VINTAGE BASKETBALL
Paul Pierce
1998 Finest #235
Rookie Card
PSA Grade: GEM MT 10
1998 Topps Finest checklist includes some big names like Dirk Nowitzki, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan and Vince Carter; however, the NBA legend and first-ballot Hall of Famer, Paul Pierce likely needs no introduction. For whatever reason, Paul Pierce rookie cards don't always get the same recognition as other stars.
Pierce spent the bulk of his 19-year career with the Boston Celtics. "The Truth" is perhaps best remembered from 2007-08, when he led the Celtics to a title over Kobe and the Lakers, and won the Finals MVP.
His NBA card career got underway in 1998-99 sets. In total, collectors can find 18 Paul Pierce rookie cards. Although his ungraded base cards remain relatively affordable, high-grade versions and limited parallels continue to push higher.
With arguably one of the best-looking Paul Pierce rookie cards, especially once the protective coating has been removed, 1998-99 Finest Basketball presents a strong base card and a desirable refractor.
Kevin Garnett
1995-96 Flair
Class of ’95
CGC Grade: GEM MT 10
Known for his surly demeanor and intense play, the smile of a young Kevin Garnett on this rookie card is incredibly misleading. The teenage rookie was the first high school player drafted straight to the NBA since 1975. It would start a trend of high school draftees that would continue until the rules were altered to force high school graduates to wait one year before they could enter the draft.
These 250-standard size cards comprise Fleer's premium 1995-96 Flair set which was issued in two separate series of 150 and 100 cards respectively. Player selection was restricted to recognized starters, top rookies and top players off the bench.
Seeded in first series packs at the same rate as regular issue cards, these 15-cards were added to the first series Flair product just prior to release. Each card features one of the top rookies from the 1995 NBA draft in their new pro uniforms. Full color, cutout player action shots are placed against a glowing orange basketball backdrop. The set is sequenced in alphabetical order.
Dennis Rodman
1994 Fleer #6
Pro-Visions
PSA Grade: GEM MT 10
The 1990’s had some of the best inserts, and randomly-inserted in all first-series packs at a rate of one in five, these nine standard-size cards highlight some top NBA stars. Borderless fronts feature color paintings of the players on fanciful backgrounds. The player's name appears in gold-foil lettering in a lower corner. The back carries career highlights on a colorful ghosted abstract background. Limited to only 9 players, these cards featured Jamal Mashburn, John Starks, Toni Kukoc, Derrick Coleman, Chris Webber, Dennis Rodman, Gary Payton, Anfernee Hardaway, and Dan Majerle.
Dee Brown
1991 Skybox #13
PSA Grade: GEM MT 10
The complete 1991-92 SkyBox basketball set contains 659 standard-size cards. The set was released in two series of 350 and 309 cards, respectively. The fronts feature color action player photos overlaying multi-colored computer-generated geometric shapes and stripes. The pictures are borderless and the card face is white. The player's name appears in different color lettering at the bottom of each card, with the team logo in the lower right corner. In a trapezoid shape, the backs have non-action color player photos. At the bottom biographical and statistical information appear inside a color-striped diagonal.
Dee Brown was selected by the Celtics with the 19th pick of the 1990 NBA draft. He was a member of the NBA All-Rookie Team in his first year, when he played in all 82 games and averaged 8.7 points per game. One of the highlights of his career occurred in 1991, when he won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest with a no look slam dunk.
Toni Kukoc
1994 Upper Deck #9
All-Rookie Team
PSA Grade: GEM MT 10
The 1994-95 Upper Deck basketball set consists of 360 standard-size cards, released in two separate 180-card series. Fronts feature full-color action photos with player's name and team running in color-coded bars along the side. Topical subsets featured are All-Rookie Team (1-10), All-NBA (11-25), USA Basketball (167-180), Draft Analysis (181-198), and Then and Now (352-360). Rookie Cards of note include Grant Hill, Juwan Howard, Eddie Jones, Jason Kidd and Glenn Robinson.
Toni Kukoc was one of the first, established European stars to play in NBA. He played for four NBA teams between 1993 and 2006, winning the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award in 1996. He is a three-time NBA champion, having won championships with the Chicago Bulls in 1996, 1997, and 1998.
Reggie Miller #215
1992 Topps Gold
PSA Grade: GEM MT 10
Reggie Miller was one of the best natural shooters in the history of the game. He was also one of the fiercest competitors and trash talkers in history. Miller was a player who made the game come alive. But Reggie was best known for a remarkable amount of quality in the clutch. For example, in the 1992 playoffs, he shot 62% from beyond the arc and 58% from the field.
Other popular players from the 1992 Topps set include Alonzo Mourning, Christian Laettner, Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal… but you can’t sleep on a classic Reggier Miller “50 point club” card either.
Gold foil versions of the regular cards were inserted one per 15-card plastic-wrap pack. Gold foil cards were also inserted two per 18-card mini-jumbo pack, three per 45-card retail rack pack, five per 41-card magazine jumbo pack, and 12 per factory set. In addition, complete Gold factory sets were made at the end of the season. These sets include all 396 cards, plus a seven-card Gold Beam Team insert set. The cards are identical in design to the regular issue, except that on the fronts the team color-coded stripes carrying player information are replaced by gold foil stripes. Reportedly, only 10,000 factory sets were produced. Four different player cards replaced the checklist cards found in the regular 396-card set.
1989 Fleer #23
Scottie Pippen
PSA Grade: GEM MT 10
The 1989 Fleer basketball set is overwhelmed with nostalgia. While there may not be any huge rookie cards in the set, one thing stands out clearly: the checklist is loaded with big-name stars of an era marked by fierce competition and bitter rivalry. Of the 168 cards in the set, 24 of them are Hall of Famers. And many of these players are considered among the very best at their respective positions in NBA history.
During the 1989-1990 season, Pippen increased his scoring output to 16.5 points per game while averaging 6.7 rebounds and 5.4 assists while earning his first trip to the All-Star Game in his second NBA season. He continued to develop his defensive skills, too, as his 1.2 blocks per game were a career high while his 2.6 steals per game were the second-highest of his career.
Surprisingly, he wasn't selected to the All-Defensive team that year.
However, he would go on to be named to the All-Defensive First Team eight times and the All-Defensive Second Team two times over the rest of his career. Though their season ended in another heartbreak Eastern Conference Finals loss to the Pistons, Pippen and Jordan were clearly developing into the most dangerous 1-2 punch in league history.
Shaquille O’Neal
1992 Topps #362
PSA Grade: GEM MT 10
Marking the company’s re-entry to the hobby, the 1992 Topps basketball card set was a sight for sore eyes for basketball card collectors. Not since 1981 had Topps been in the basketball card business, often believing there wasn’t enough demand. Thanks to Michael Jordan’s extreme popularity and the hype surrounding a couple of key rookies, that all changed in 1992…
Not to mention, the “Dream Team” had just finished off a historically dominant performance during the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. Basketball was as hot as ever and Topps was ready to capitalize.
Sadly, like the 1992 Fleer, Hoops, Skybox and Upper Deck sets, print runs of these cards flooded the market and prices have fallen as a result.
After the Orlando Magic drafted Shaq with the first pick of the 1992 NBA Draft, the big man immediately took the league by storm, becoming the first rookie in NBA history to be named the Player of the Week during his first week in the league. He was also the first rookie to be named to the All-Star team since Michael Jordan did so in 1985.
At 7'1" and 325 pounds, Shaq became a nightmare for opposing teams to try and stop, as demonstrated on his Topps rookie card. As Minnesota small forward Bob McCann somehow gets mixed up with him down in the post, Shaq eagerly calls for the ball as he has a golden opportunity to score on the 6'6" McCann.
The Diesel would claim Rookie of the Year honors for the 1992-93 season after posting per-game averages of 23.4 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks. His free throw shooting percentage of 59%, while terrible, was also the third-highest of his Hall of Fame career.
Rony Seikaly
1990 Fleer #102
Error Card – “Ron” on Front
Rookie Cards of note in the set include Nick Anderson, Mookie Blaylock, Vlade Divac, Sean Elliott, Tim Hardaway, Shawn Kemp, Glen Rice, and Clifford Robinson. However, the 1990 Rony Seikaly #102 trading card is a rare error card that features Michael Jordan in the photo and spells Seikaly's name as "Ron" in front of the card. It's a valuable addition to any basketball fan or trading card collector's collection.
Sikaly was one of the first, internationally-born players to make an impact on American basketball. Considered one of the top college players from the Syracuse basketball program, Seikaly’s stellar offence and defense placed him among the school’s all-time leaders in rebounds, points and blocks, while earning several nationally-recognized awards and honors. Drafted by the Heat with the 9th pick of the 1988 draft, he developed into one of the best centers NBA and the team’s top offensive and defensive contributors. He would win the NBA player of the week twice, and also amassed many of the team’s records.
Magic Johnson RC
1988 Fleer #67
PSA Grade: GEM MT 10
While Jordan was named league MVP the previous year, it was Magic Johnson and the Lakers crowned as champions of the 1987-88 season. And, heading into the 1988-89 season, hopes could not have been any higher in Los Angeles as the team was looking to three-peat as NBA champions. However, after sweeping the Phoenix Suns to win the Western Conference, the Lakers ran into a wall in the NBA Finals as the Detroit Pistons swept them. We all know Magic would have much rather won the championship, but for his efforts that season, he did earn his second of three career MVP awards.
Earvin “Magic” Johnson Jr. is one of four players to win the NCAA National Championship (1979) and the NBA Finals Championship (1980) in consecutive seasons. Magic was the Number 1 overall pick of the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1979 NBA Draft. He immediately drove his team to the 1980 NBA Finals Championship and was selected for the NBA All-Rookie First Team. Beginning with the 1979 NCAA Tournament championship game, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird inspired a generation of basketball players with their tenacity, passion, showmanship, skill and unrelenting competitiveness throughout their respective Hall of Fame career. During a time when the NBA’s fan base was fading and they struggled for viewership, the two infused a coast-to-coast rivalry that captivated audiences and revived interest throughout the country. Magic’s amazing no-look and behind the back passes as well as his legendary head fakes made him the league’s premier showman.
Tim Duncan
1998 Topps Gold Label
Black Label #GL7
PSA Grade: GEM MT 10
“Gold Label” is a 10-card insert set that is associated with 1998-99 Topps basketball cards. Gold Label has two parallels, Gold Label Black Label and Gold Label Red Label. The set features 10 of the top stars of the day, including Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. Although the Jordan #GL1 Gold Label is the top-trending card, other players like Dirk Nowitzki, Paul Pierce and Vince Carter also make the list.
Tim Duncan spent his entire 19-year career with the San Antonio Spurs, and is widely-regarded as the greatest power forward of all time. He was fundamental in the franchise’s success during the 2000’s. He was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame in 2020, and named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.
Kevin Garnett
1995 Topps
#237 Rookie Card
PSA Grade: GEM MT 10
Looking for a Kevin Garnett rookie cards, there’s a fair amount of choice but not a lot of confusion. Releasing in 1995-96, several companies had NBA licenses at the time, however base cards still dominated checklists. In total, there are 15 different Kevin Garnett rookie cards that are part of base sets. A Hall of Famer and one of the game’s greats, all carry value but most are still affordable to virtually every budget unless you’re looking at top-grade copies.
For a long time, this was one of KG’s most-affordable rookie cards. But base Topps has taken off in basketball as collectors look for tradition and a running through line among brands. Garnett is considered one of the greatest power forwards of all time, known for his intensity, versatility, and defensive ability. As of 2024, he is one of five NBA players to have won both the NBA Most Valuable Player award, and the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award.
Dennis Rodman
1994-95 Fleer Ultra
Ultra Power #9
CGC Grade: GEM MT 10
Vibrant and unapologetically 90’s, this was a great set from a time when big men ruled the court. Randomly inserted in all first series packs at an approximate rate of one in three, cards from this 10-card standard-size set feature a selection of the NBA's most powerful stars. This set features color player action cutouts set on a colorful and sparkly starburst background design. The player's name appears in vertical gold lettering in a lower corner. The colorful starburst design continues on the borderless horizontal back, which carries a color player head shot on one side, and career highlights on the other. The cards are numbered on the back as "X of 10." The set was sequenced in alphabetical order too.
The six-foot-eight-inch forward led the NBA in rebounds per game for a record-setting seven consecutive seasons from 1991 to 1998. A two-time Defensive Player of the Year and seven-time All-Defensive First Team honoree, Rodman loved doing the dirty work that is crucial to a team's success. "The Worm" won his first NBA championship in 1989 with the Detroit Pistons. The following year Rodman was the league's best defender and he helped the Pistons capture a second consecutive ring. In 1995, after a short stint with the San Antonio Spurs, Rodman landed in Chicago where he teamed with fellow Hall of Famers Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan to bring the Windy City three titles in three years.
Allen Iverson
1996 Collector’s Choice
#301 Rookie Card
PSA Grade: GEM MT 10
A stacked rookie class, 1996-97 products included Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Ray Allen among others. A staple of 1990s collecting, Collector's Choice was the main, low-end offering from Upper Deck and a great way to get inexpensive cards of the top players.
Equal parts passion and ability, Allen Iverson wowed the league during his impressive career and earned the respect of collectors along the way, leading to significant interest in Allen Iverson rookie cards. Although he had plenty of ups and downs, and never claimed that elusive NBA title, "The Answer" proved he was one of the greatest guards of his era. Iverson played for Georgetown University before making the jump to the NBA. Four teams and 11 All-Star nods later, AI officially retired in 2013. He also added an MVP Award in 2000-01 and was the Rookie of the Year in 1996-97.
Larry Bird #4
1981 Topps Rookie Card
Beckett Grade: Authentic
Beckett Auto Grade: 10
The “Hick from French Lick” was featured in the 1981-82 Topps basketball checklist, and features Larry in his first-ever base card. A great value, but tricky grade; the borders in this release are notoriously problematic, and the centering could be much better. Very thin borders cause common centering issues, but a Beckett autograph grade of 10 (on this specific card) really increases its’ value.
The photo of 1981 Topps Larry Bird #4 is a simple one, but Bird looks very cool here. The green borders are perfect for a Celtics card, adding to the appealing look. The comic book explosion style lettering works well here too. And it represents a stage in his career when he was already one of the best players in the league, but was not yet dominant. No wonder he won Rookie of the Year, that rookie season racked up numbers averaging 21.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.7 steals per game. Bird is one of two players in NBA history to capture the NBA’s Most Valuable Player Award in three consecutive seasons (1984-1986), and honor he shares with fellow Celtic and Hall of Famer Bill Russell.
Vince Carter
1998 Finest
#230 Rookie Card
PSA Grade: GEM MT 10
When it debuted in 1993-94, Finest was basketball’s first chromium line. By the time 1998-99 Finest came out it had some competition from within. As other lines were rising in popularity, Finest got a little big stagnant. But it’s still chromium so it’s still stable as far as values go. This is one of the years where Topps added a film to the front to protect the surface from scratching and damage. The film can be removed or kept in place.
Vince Carter is an eight-time All-Star and a two-time All-NBA Team selection. He played a record 22 seasons in the NBA, tied with LeBron for the most seasons played in league history. Hs is also the only player to have played in the NBA in four different decades. In 2024, Carter was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.