Michael Jordan is widely considered to be the GOAT of basketball– 6 time NBA Champion, and 6 time NBA Finals MVP, he is an NBA legend who helped popularize basketball in the 90s.
In this guide though, we are looking at the most valuable Michael Jordan cards of all time– not his basketball accolades. This is because, due to his fame and legendary status, his trading cards are arguably the most iconic AND expensive of all time, and THE grail cards for any ardent NBA basketball card fan.
When it comes to a list of valuable Michael Jordan cards, there are SOME that stand out above the rest. Some cards that have almost a legendary status due to their scarcity, uniqueness, and their historical significance.
With that in mind, we’ve done a heap of research and number crunching, and have created the below list which represents what we believe are THE most significant and valuable MJ basketball cards of all time. Just bear in mind though, that every collector has their tastes and personal interests, so you might not necessarily agree with this list.
| Card | Producer | Series | Number | Highest Sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fleer Michael Jordan Rookie | Fleer | 1986 Fleer Basketball | #57 | $2.7 million |
| Ultimate Collection Logoman Autograph | Upper Deck | 2003–04 Ultimate Collection | 1-of-1 | $2.928 million |
| Precious Metal Gems Green | SkyBox | 1997–98 SkyBox Metal Universe | #23 | $2 million |
| Star Michael Jordan Rookie | Star Company | 1984–85 Star Basketball | #101 | $300,000+ |
So, we’ve made the list, but what makes these cards so special and why are people forking out millions for them? Below, we’ve given a more detailed review of each card, explaining why they are so popular/
The 1986 Fleer Basketball set has arguably become THE most sought after of all time for basketball fans. It’s got the iconic retro card design, and each pack had bubblegum inside! Not only that, but it’s stacked with Hall of Famers including MJ, Barkley, Olajuwon, Larry Bird, and Magic Johnson. These are all valuable in their own right, but the Michael Jordan #57 Rookie Cards steals the show.
First, the photo looks awesome as MJ is doing his signature tongue blob and soaring to the rim for an epic dunk. You’ve also got the retro Chicago Bulls kit, and the fact that this is his rookie card – historically, rookie cards are THE most valuable of any superstar, let alone for MJ who in 1986 got Rookie of the Year and was voted to the All-Star team – the man averaged 28.2pts, 6.5rbds, 5.9asts, and 2.4 steals IN HIS ROOKIE SEASON!
Now, PSA-8 versions of this card go for around $35,000. BUT, the PSA-10 versions are incredibly scarce and fetch millions, with the highest sale of all time being $2.7 million.
Back in 2003, Upper Deck released its Ultimate Collection which featured a range of 1-of-1’s (meaning there’s only ONE print of each card) from NBA superstars including MJ, Kobe, and LeBron. Of course the Michael Jordan card was worth the most, with reports of it selling for over $2 million.
There were numerous factors that contributed to the value of this card. Firstly, the scarcity– there’s literally only ONE. Secondly, these cards featured ACTUAL NBA logo patches from the player’s jersey, and an autograph. This instantly sky-rockets the value. Lastly, the autograph was actually ink-on-card, meaning MJ held and signed the actual card itself – it’s not a replica or print autograph.
This was an interesting set from SkyBox where each player had only 100 cards per run – 10 of which had a green foil background, while the other 90 featured a red foil background. Needless to say, the scarcity of these cards and the fact that there’s only 100 make them incredibly valuable.
Of course, the Green Michael Jordan versions are the most sought after, and their value can fluctuate widely because of the reported poor quality of the green foil background – many lower-graded cards have parts of the foil flaking. This is why higher-value options in near mint condition have sold for over $2 million because they are incredibly difficult to come by.
Many people consider THIS card to be Jordan’s actual rookie card and NOT the 1986 Fleer Card as it was printed during his inaugural 1984-85 season. So in terms of historical significance, it was printed BEFORE the legendary Fleer cards which came at least a year later. Like the Fleer cards though, this rookie card had a print run of just 3,000 which means they are insanely scarce.
Add into that the fact that the borders of these cards are typically incredibly fragile, and it’s easy to see why PSA-9+ versions have sold for over $380,000. In terms of artwork, the card itself looks pretty cool as it shows MJ grabbing a rebound in an NBA game, plus it features the iconic Chicago Bulls logo and team-colored border.
When it comes to the most valuable Michael Jordan cards of all time, it’s not just about the selling price. We also consider other factors including:
We aren’t going to lie, unless you are a millionaire, creating a standout Michael Jordan basketball card collection is difficult– the cards are just incredibly valuable and highly sought after. However, there are some simple tips to get started with this lofty task:
If you want to at least own a piece of MJ history, his cards from his Washington Wizards stint are much more accessible and you can often pick up deals. Yes, they are not as desirable as his Chicago cards, BUT, if you are a true MJ fan you will still appreciate this era.
To get your collection started, it could also be a great idea to look at some of the other popular sets that contained cheaper MJ cards such as the 1990 Hoops set, the 1991 Skybox set, and the 1993-94 Upper Deck Stylights card.
The best card breaks you can get at card break sites might also have basketball cards and even NCAA basketball card packs and boxes that you can rip. Some of these will include the chance at pulling ultra-rare Michael Jordan cards that could be worth tens of thousands.
Man, what a ride – as far as card collecting goes, we don’t think there’s any single sports superstar in the world that has a more valuable and insane set of trading cards. It goes to show how iconic MJ is, due to the fact that he has not played professional basketball for over 20 years, and the most valuable Michael Jordan cards are selling for millions of dollars.
If you want to reach for the sky and start collecting, because of the high entry prices for most of the cards, a great alternative could be using NBA card rips and break sites– that we have in the banners on this page. Why not give one a try and see what sports packs and boxes they have available today for you to open?
You can use traditional marketplaces like eBay, but there’s also a growing number of sites offering basketball card breaks. Check out the banners and links we have on this page for specific options you can try.
Nowhere NEAR as valuable as his Chicago cards. Many people see Jordan’s years with the Wizards as a footnote in his career, and therefore, the top MJ Wizards cards have typically only sold for $3,000 max – they simply aren’t as valuable or desirable.
Right now, it’s the 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan Rookie Card. This card is like the grail of grails and rightfully deserving of its $2.7 million price tag when in mint PSA-10 condition.
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