Sports card collecting has gone from hobbyists to alternative investments in a matter of a few decades. Rare trading cards now regularly sell for four figures – even on eBay.
This August, we witnessed several junk wax-era basketball cards sell for surprising amounts. From a 1989 Hoops David Robinson card fetching $320 to the creme de la creme, a 1995 Topps Michael Jordan card, commanding an eye-watering sum.
Swipe down as we count down the top 25 highest-selling basketball cards from this golden era, detailing their sale prices, grades, bids, and more.
RELATED: Use The JunkWax10 Coupon At Checkout On BCW Supplies For 10% Off.
25. 1989 Hoops David Robinson, $320
- Sale Price: $320
- Grade: PSA 10
- Bids: 30
- Card Population At PSA 10: 818
- Pack Price: $20+
24. 1991 Fleer Michael Jordan, $346
- Sale Price: $346
- Grade: PSA 10
- Bids: 20
- Card Population At PSA 10: 835
- Pack Price: $18+
23. 1992 Fleer Michael Jordan, $372
- Sale Price: $372
- Grade: PSA 9
- Bids: 24
- Card Population At PSA 9: 192
- Card Population At PSA 10: 29
- Pack Price: $12+
22. 1991 Nike Michael Jordan, $405
- Sale Price: $405
- Grade: PSA 6
- Bids: 4
- Card Population At PSA 6: 3
- Card Population At PSA 10: 1
- Pack Price: NA
21. 1994 Sky Box Michael Jordan, $415
- Sale Price: $415
- Grade: CSG 9.5
- Bids: 27
- Pack Price: $19+
20. 1992 Stadium Club Shaquille O’Neal, $427
- Sale Price: $427
- Grade: PSA 9
- Bids: 35
- Card Population At PSA 9: 1119
- Card Population At PSA 10: 20
- Pack Price: NA
19. 1995 Fleer Shaquille O’Neal, $510
- Sale Price: $510
- Grade: PSA 10
- Bids: 28
- Card Population At PSA 10: 95
- Pack Price: $150+
18. 1995 Skybox Premium Michael Jordan, $615
- Sale Price: $615
- Grade: PSA 9
- Bids: 41
- Card Population At PSA 9: 43
- Card Population At PSA 10: 5
- Pack Price: $300+
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17. 1995 Topps Kevin Garnett, $711
- Sale Price: $711
- Grade: PSA 10
- Bids: 39
- Card Population At PSA 10: 343
- Pack Price: $16+
16. 1995 Fleer Michael Jordan, $760
- Sale Price: $760
- Grade: SGC 10
- Bids: 29
- Pack Price: $50+
15. 1995 Skybox Premium Michael Jordan, $800
- Sale Price: $800
- Grade: PSA 10
- Bids: 33
- Card Population At PSA 10: 40
- Pack Price: $300+
14. 1991 Upper Deck Holograms Michael Jordan, $812
- Sale Price: $812
- Grade: PSA 10
- Bids: 34
- Card Population At PSA 10: 135
- Pack Price: $19+
13. 1992 Upper Deck Shaquille O’Neal, $860
- Sale Price: $860
- Grade: PSA 10
- Bids: 16
- Card Population At PSA 10: 447
- Pack Price: NA
12. 1995 SkyBox Michael Jordan, $976
- Sale Price: $976
- Grade: BGS 10
- Bids: 25
- Pack Price: $300+
11. 1995 Collector’s Choice SE Michael Jordan, $998
- Sale Price: $998
- Grade: PSA 10
- Bids: 22
- Card Population At PSA 10: 40
- Pack Price: $59+
10. 1992 Hoops Shaquille O’Neal, $1,259
- Sale Price: $1259
- Grade: BGS 10
- Bids: 51
- Pack Price: $13+
9. 1992 Topps Shaquille O’Neal, $1,136
- Sale Price: $1136
- Grade: PSA 10
- Bids: 22
- Card Population At PSA 10: 752
- Pack Price: NA
8. 1995 Stadium Club Michael Jordan, $1,150
- Sale Price: $1150
- Grade: PSA 10
- Bids: 36
- Card Population At PSA 10: 93
- Pack Price: $349+
7. 1995 Skybox Premium Meltdown Michael Jordan, $1,175
- Sale Price: $1175
- Grade: BGS 9
- Bids: 42
- Pack Price: $300+
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6. 1995 SkyBox E-XL Michael Jordan, $1,525
- Sale Price: $1525
- Grade: PSA 9
- Bids: 28
- Card Population At PSA 9: 179
- Card Population At PSA 10: 52
- Pack Price: $545+
5. 1995 Upper Deck Michael Jordan, $1,802
- Sale Price: $1802
- Grade: PSA 10
- Bids: 46
- Card Population At PSA 10: 6
- Pack Price: $59+
4. 1993 Topps Michael Jordan, $2,358
- Sale Price: $2358
- Grade: PSA 9
- Bids: 66
- Card Population At PSA 9: 434
- Card Population At PSA 10: 41
- Pack Price: NA
3. 1993-1994 Fleer Michael Jordan, $2,950
- Sale Price: $2950
- Grade: PSA 9
- Bids: 48
- Card Population At PSA 9: 300
- Card Population At PSA 10: 97
- Pack Price: NA
2. 1992 Stadium Club Michael Jordan, $6,700
- Sale Price: $6700
- Grade: PSA 10
- Bids: 46
- Card Population At PSA 10: 67
- Pack Price: $125+
1. 1995 Topps Michael Jordan, $7,777
- Sale Price: $7777
- Grade: PSA 10
- Bids: 47
- Card Population At PSA 10: 50
- Pack Price: $349+
Conclusion
August 2023’s eBay basketball card sales showcase several noteworthy trends, including:
- Michael Jordan’s Dominance: Michael Jordan remains the most significant figure on the basketball collectible card market. Of the top 25 cards, a staggering 18 feature Jordan, and these cards span various manufacturers and grades.
- Grades Matter, But Not Always: While higher grades like PSA 10 generally fetched better prices, cards with iconic players, especially in limited quantities, still commanded a premium. For instance, a PSA 6-graded 1991 Nike Michael Jordan card, with only three in existence at that grade, sold for $405, surpassing many higher-graded cards of other players.
- The Rise of Other Players: Beyond Jordan, there’s increasing interest in other legendary players like Shaquille O’Neal and David Robinson. Cards featuring Shaq, for instance, appeared multiple times in the list, with his 1992 Hoops card fetching over $1,200.
- Card Populations Play a Role: A lower card population at high grades tends to push prices higher, as seen with the 1995 Upper Deck Michael Jordan card, which, with only six PSA 10 graded cards in existence, commanded a price of $1,802.
- Varied Manufacturers and Pack Prices: The data highlights cards from several manufacturers like Hoops, Fleer, and SkyBox, among others. The pack prices also varied significantly, from as low as $12 to as high as $349, showcasing a broad spectrum of accessibility for collectors of different budgets.
While the Junk Wax Era might have been initially maligned for its overproduction, time has clearly separated the wheat from the chaff.
See the top basketball cards sold on eBay in July 2023 or check out more junk wax card values below:
- Top 25 Highest-Selling Football Cards from the Junk Wax Era on eBay (August 2023)
- Top 25 Highest-Selling Baseball Cards from the Junk Wax Era on eBay (July 2023)
- Top 25 Highest-Selling Hockey Cards from the Junk Wax Era on eBay (July 2023)