Yeah. I don’t have a 97-98 or a 98-99 or even a 2003-04 or an 2006-07 Kobe Essential Credentials. I think I missed my window on those - they are too expensive for me. But this one is still pretty cool. From a great lineage in the Essential Credentials high-end parallel like, this is as much of a “90’s insert” as you could get in 2004! Still, I’ll take it. It’s Kobe. It’s a cool set. It’s numbered to just over 100 and it’s now in my credentials collection. I’d move with other cards it to get into another Kobe credentials from one of the previous sets I’ve mentioned, if I had to. But for now, it will fill me void for a Kobe Credentials!

The 2005-06 EX Credentials set is amazing. The colored acetate parallels are phenomenal. While the rookie class was not exceptional, it did have Rudy Gay, Rondo, and LaMarcus Aldridge - and I think this is a great card, at a very reasonable price as I think he is a future Hall of Famer.

Achievement

Details

NBA All-Star

7× (2012–2016, 2018, 2019)

All-NBA Team

5× total: 2× Second Team (2015, 2018), 3× Third Team (2011, 2014, 2016)

NBA All-Rookie First Team

2007

20,000+ Career Points

One of only ~50 players in NBA history

NBA Career (2006–2022)

Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, Brooklyn Nets

NBA Draft

2006, 2nd overall pick (by Chicago Bulls, traded to Portland)

Clearly, this does not come from the super popular run of 97-99 essential credentials. Still, as a great lineage and his numbered to /32 I believe. The red-on-red color match is an added bonus for me. I think it will take quite a while for these to one day catch on, but I bet they will do well over time and can still be had for a fraction of the price of the early credentials acetate parallels. being a Cardinals fan, I wasn’t too concerned about value, but I think I was able to snag this one for under $50.

Pujols was a rookie in 2001, so he missed the classic 97 through 2000 essential credentials parallels. This was not the most popular or best looking of credentials however it’s still very rare and very limited. As a Cardinals fan, I was able to get this one without breaking the bank.

Trying to recover from a game 7 loss and loss of your all-star point guard for all of next year…so posting some cool Pacers cards. Here is a sweet Skybox E-X essential credentials of former all-star Jermaine O’Neal. This is my second favorite year of the credentials due to the colorful acetate cards!