details of the serial number stamps on the back. As you can see, the space between the "O" and "F" (in "OF") and the "5" and "0" (in "50") are different when comparing the authentic Sherman Douglas Star Rubies card to the counterfeit Kobe Bryant Star Rubies card. In addition, the thickness of the "OF 50" varies just slightly, as well.

Close-up views of the serial numbers on the back of the counterfeit and authentic cards.

With illumination of the red foil under different lighting, differences between the cards can be perceived. A close examination of the serial numbers at the top (037 vs. 032), reveals slight variations in the structure of the "0" and the "3" in the Kobe Bryant and Sherman Douglas cards.

The outsides of the "0" come to somewhat of a point on the counterfeit Bryant card, compared to the continuous curl of the "0" on the authentic Douglas card. Also, the "3" is slightly thinner on the counterfeit compared to the slightly thicker "3" on the authentic example.

Close-up views of the serial numbers on the back of the counterfeit and authentic cards under different lighting.

Additionally, the "Premium" logo on the front top right of the cards has subtle differences in the text. If you look closely, you can pick up on the difference of letter thickness within the "Premium" stamp. The tops and bottoms of the letters appear to be thinner on the authentic version compared to the counterfeit of this card.

Close-up views of the SkyBox "Premium" logo on the front of the counterfeit and authentic cards under varied lighting.

The serifs of the "E" in "Premium" are much thicker on the counterfeit, as are other letters, including the "U" and especially the "M." As we use various lighting, you can see the difference in how these foils illuminate.

These red flags that were noted on the front and back of the counterfeit 1997 SkyBox Premium #23 Kobe Bryant - Star Rubies card helped CGC Cards experts determine that it does not match an authentic 1997 SkyBox Premium - Star Rubies parallel, like the graded example below of NBA Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett. This led CGC Cards experts to make an easy call after careful analysis: The Kobe Bryant card in question is indeed a counterfeit.

Click images to enlarge.

Education is the most important tool when collecting cards. The more collectors know about the printing and manufacturing process of cards, the fewer mistakes will be made when buying cards. This example also highlights the importance of certification for any high-value card.

CGC Cards authenticates, grades and encapsulates authentic examples of cards, making the hobby a safer place for collectors, traders and sellers. To do this, CGC Cards uses world-class expertise, advanced technology, innovation and operational excellence to provide sports card collectors and dealers with accurate and consistent certification services. CGC backs these determinations with the CGC Guarantee, which adds significant confidence, liquidity and value to the hobby. To learn more about CGC's industry-leading services, visit CGCcards.com.

Related Links:

• Kevin Garnett Star Rubies Parallel Certified by CGC Cards Realizes More than $15,000 in Goldin Auction
• More Counterfeit and Altered Card Alert columns