The 1998-99 Hoops Slam Bams insert set was somewhat unique in that it was a parallel to an existing insert set from the same product in the Hoops Bams insert set. A Slam Bam, as it turns out, is much greater than a mere Bam.
Limited to a nearly impossible 100 copies each, this hobby exclusive ten-card set was a souped-up version of the aforementioned Bams.
The odds of getting one were basically “say a prayer but don’t expect it to be answered.”
The cards are yellowish and golden in color. The backdrop features multiple up close versions of the same image of the player featured. The word Slam is set in foil on top of an underlying Bam design at the top and bottom of the card.
In the middle of the card there’s an action shot of the player with the player’s name running bottom to top of the card and small text towards the center. The NBA Hoops logo is found near the bottom center of the card.
The card backs feature the same imagery from the front with the profile picture of the player and the action shot. The center of the card features some text about what makes the player so slammy and bammy. There is the gold foil serial numbering with the odd late nineties version where the particular serial number is a certain font and the of number is of a unmatching font.
Michael Jordan leads off the set, shown in his black pinstriped Bulls uniform (maybe my all-time favorite fit). Air Jordan is reaching high in the air with the ball over his head looking down towards the ground. Jordan actually didn’t play during the 1998-1999 season as he retired the previous year, leading the Bulls to their sixth NBA title. It would be a few years before Jordan made his return to the game, then a member of the Washington Wizards.
Kobe Bryant, then promising 20-year-old phenom, is card two in the set. Bryant is shown just as he’s finishing a two handed dunk at the rim. The picture is taken from floor level with a resulting image that’s unique. Combined with the background images, this has to rank as one of the best designed Bryant cards ever made. Kobe averaged just a tick under 20 points to go along with 5 rebounds and nearly 4 assists per game in the lockout shortened season. 
Philadelphia 76ers star point guard Allen Iverson this found at card number three in Slam Bams. Wearing jersey number three, Iverson is shown laying the ball in at the rim with that trademark intensity written all over his face. The Answer was the league’s leading scorer that season, clocking 26.8 points per game.
Lakers center Shaquille O’Neal is featured at card number four. Shaq is shown throwing down a one handed jam at the rim in his iconic gold and purple Lakers uniform. Although on a technicality, the 1998-99 season was the only year for nearly 15 seasons that Shaq wasn’t an all-star.
Halfway through the set we find San Antonio Spurs center Tim Duncan. Although he was a sophomore sensation, it was already abundantly clear how immensely skilled the Wake Forest product was in so many facets of the game. Timmy is seen slamming and bamming a two handed jam on his card.
Vancouver Grizzlies forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim is found at the sixth spot in the set. The third year sensation was a guaranteed 20 plus points per night for the Grizz in the late 1990s.
The second sophomore sensation is found at card number seven. The New Jersey Nets Keith Van Horn checks in here. Van Horn averaged a career high 21.8 points per game in 1998-99. The Pale Rider is also seen cheeks puffed and skying as he was getting ready to throw down a big dunk.
Card number eight features Detroit Pistons forward Grant Hill viciously throwing one down at the poor basket. The well rounded Duke product averaged 21 points, seven rebounds and six assists per game that season. In his prime, Hill was one of the more exciting ballers in the league.
No late 1990’s insert set is complete without Orlando Magic point guard Penny Hardaway. Orlando’s number one is seen in his blue pinstripe uniform throwing down a two handed jam on his Slam Bams. Penny averaged 15, five and five in 50 games during the shortened season.
The final card in the set features Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett. KG, as you might expect, is shown viciously throwing down a dunk on his card. The Big Ticket averaged 20 and 10 during the 98-99 NBA season.
Finding these cards is like finding a needle in a haystack in an overproduced an oversaturated late 90s basketball card market. As far as pricing, prepare to mortgage the homestead to afford some of the cards in this set. The little brother Bams card numbered to 250 of His Airness sold for nearly $7,000 raw in February. A PSA 9 copy of the Jordan Slam Bams sold in the 2022 September Elite Sports Auction at Goldin for an amazing $97,200. On Christmas Day last year, a Kobe Bryant Slam Bam with an Authentic designation from Beckett went for $1,525.
Not bad for a late 1990’s basketball insert.
Related Stories:
1997 Upper Deck Jordan Card Pulled from $3.99 Pack in 1997 Could Hit Six Figures
Jordan Autographs Return in 2021 Upper Deck Metal Universe Champions
30 Years Ago, Classic Shook Up The Basketball Market With An Exclusive Contract With Shaquille O’Neal
1996-97 Skybox Z-Force Big Man on Court Becomes Big Insert in Hobby
1996-97 Ultra Fresh Faces Feature Future NBA Icons
1994-95 Flair Center Spotlight Shines Light on Legendary Bigs
1992-93 Fleer Total D Pays Homage to Top Defensive Stars
Little Known 1993 Skinnies Basketball Set Landed Way Out of Bounds With Flagrant Pictures, Comments
