Fake Kobe Bryant Autograph

We recently found a lot of questionable autographs on a site called onlinesportsautographs.com including this "Kobe" signed basketball.

The description states that this ball comes with a certificate of authenticity (from their company) and a serial numbered hologram. Kobe is signed exclusively with www.upperdeck.com and there are still some PSA-DNA autographs out there that are legitimate.

We invite this seller to submit proof where this ball was signed and we will update that information on this blog.




Now here is a real Kobe autograph from Upper Deck:



Do you see the difference in the "K"?

A lot of sellers will use the reasoning that Kobe has had different autographs throughout his career, which is true, so when was this ball signed? The seller doesn't say. Why is there no UDA or PSA authentication? The seller would probably say that it was signed outside the locker room or the arena after a game...which is normally false (however there are some people who make a living doing this but they don't have tons of inventory sitting around because athletes won't sign a ton of items for one person outside the arena).

Also, players like Kobe know that Upper Deck sells his signed basketballs for $499 each so he usually will refuse to sign basketballs or jerseys outside of his contract.

Finally, if this were a true Kobe autograph, why would the seller list a retail price of $149 for the ball when it would be worth way more than that? Is it because they are generous and want to give you a good deal?

Probably not.