Nearly 25 years ago, Topps combined early images of NBA stars Magic Johnson and Larry Bird to produce an iconic basketball rookie card. Pictured on the sides of then veteran star Julius Erving, the 1980-81 Topps basketball card of the trio is among the most desirable rookies in the entire sport.
These days, the rookie card featuring both Johnson and Bird isn’t cheap. Even modest mid-grade examples tend to start around $350-$450. And if you want something better than that, the prices can rise exponentially for the high-grade stuff. While that frustrates collectors who prefer cards in better condition, the good news is that those aren’t the only rookie cards of the duo.
Topps’ 1980-81 basketball set featured cards that were intended to be perforated. These tri-cards mixed and matched various combinations. So while Magic and Bird are pictured on one card together, both are found on other cards with other players, too.
Both are featured on several other cards in the set that are legitimately considered as rookie issues. And for those Lakers or Celtics fans that prefer the rookie of only their favorite, that’s also good news.
Here’s a look at the ‘other’ more affordable rookie cards of Bird and Magic.
Magic Johnson with Julius Erving and Jan Van Breda Kolff
After the rookie card featuring both Magic and Bird, this would be considered the next best one for Johnson fans. The card features Julius Erving in the middle, like the Bird card. However, Bird is replaced here with Jan Van Breda Kolff.
Van Breda Kolff’s name won’t mean much to most collectors — particularly since he’s the one that replaces Bird on this card. But he was a strong player, too, leading Vanderbilt to an SEC title on his way to winning NCAA Player of the Year. Still, that isn’t enough to make up for the loss of Bird, and this card is much cheaper than the ‘main’ Bird/Magic rookie. You can usually find one for a very reasonable cost.
As far Magic’s individual panel, it is the same base card that is used in the expensive tri-card with Bird. That adds to its desirability but still doesn’t make for a very expensive card. You can usually pick one up for less than $50.
Magic Johnson with Ron Boone/John Long and Ron Boone/Maurice Cheeks
A less star-studded Magic rookie card pictures him alongside Ron Boone and John Long. While the cards of Boone and Long are not particularly valuable, though, both were solid players.
Boone, in particular, was a legitimate star. He was a four-time All-Star, was named to two All-ABA teams, a member of the ABA’s All-Time team, and a member of the 1968-69 ABA All-Rookie Team. His name is not as familiar since most of his career was played in the ABA. But he was a productive player in the NBA, too. He started every game in his first NBA season (1976-77 with the New York Knicks) and averaged 22.2 points per game, proving he could play in both leagues.
Long wasn’t as big of a star as Boone was. But he was a starter for most of his career, primarily with the Pistons and Pacers, and averaged more than 20 points per game in the 1981-82 season.
Pretty nice copies can be had for $25 or less.
A slightly better Johnson rookie card is one with Boone and NBA star Maurice Cheeks.
The card with Cheeks doesn’t come close to the card with Dr. J. However, it’s a considerable upgrade over the card with Long, considering Cheeks is a Hall of Famer. Despite that accolade, the Cheeks card isn’t much more valuable than the card with Long.
The issue here is only partially about the players appearing with Magic, though. Unlike the card with Erving and Van Breda Kolff, Johnson’s card is an ‘All-Star’ version. While still technically a rookie, it’s really a subset card and not as desirable as Magic’s main rookie card that shows him floating to the hoop, ball in hand.
It’s a great throwback card that isn’t expensive.
Larry Bird with Bill Cartwright and John Drew
Similar to Magic’s card with Erving and Van Breda Kolff, this is Bird’s most valuable rookie card outside of his card with Johnson.
Bird is pictured on this card with some legitimate NBA talent. Bill Cartwright is a former NBA All-Star, member of the 1979-80 NBA All-Rookie Team, and a member on the Chicago Bulls team that won three consecutive NBA championships in the early 1990s. John Drew, comparatively, was a two-time All-Star, member of the NBA All-Rookie team in 1974-75 (while finishing second in Rookie of the Year voting to Jamaal Wilkes), and averaged 20.7 points per game over his 11-year NBA career.
This tri-card also includes the same panel used as the Bird/Magic rookie card, helping its prestige. However, it is priced about the same as Magic’s card with Erving and Van Breda Kolff, with nicer copies starting at around $40.
Larry Bird with Scott May/Jack Sikma and Marques Johnson/Jack Sikma
Bird has even less expensive cards, too. He has a Scoring Leader subset card that pairs with Scott May and Jack Sikma and another with Sikma and a Marques Johnson Scoring Leader.
Similar to the Magic Johnson subset cards these are also less expensive. Sikma is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, while Johnson was an All-Star player and has a legitimate chance to be elected to the Hall at some point soon. Still, these cards suffer the same fate as Magic’s subset cards.
Both can be found for $30-$60 unless you’re looking for the high-end graded copies.
Larry Bird with Junior Bridgeman/Ron Brewer and Fred Brown/Ron Brewer
The third different Bird card Topps put in the set is from the Rebounding Leaders subset. It appears on two full cards — one featuring Junior Bridgeman and Ron Brewer, and a second with Brewer and Fred Brown.
While Brown is a Sonics legend, there’s much less star power on these cards. Bird is the clear highlight and these sell for roughly the same as the cards mentioned above featuring Sikma.
Even if you own a Bird-Johnson-Erving rookie, adding these secondary examples is a fun and low-cost way to add to your collection of the legendary duo.
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