When a player collector thinks they have every card that was ever made for their guy, they often find out about others that were available in products as part of a promotion or were sold in an overseas market. If a Kobe Bryant collector wants all his cards from his first season, they will need to track down his 1996-97 Sprite basketball card that was only available at … [Read more...] about 1996-97 Fleer Sprite Basketball Features Kobe Bryant Rookie, Australian Version
Big, Sticky, Quirky: 1970s Topps Basketball Inserts Ran the Gamut
To many collectors, many of whom are still a little hobby wet behind the ears, insert cards are a modern invention; something to push sales of modern packs. Vintage card collectors know that’s not true. Like their baseball and football brethren, basketball packs were full of unique little bonuses that are somewhat elusive today, waiting for new collectors to … [Read more...] about Big, Sticky, Quirky: 1970s Topps Basketball Inserts Ran the Gamut
Durant Rookie Cards Heat Up as Scoring Champ Returns
How long has it been since Kevin Durant was a rookie? Well, the team that drafted him hasn't played in that city in more than a decade. Topps and Upper Deck still had licenses to produce NBA trading cards and some of today's current young stars were in elementary school. Yes, it's been a while, but that all kind of makes collecting Kevin Durant rookie cards … [Read more...] about Durant Rookie Cards Heat Up as Scoring Champ Returns
Hottest Chris Paul Rookie Cards
Their numbers are dwindling but Chris Paul’s rookie cards date back to a time when Topps and Upper Deck still enjoyed NBA trading card licenses. Fans of the era remember Paul's 2005-06 Topps #224 and 2005-06 Upper Deck #230 base cards, each of which can be had for a very small investment, but it’s the numbered versions of higher-end products, especially those with certified … [Read more...] about Hottest Chris Paul Rookie Cards
Hottest Dennis Smith Rookie Cards
When the rebuilding Dallas Mavericks decided to look to the future they wanted an athletic point guard with size and skill. They were not sure the player they had their eyes on would last to the tenth pick, but he did and quickly became in instant star who made highlight plays virtually every night. The hobby was quick to jump aboard the bandwagon and Dennis … [Read more...] about Hottest Dennis Smith Rookie Cards
Vince Carter Rookie Cards Take You Back to the 90s
There was a time when Vince Carter was the NBA. He was seemingly everywhere. After Michael Jordan had retired once more it was another electrifying dunker out of North Carolina that collectors wanted. “Vinsanity” reigned. After winning the 1999 NBA Rookie of the Year award and following it up the next season by taking home the Slam Dunk title, … [Read more...] about Vince Carter Rookie Cards Take You Back to the 90s
Best Russell Westbrook Rookie Cards
If you’ve been holding Russell Westbrook rookie cards, your patience is now paying off. With the Oklahoma City Thunder guard joining Oscar Robertson as the only players to average a triple-double, his rookie cards are now among the elite. Below is a sampling of some of his rookie cards--autographed and non-autographed and at the bottom a list of which … [Read more...] about Best Russell Westbrook Rookie Cards
Kyrie Irving Rookie Cards Proved Worth the Wait
His talent was once a little hard for fans and collectors to judge. Kyrie Irving’s rookie cards would have been a bit of a mystery had they been distributed in a traditional fashion five seasons ago. A labor dispute put his cardboard arrival on hold but those who jumped in quickly once they finally arrived have been rewarded. Duke and Done Irving was born in … [Read more...] about Kyrie Irving Rookie Cards Proved Worth the Wait
After Long Wait, Joel Embiid Rookie Cards Heat Up
The 76ers and general manager Sam Hinkie had an idea: to build gradually and to build from the very bottom. Some called it tanking, Hinkie said it was a "Process". The result for the 76ers was clearing huge amounts of salary cap room and accumulating several high draft choices. It was (literally) painful at times but one of them is now among the most … [Read more...] about After Long Wait, Joel Embiid Rookie Cards Heat Up
25 Years Later: 1991-92 Upper Deck Basketball Brought Chase to Hoops
Card collectors of today, with boxes that cost over $1,000 and memorabilia cards that are easy to acquire, might find it hard to believe that when Upper Deck entered the basketball card market in 1991-92 they released what was considered a high-end product. Twenty-five years later, even though prices are low, that first issue is a hobby landmark. Not only was … [Read more...] about 25 Years Later: 1991-92 Upper Deck Basketball Brought Chase to Hoops