Culture of Hoops

Kobe Talks His Final Game, 81 Points, and Panini Eminence

Image courtesy of Panini America.

Image courtesy of Panini America.

Brought to you by our friends at Panini.

For the last few weeks, the sports collectibles industry has been buzzing about Panini America’s upcoming Kobe Eminence product that honors the historic career of Los Angeles Lakers superstar and NBA icon Kobe Bryant. Prior to the initial product announcement and Monday’s dual-jersey retirement ceremony, Panini America’s Brian Bayne and Alex Carbajal spent some quality time with Bryant in the Sunshine State for a monumental three-day signing session centered around the upcoming Kobe Eminence release.

As Bryant poignantly delivered his indelible ink on a stunning array of Eminence jaw-droppers (cards embedded with diamonds, gold and platinum, five-fold booklet cards and so much more), the Black Mamba discussed just a few of the defining moments highlighting his epic career in a series of exclusive Panini America interview shorts –true must-see stuff that can be viewed after the jump.

Kobe Eminence is slated to release next month and is quite literally unlike anything ever created in the world of trading cards — and it’s been in the works for months with extensive personal input from the Black Mamba himself. Each nine-card Kobe Eminence box includes eight Bryant-autographed cards and one card featuring an ounce of gold or platinum. Each box also includes a hardcover, Kobe-signed coffee table book featuring images of every card in the set.

Yesterday, Panini America officials revealed that the product also will include randomly inserted Instant Win redemption cards good for once-in-a-lifetime experiences (such as the chance to meet Bryant during NBA All-Star 2018), VIP trips (like NBA All-Star 2019, the 2018 NBA Rookie Photo Shootand the 2018 Panini National VIP Party) and autographed Bryant memorabilia from Panini Authentic.

We’ll have much more on Kobe Eminence in the coming days right here on The Knight’s Lance. But for now, check out what Kobe himself has to say about a collection that’s as unique and as spectacular as the player it honors.

Kobe on Eminence . . .

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gnbPIy4wr4#action=share[/youtube]

Kobe on his epic 81-point game . . .

[youtube]https://youtu.be/3X71KFEIj0U[/youtube]

Kobe on his final NBA game . . .

[youtube]https://youtu.be/hYtUn7Cz8es[/youtube]

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