HARDWOOD HEROES: Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird lead NBA All-Hobby Team

If you were to select an all-time NBA All-Star team, you could get into a spirited argument over who belongs based on impact and on-court heroics.

In the memorabilia market, there’s a little leeway, too, after the first few choices. But over time, collectors cast their votes in terms of demand and prices paid for various players’ items.

As such, we’ve put together a 12-player roster of the hobby’s most collectible pro basketball players ever, with a decided slant toward Hall of Famers. These 12 legends—one still active—make the cut for the uppermost echelon of NBA hobby heroes. We cast them as a starting five with seven worthy hoop stars right behind them.

Also See: Top 40 eBay sports card sales of 2023 

Yes, the positions are a formality. Each of these five could play pretty much any position on the court. We saw Magic Johnson fill in at center. Larry Bird was all over the court, doing things we expect out of both small and power forwards, shooting guards, and even point guards. You could say the same for Michael Jordan and LeBron James.

Then there’s Bill Russell, who would double up as our coach, given his success as both player/coach and head coach.

And for collectors, positions in basketball don’t matter like they do in, say, football, where the quarterback is king. Even so, we play it straight with our starting unit. Besides, it works out perfectly.

Career Stats

15 Seasons: 30.1 Pts | 6.2 Reb | 5.3 A

Also See: Michael Jordan NBA Finals sneakers sell for record $8 million 

No explanation needed. MJ had an explosive presence on the court, as reflected by his stats and individual honors: a Rookie of the Year award, 10 scoring titles, 14 All-Star selections, and five MVP awards. Then there are those six NBA championships.

Jordan’s true rookie card is #157 in Fleer’s 1986-87 set. He did appear in a limited set issued by Star in 1984, but his Fleer rookie was his first nationally distributed card. And what an iconic card it is! The photo—not as technically perfect as we’ve become accustomed to—captures Air Jordan doing as his nickname describes: skying above the competition, tongue out, ready to hammer down a crazy dunk.

Also See: Top Michael Jordan cards for collectors 

When the hobby was bubbling over in 2021, Jordan Fleer rookies were going well north of $500,000, hitting $738,000 at Goldin Co. and, in June 2022, $1.008 million at Christie’s.

In more recent months, market conditions and a decent supply have seen 10-grade Jordan rookies auction for as “little” as $180,000. Drop down to a 9 grade and you’ll see them selling for $20,000 to $25,000. But don’t count on this card doing anything but rising in value in the years ahead.

Career Stats

13 Seasons: 19.5 Pts | 7.2 Reb | 11.2 A

During the NBA’s glory days of the 1980s, Magic always had the smile, flash and ball-handling ability in full display as he triggered the Lakers’ unstoppable fast break. L.A. basketball meant Showtime, and Johnson was the ringleader. He piled up five NBA titles, won three MVP awards, and earned 12 All-Star nominations. His rivalry with Bird, starting in their college days and extending to multiple Lakers/Celtics NBA Finals, did more to launch pro basketball to new heights than any other factor.

Fittingly, Magic’s rookie card also features Bird. Topps, for its 1980-81 hoop set, came up with an unusual three-panel design that ganged a trio of players with two perforations separating their photos.

The most popular configuration features Bird and Magic along with a Julius Erving Scoring Leader panel—three Hall of Famers in one!

Owens: Bird vs. Magic was NBA's greatest rivalry

The Bird/Magic rookie has been on fire over the past decade. Prior to 2012, 10-grade examples were selling for under $10,000. But in 2021, PSA 10 examples sold for prices of $513,565 and $861,000. In 2022, another sold for $799,500.

It’s tough to find in perfect condition, thanks to print defects and often poor centering. So, even 9-grade specimens will cost $10,000 to $20,000.

On the other hand, 8- and 7-grade examples have been going for less than $5,000. To find one under $1,000, drop your sights on a 6-grade example.

Look also at Magic’s second card (his first full player card), from Topps’ 1981-82 set.

He’s flying high off the floor, poised to flip in an easy layup past Bob Dandridge and Kevin Grevey of Washington. Gem-Mint examples have been climbing: 10-grade examples have been selling for $11,000 to $20,000. Shop hard; you can find 8-grade examples for a few hundred dollars.

Career Stats

13 seasons: 15.1 Pts | 22.5 Reb | 4.3 A

His scoring stats weren’t as sexy as Wilt Chamberlain’s, but Russell was a dominant defensive stud and a key cog in 11 Boston Celtic championships (two of them as player-coach). Russell was a rebounding machine who averaged 22.5 per game during his 13-year career, leading the league five times. He won five MVP awards and was a 12-time All-Star.

Russell’s standing in the basketball hobby was sort of a slow burn. It has mirrored his time on the court; he didn’t get the publicity that Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar got, but in the end, he wins. And winning translates into hobby demand. As such, he’s our first-team center.

Russell’s rookie card appears in Topps’ 1957 set. Alas, it’s near-impossible to find Gem-Mint specimens, mainly because of all-too-common printing flaws and defects. You’re more likely to see an 8-grade—and it will sell for $175,000 to $200,000. Even 1-, 2- and 3-grade examples typically will set you back between $2,000 and $5,000.

Fittingly, Russell’s rookie captures him in a defensive mode, his eyes fixated on an opponent’s tenuous grip on the ball. (If we could guess what happened next, we’d surmise that Russell swatted the ball away.) The reverse sums up his greatest strength, which was “to block enemy shots and bottle up attacks.”

Career Stats

13 seasons: 24.3 Pts | 10 Reb | 6.3 A

During his 13-year pro career, Bird was Rookie of the Year, a three-time NBA champion, and a 12-time All-Star. He won three regular-season MVP awards and two more MVPs in the NBA Finals. He was as versatile and heady as any player you’ve ever seen. A dogged defender, Bird averaged ten rebounds a game in his career and also earned three All-Defensive Team honors.

He was even better on the other side of the ball. His all-around skill as an offensive threat made him impossible to defend. He was as dangerous launching 3-pointers as he was posting up in the paint. And his passing was creative and efficient. If there ever were a “point forward,” Bird would be it.

As noted in our Magic Johnson bit, Bird’s first trading card came in the tri-fold-panel Topps’s 1980-81 set.

The photo of Bird on the front of the card shows him in nondescript action—sort of sizing up an opponent. The reverse side gives us more data on Bird and Magic than you’d expect. (Don’t forget: Dr. J’s Scoring Leader image needed backing, too: a list of the 10 leading scorers in 76ers history.) For Magic and Bird, we get abbreviated rookie stats with quick highlights for each, plus a pair of those vintage cartoon drawings. (Did you know Magic majored in telecommunications at Michigan State, while Bird was the first Indiana State player to make the NBA?)

Bird’s second card (his first full card) appeared in Topps’ 1981-82 set. It’s a good-looking item that, like Magic’s first full card, has been gaining momentum. In February 2021, Heritage Auctions got $49,200 for a PSA 10 specimen. Another PSA 10 sold three months later for quite a bit less: $28,800.

Dropping your sights to a 9 grade will get you under $1,000. A current look at eBay reveals more than 20 auctions where PSA 9-graded 1981-82 Bird cards sold for prices between $500 and $875.

Career Stats

20 Seasons: 25.4 Pts | 7.8 Reb | 7.3 A (through December 2023)

Also See: LeBron James signs exclusive deal with Fanatics 

Even at age 39, Lebron James—now playing in his 21st season—exhibits the same fire, passion, and athleticism we’ve been seeing the past two decades. In the process, he continues “revising” the NBA record books. In February 2023, James became the game’s all-time points leader, breaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record. Nine months later, at the start of the 2023-24 season, he broke Kareem’s record for total minutes played.

By early 2024, James also ranked fourth all-time in assists, seventh in points per game, and 33rd in rebounds. He’s been named to 19 All-Star games and won four regular-season MVP awards. He’s also got four championship rings and four NBA Finals MVP awards.

Unlike most of the other luminaries on our list, James doesn’t have a single rookie card. He came up at a time when multiple manufacturers were producing multiple basketball sets every year. As such, you’ll find more than 60 cards—thank you, Fleer, Topps, and Upper Deck—that lay claim as Lebron’s rookie card.

The headliner is usually his 2003-04 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection card. It features a smallish photo of a headband-wearing James dribbling high while surveying the court. Underneath that image is a small jersey patch. And along the bottom is a bold blue autograph.

Also See: Top LeBron James cards for collectors 

In 2020, a BGS 9.5-grade specimen of James’ Exquisite Collection rookie sold for $1.845 million at Goldin Co., setting a then-record for modern-day cards.

A year later, in April 2021, PWCC Marketplace shocked the hobby with the private sale of a BGS 9 version for an astonishing $5.2 million. It set a record for basketball cards and matched the all-time sports card record (also $5.2 million for a Mickey Mantle 1952 Topps card) at the time.

Showing how volatile auctions can be, another BGS 9-grade example of that same card sold for “only” $1.7 million at Goldin. And in a 2022 auction at Heritage, a BGS 8.5 example sold for $885,000.

Clearly, the Exquisite Collection issue is the collector’s choice when it comes to Lebron rookies. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t other worthy targets, from Upper Deck’s 2003-04 Ultimate Collection rookie (autographed and issued in a run of 250) to its 2003-04 SP Authentic (also autographed and from a run of 500) to its SPx (an autographed jersey card issued in an edition of 750).

Topps’ 2003-04 Chrome card of James is another desirable rookie. You’ll see that one selling in the $500,000 region if in Gem-Mint condition.

Career Stats:

20 Seasons: 25 Pts | 5.2 Reb | 4.7 A

Also See: Unique Kobe Bryant tributes 

In the NBA’s post-Jordan years, Bryant had become the face of pro basketball. As the Lakers’ lead dog, he won five NBA championships and earned 18 All-Star Game appearances. The son of former NBA player Joe “Jelly Bean” Bryant, Kobe was a natural who won four All-Star Game MVP awards, two NBA Finals MVPs and one regular-season MVP. He led the NBA in scoring four times and made the All-Defensive First Team nine times.

Bryant’s tragic death in a stunning 2020 helicopter accident sent demand for Kobe-bilia skyrocketing, and it has remained in the stratosphere.

His rookie card, as you’d expect, is always in demand. But as with LeBron, it can be confusing because there isn’t just one. Topps, Fleer, and Upper Deck all included Kobe in their various lines of 1996-97 sets.

His 1996-97 Topps Chrome card stirs up collectors as much as any Kobe card. In March 2021, a Refractor variation sold for $1.795 million. It was graded BGS “Pristine/Black Label 10.” A year later, Heritage sold another BGS Pristine 10 for $795,000.

Also See: Father and son build massive Kobe collection 

If you can live without the Refractor effect, you can find 10-grade examples for $4,000 to $6,000—although trends indicate it won’t stay in that range for long. Examples graded 9 are getting $1,000 to $2,000 right now.

Another hot Kobe rookie is his 1996-97 Skybox E-X2000 card. Produced just after Fleer bought out Skybox, it’s a popular choice; we’ve seen it sell for as much as $17,255 on eBay.

Career Stats

14 Seasons: 25.7 Pts | 7.5 Reb | 9.5 A

This is the man who made triple-doubles a thing. Robertson was such a force that as a rookie, he nearly averaged a triple-double for the season. His stat line as a 22-year-old point guard for the Cincinnati Royals in 1960-61 reads 30.5 points, 10.1 rebounds and 9.7 assists per game. Undeterred, Robertson came back the following season to clear the triple-double hurdle. He averaged double-figures in all three categories: 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 11.4 assists.

Robertson not only earned Rookie of the Year, but he went on to become a 12-time All-Star and, in 1963-64, league MVP. After spending his first ten years with Cincinnati, “The Big O” was dealt to Milwaukee, where he teamed with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to win his only NBA title in 1970-71.

Robertson’s rookie card virtually never surfaces in 10 condition, but a smattering of 9-graded examples have sold in recent years for $50,000 to $75,000. Graded 8, it typically sells for $10,000 to $20,000. Examples graded 6 or 7 can be had for well under $5,000.

Career Stats

14 Seasons: 27 Pts | 5.8 Reb | 6.7 A

West was such a hot prospect after his college career at West Virginia that he’d have been the NBA’s No. 1 pick in the 1960 draft if not for Robertson. He wasted no time adapting to NBA play, scoring just under 18 points per game his rookie year. He would become one of the NBA’s headiest players, a crunch-time specialist who earned the nickname “Mr. Clutch.”

West was a 14-time All-Star who led the NBA in scoring in 1969-70 (31.2) and assists in 1971-72 (9.7). His crowning glory came in 1971-72 when he quarterbacked the Lakers to a 69-13 record (setting the mark for most wins in a season at the time) and the NBA championship.

After his playing days, West went on to become a successful coach, scout, and general manager: The Lakers won six championship rings during his time as GM. He won the NBA’s Executive of the Year twice—with the Lakers in 1995 and the Memphis Grizzlies in 2004.

West’s rookie card is a key to Fleer’s 1961-62 set. The reverse notes that opponents called him the “biggest six-foot, three-inch player you’ll ever see.”

In recent years, 9-grade examples of West’s rookie have sold for between $75,000 and $100,000. An 8-grade example is in the $10,000 to $15,000 range. Even 6s and 7s usually land between $2,000 and $7,000. To get a West rook for less than $1,000, look for examples graded 4.

Career Stats

14 Seasons: 30.1 Pts | 22.9 Reb | 4.4 A

Also See: From Kareem to Wilt, 1973 Topps Basketball filled with Hall of Famers 

Wilt the Stilt is perhaps the most imposing player in NBA history. His 7-foot-1 frame came with lots of muscular bulk, perfect for inside power moves and rugged defense. He’s the only player ever to score 100 points in one game and 4,000 in a season. His scoring average in 1961-62 is almost unbelievable: 50.4 points per game. He also set a record by snagging 55 rebounds in a single game. The NBA Rookie of the Year in 1959-60, Wilt went on to win seven scoring titles, four MVP awards, and two championships.

Chamberlain’s rookie card appears in the same set as those of Robertson and West: 1961-62 Fleer.

It rarely shows up in Gem-Mint condition, but Near-Mint examples graded 9 can sell for $200,000 to $300,000. PSA puts the price of an 8-grade Wilt rookie at $54,000.

If you’re dying to add one to your collection at a budget price, nose around for low-grade examples. However, even 3s, 4s, and 5s will set you back $3,000 to $7,000.

Career Stats

20 Seasons: 24.5 Pts | 11.2 Reb | 3.6 A

Also See: Historic 1975-76 Topps Basketball filled with NBA legends 

Part of us wanted to go with an all-center frontcourt. Imagine Russell, Chamberlain, and Kareem crowding the paint together. As it is, we’ve got Abdul-Jabbar coming off the bench—not fair, perhaps, considering his long, remarkable career. He was the Brett Favre of basketball, rarely missing a game. In 18 of his 20 seasons, he played in at least 74 games. The other two seasons weren’t far off: 62 and 65.

Abdul-Jabbar was the NBA’s all-time scoring leader until LeBron passed him in 2023. Kareem’s signature shot—the sky hook—was a thing of beauty, as automatic a play as any in sports. And he was a winner, anchoring six NBA championship teams. There’s not enough space to do justice to his career, so let’s get to that rookie card.

It’s apropos that Abdul-Jabbar’s rookie card appeared in the first of only two “tall-boy” Topps basketball issues: the 1969-70 set. At the time, he was still going by Lew Alcindor. And at 7-foot-2, the rookie fit the 4 11/16th-inch card design quite nicely.

It was unusual in that era for Topps to devote cards to fresh-out-of-college players, but the company did so here. The reverse shows Alcindor’s college stats, including a 26.4 scoring average at UCLA. It also makes note of his five-year, $1.25 million contract with the Milwaukee Bucks.

While Abdul-Jabbar’s rookie card is in high demand, its pricing can be a little puzzling. To wit: Heritage sold a very rare PSA 10 specimen for $501,900 back in 2016. Just a year later, another PSA 10 got away for about half that price: $240,000.

More recently, in 2021, a PSA 9 Alcindor rookie went for $204,000 at Heritage, indicating that Gem-Mint 10s may be headed back toward the stratosphere established in 2016.

Career Stats

16 Seasons: 24.2 Pts | 8.5 Reb | 4.2 A

Julius Erving was the American Basketball Association’s brightest star, and he shined, especially in the league’s innovative slam-dunk contests. For fun, look up Dr. J’s 1976 slam dunk on YouTube and watch his jaw-dropping performance, which included that memorable highlight where he got a running jump and then leaped off the foul line, staying airborne long enough to hammer the ball through the rim.

He did all of that and more in-game action. Dr. J was a four-time MVP, five-time All-ABA and seven-time All-NBA. He played in 11 NBA All-Star games and was the catalyst on three title-winning teams—two in the ABA and one in the NBA.

Erving’s rookie card appeared in Topps’ 1972 set. Printing defects have limited the number of Gem-Mint 10 examples (PSA shows only one). High-end collectors are more likely to find 9-grade examples. The top end includes recent sales of $57,600, $43,200, and $31,200, all at Heritage in 2021. More recent sales have seen it fall to $19,800 and $19,200, so it’s worth watching as a speculative buy. You can find 7-grade Dr. J rookies selling for $3,000 to $5,000 and 6-grade examples for only $400 to $800.

The card itself features a clean photograph of Erving in his red Virginia Squires jersey against a bright yellow background and period typography reflective of 1970s tastes. The flip side shows us Dr. J’s 27.3 scoring average as a rookie—and tells us he wears a size 15 sneaker.

Career Stats

14 Seasons: 27.4 Pts | 13.5 Reb | 4.3 A

This 6-5, 225-pound L.A. Lakers star was the prototypical power forward—strong, quick, and athletic. Ten times in his 14-year NBA career, he averaged at least 24 point—and in three of those seasons he averaged 30-plus points. His acrobatic style—marked by explosive dunks, slashing drives, and high-flying jump shots—influenced Dr. J, Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, Clyde Drexler, and countless other NBA stars. In fact, while you’re searching for Dr. J clips on YouTube, check out Baylor’s best moments.

Elgin was also a ballhawk under the boards, hauling in 13.5 rebounds per game over his career. He was NBA Rookie of the Year in 1958-59 and went on to become an 11-time All-Star.

Baylor’s rookie card is yet another from that pivotal 1961-62 Fleer set. Again, good luck ever seeing one in Gem-Mint 10 condition. But when 9s come up, they sell for upwards of $30,000. Even 9-graded Baylor rookies are tough to find.

You’re more likely to see lesser-condition examples, which, of course, are relatively budget-friendly. Top eBay seller Probstein123 recently sold a number of Baylor rookies at sub-$1,000 prices: $745 for an ungraded (but off-center) example, $699 for a BVG 6, $660 for an SGC 5.5, and $520 for a BVG 5.5.

Which active players will be pushing for a spot on our all-time, all-collectible NBA team? How about these 10?

Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks

Card: 2018 Panini Prizm. A Red Shimmer Refractor sold for $198,000 in 2021, while a Neon Green fetched $144,000 the same year.

Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

Card: 2009-10 Topps Chrome Refractor. A PSA Gem-Mint 10 sold for $96,000 at Heritage in 2022.

Shai Gilgeious-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

Card: 2018 Panini Immaculate auto patch card. A slew of variations sold on eBay the past three months for $2,000 to $4,500.

Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

Card: 2015-16 autographed Panini National Treasures. A BGS 10 marked #23/99 sold for $4,966 on 39 bids on eBay.

Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers

Card: 2014-15 Panini National Treasures. Recent eBay auctions saw two of these Embiid rookies sell for $4,932 on 47 bids (BGS 9.5) and $4,550 on 49 bids (BGS 9).

Victor Wembanyama, Milwaukee Bucks

Card: 2023-24 autographed Bowman University Chrome. A Green variation marked #46/99 sold recently for $13,201 on 48 bids. Another BGS 10 fetched $9,800 on 61 bids.

Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder

Card: 2022-23 Panini National Treasures autographed patch card. An ungraded Purple Refractor sold recently for $9,076 on 30 bids.

Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns

Card: 2007-08 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection auto patch card. A BGS 9-grade specimen sold recently for $13,433 on 72 bids.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

Card: 2013-14 Panini Immaculate Collection auto patch card. A BGS 9 example (#97/99) sold in November for $11,150 on 58 bids. A SGC 9 grade (#72/99) sold for $8,199 on 74 bids.

Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

Card: 2017-18 Panini Flawless auto patch card. A vertical Gold (BGS 9) marked #1/10 sold for $13,600 on 62 bids in December. A horizontal Ruby (BGS 9) marked #7/15 sold for $11,312 on 41 bids.