Many people across the globe are collecting basketball cards nowadays. And it’s become much more than a hobby for some, as some modern-day cards are selling for millions of dollars. The top three most expensive cards belong to Steph Curry, LeBron James and Luka Doncic. Even though most collectors usually go for the newer products, that doesn’t mean you should turn a blind eye to older cards — especially ones from the 1980s. Thanks to online experts, StudyFinds was able to whittle down the best basketball cards from the ’80s to have.
Sports card collecting got a big boost during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the world was shutdown, many began to rummage through their old card collections and got that urge to begin collecting again. It’s now become a billion-dollar industry thanks to sports card breakers and auction houses.
Because of the popularity of sports cards and memorabilia, people need to be on the lookout for fakes and forgeries. The best way to do that is to buy graded cards and autographs to make sure they’re authenticated.
Tips for Sports Card Collectors:
Scoring the best ’80s basketball cards isn’t just about Michael Jordan rookie fever. It’s about understanding the language of quality, navigating the world of grading, and unearthing hidden gems from a golden era. Get ready to slam-dunk this guide and become a card master!
Grading Game Changers:
- Numbers Tell the Story: Forget “near mint” – professional grading companies like PSA and BGS assign a one to 10 numerical score based on four key factors: centering, corners, edges, and surface. A PSA 10 Gem Mint is the holy grail, while even an eight or nine can hold significant value.
- Beyond the Bling: Don’t be fooled by flashy inserts or variations. A well-centered, sharp-cornered base set card in good condition often trumps gimmicks.
- Authentication Matters: Grading companies also authenticate cards, ensuring they’re not counterfeits. A PSA slabbed card, with its tamper-evident seal, offers peace of mind and boosts future value.
Are you ready to add to your collection? StudyFinds has combed through 10 expert sites and listed the top five best ’80s basketball cards. Did we miss one? Let us know in the comments below!
The List: Best ’80s Basketball Cards, According to Collectors
1. 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan Rookie Card
The number one spot obviously belongs to the greatest of all-time — Michael Jordan. His 1986 Fleer rookie card is a must-have for any serious collector. “Without a shadow of a doubt, the 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan #57 is the most iconic basketball card of all,” says Cardbase. “The picture captures that early ‘Air Jordan’ period in his career. At that time, Jordan was known for his flashy play but had yet to emerge as the all-around team player who would carry the Chicago Bulls to 6 titles while winning 5 MVP awards. The highly unique and colorful borders of the card render it instantly recognizable. They are also known for withstanding damage relatively well. Therefore, the 1986 Fleer Jordan has a relatively healthy population count. There are 8,493 PSA 8s, 2,913 PSA 9s and 319 PSA 10s.”
It’s pretty hard to beat having one of these in your collection. “Michael Jordan is not only basketball’s greatest player, but he’s also the most collected,” notes The Cardboard Connection. “The 1986-87 Fleer Basketball Michael Jordan rookie card is one of the hobby’s true gems, no matter the era. It’s instantly recognizable as Jordan heads up to the hoop, showing his trademark intensity.”
Beckett writes that MJ’s 1986 Fleer rookie card is the “most famous” basketball card ever. “Hailing from an era when most regular cards don’t carry a lot of value no matter how popular, this is the exception. It’s not the rarest basketball card of all-time, but the 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan Rookie Card is the most famous. It’s at a point now where the card is so popular that it fetches significant sums no matter the condition. With that comes hefty price tags for top-condition cards. Susceptible to fakes, professionally graded versions are probably the way to go unless it’s coming from a dealer that you know and trust. But they’re probably going to be selling graded versions themselves knowing the the card is a frequent target for forgers.”
2. 1980 Topps Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Julius Erving
The only card not from the 1986 Fleer set to make the list is a doozy. It’s the top rookie card of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. “The holy grail of basketball cards, the Larry Bird/Magic Johnson rookie card is a must-have card for all basketball card collectors,” writes All Vintage Cards. “Plagued by printing errors, off-cuts, and because many kids were tearing these apart, the card is very tough to find in Mint condition. PSA puts a value of $725,000 on a PSA 10 version–note the last sale of a PSA 10 was in 2021 for $800,000, so that figure is likely accurate, as the market has softened quite a bit. If you want to buy this card, shoot for a PSA 6 or PSA 7 version, as that’s still a great condition for this card; the price range would be somewhere in the $1,000 to $3,000 range.”
What’s so special about this car? “Topps tried something new with its 1980-81 set, offering cards that featured three different players on perforated mini cards,” says Old Sports Cards. “By far the most sought after is the rookie card of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson with Julius Erving sandwiched in between. All three players appear on other cars in the set but this one is the key. Originally the set wasn’t too popular with collectors but that has changed drastically in recent years. Today, this card is one of the most popular and sought after of any basketball card.”
Bleacher Report calls the 1980 Topps Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Julius Erving card “iconic.” Why? “We kick things off with one of the most iconic vintage basketball cards of all time, as collegiate rivals Larry Bird and Magic Johnson shared a rookie card in the 1980-81 Topps set that also included Julius Erving.”
3. 1986 Fleer Hakeem Olajuwon Rookie Card
Hakeem Olajuwon was the overall pick by the Houston Rockets in the 1984 NBA Draft, ahead of Jordan. Olajuwon went on to become one of the most dominant centers of all time, winning two championships with the Rockets. That’s one of the big reasons why his 1986 Fleer rookie card is on the list. “Hakeem Olajuwon is regarded as one of basketball’s best centers of all-time. Born in Nigeria, he was the first overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft, which was ahead of Charles Barkley, John Stockton and even Michael Jordan,” writes Beckett. “It took a while but Olajuwon helped lead the Rockets to a pair of NBA Championships in 1994 and 1995 where he was also named the MVP of both Finals.”
Why is this player’s card so sought after? “Hakeem Olajuwon was easily his generation’s most outstanding defensive player and was also a first-rate offensive weapon,” notes Cardbase. “He led the Rockets to two titles, winning an MVP, was picked for 12 All-Star teams, and twice won Defensive Player of the Year. Indeed, the latter award is now named after Olajuwon. Aside from Jordan, all of that makes him the most accomplished player of his generation.”
Olajuwon used to go by the name “Akeem,” which is on his 1986 Fleer card, and officially went by “Hakeem” in 1991. “Before changing his name, Hakeem Olajuwon used to go by ‘Akeem.’ So when you’re searching for this 1986-87 Fleer rookie card online, it’s good to search both the proper spelling and the error spelling,” says The Cardboard Connection. “The first pick in the 1984 draft, Olajuwon brought back-to-back NBA championships to Houston a decade later. He was a 12-time All-Star and the league’s MVP in 1994.”
4. 1986 Fleer Patrick Ewing Rookie Card
The third 1986 Fleer card to appear on the list is Patrick Ewing’s rookie card. The New York Knicks took Ewing first overall in the 1985 NBA Draft. Despite the Georgetown product never winning a championship, he is one of the greatest basketball players to ever play the game. “Center Patrick Ewing was the face of Knicks basketball for 15 seasons, averaging 22.8 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.7 blocks while earning 11 All-Star selections,” writes Bleacher Report.
It’s no wonder this card is so valuable when the player featured on it equally shines. “Patrick Ewing was the top pick in the 1985 NBA Draft and is widely considered the next Wilt Chamberlain. Indeed, his emergence is one of the reasons the 1986-87 Fleer Basketball set was released,” says Cardbase. “Just like [Karl] Malone, Ewing never won a title. But he embodies the whole franchise for a generation of Knicks fans like yours. The 1986-87 Fleer Patrick Ewing RC #32 card is beautiful. The famous 1986-87 Fleer design offsets a great picture of the determined and honestly somewhat frightening visage of prime Patrick.”
The Cardboard Connection says Ewing was “one of basketball’s most feared centers” during his prime. “Picked first overall in the 1985 draft, he was named Rookie of the Year in 1986. Ewing was an All-Star in 11 of his first 12 years in the league. Although he will always be remembered for being a member of the Knicks, Ewing spent a year each with the Seattle SuperSonics and Orlando Magic.”
5. 1986 Fleer Sticker Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
The only non-rookie card to make the list is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 1986 Fleer Sticker. The reason why? It’s hard to find one in mint condition. “The 1986 Fleer set is, of course, the trendsetter for the entire decade. One of the elements that made it unique was that there was a sticker set alongside the traditional card issue,” says Cardbase. “The Jordan sticker in the set is highly sought after. But perhaps because MJ was the hot young star of the time, it is easier to get a good copy of the Bulls stars sticker. The one that is really hard to obtain in decent condition is the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. There are only 15 PSA 10s of the 1986 Fleer Stickers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Basketball Card #1 instead of 121 of the Jordan variety.”
It may be last on our list, but it sure isn’t the least impressive. “Yep, this is the second most valuable card in the 86 Fleer sticker set, and it’s really because the card has 1/7 of the Jordan cards graded, and the quality in production on the Jabbar was horrendous,” notes All Vintage Cards. “So, finding a PSA 10 is tough, but finding raw or lower-grade copies of the Jabbar is easy and quite affordable.”
Sports Card Specialist reports that a PSA 10 card sold for over $266,000 in March 2022. “Stickers are much harder to keep in good condition compared to a cardboard stock card, because they’re less rigid and more prone to peeling and damage, so it’s no surprise that it’s almost impossible to find this Abdul-Jabbar 1986 Fleer sticker in Gem Mint condition; When one does surface in top grade, they usually sell at a premium.”
You might also be interested in:
Sources:
- Cardbase
- The Cardboard Connection
- Sports Card Specialist
- Beckett
- Love to Know
- All Vintage Cards
- Old Sports Cards
- Bleacher Report
- Giant Sports Cards
- Sportslulu
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This article may contain affiliate links in which we receive a commission if you make a purchase.
How can I get my cards appraised I have a couple of these rookie cards
I’ve read to mail cards to beckett or another grading group. But is that safe. I’ve got some jerry rice rookie cards in mint condition that could be worth $50,000.00 but do i want to mail those to a stranger and hope they don’t get lost? Or sold and told they were lost. I’ve also heard if you go to card shows there may be graders there and if you go as soon as it starts on first.day they may get them graded while you wait. I live in tennessee and there is no place around me that grades them probably not any help
Hi, how do I sell my baseball basketball and football cards. Who do I trust been trying for 10 years.