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How to know if basketball cards are worth money
How to Know What Basketball Cards are Worth
Collecting stuff is a hobby that is essentially as old as civilization. Mesopotamian royalties from the third millennium BCE were said to have extensive book collections. If you’re a basketball fan today, chances are, you have dabbled into collecting cards at some point or wanting to get into the hobby. If it’s the latter, do you want to know the value of basketball cards or what basketball cards are worth the money? All I can say is, you indeed came to the right place.
But before we go on about the best basketball cards to invest in, let’s learn more about the origin of basketball cards.
First Things First: What are Basketball Cards?
A basketball card is a type of trading card that features one or more basketball players from leagues all over, particularly the NBA. These cards are typically printed on thick cardboard, silk, or plastic.
The first basketball cards were produced in 1910 as a cigarette redemption premium. The whole series of cards were actually athletes from 10 sports, and only 30 contain images of college basketball players at the time. The 1910 series was followed up by another one in 1911 and soon disappeared when the promo expired on June 30, 1911.
It wasn’t until 1932 when basketball cards were again seen as part of a 31-card collectible set from C.A. Briggs Chocolate. Then in 1948, Bowman Gum made the first NBA cards, which featured George Mikan’s rookie card. Soon, other companies such as Topps, Fleer, and Upper Deck followed suit, producing some of the best basketball rookie cards to invest in, including those of Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan.
Today, only one company, the Italian Panini Group, has the right to produce and sell NBA basketball cards. Panini has been the sole licensee of the NBA and its players since 2009.
What are Basketball Cards Worth?
Basketball cards can be worth a lot of money depending on the rarity, condition, and other factors. Other factors that may affect a basketball card’s value include the specific player featured, the year it was manufactured, and other relevant points.
Generally, rookie cards in mint condition are prices the highest. An autographed LeBron James Upper Deck Exquisite Collection card sold for a mind-boggling $5.2 million! Of course, you can’t expect every rookie card to be worth that much. Still, cards that feature rising superstars like Zion Williamson or Luka Doncic could be worth a lot down the line.
Overall, basketball decks manufactured in the last decade could sell for at least $500. The older the card gets, the higher the prices go, sometimes for as much as $15,000 a card.
How Do You Collect Basketball Cards?
Those prices sure are tempting, but collecting basketball cards require some sort of strategy, especially if you’re a beginner. It pays to know the complexities of basketball card collection and the benefits you may achieve once you get past the first phase. So, how do you start collecting basketball cards?
1. Know What You’re Getting Into
The first thing that you should know is that right now, there is only one company that produces basketball cards– Panini. Back in the 90s and early 2000s, the card game is a little bit more crowded with Topps, Fleer, and Upper Deck all getting into it.
Second, you should know that there are different types of basketball cards. Each type determines the rarity of the card and thus, has a direct effect on its value. What are the types of basketball cards? These are base cards, rookie cards, inserts, parallels, patches, autographs, and graded.
Here are the descriptions of each card:
Regular/Base cards. Base cards are, well, the most basic. Every pack of basketball cards contains base cards, which means cards that feature non-superstar players or players that receive almost no recognition. Base cards are priced very low, most often, in cents. (There are also base cards of famous players, but it is still not as valuable as other cards. )
Rookie cards. Rookie cards are one of the most sought-after and most valuable. A rookie card of Bam Adebayo is worth considerably more than, say, a Kawhi Leonard base card. Rookie cards today have a very unmistakable RC patch on the corner.
The @PaniniAmerica National Treasures @Zionwilliamson Rookie Logoman has officially been pulled 🏆 pic.twitter.com/65oXjbR8Ix
— Goldin (@GoldinCo) November 28, 2021
Inserts. Inserts are special random cards bunched together with base cards. Trust me, if you find an insert in a pack, you’d know. The designs are different, often a lot more hip, if you will. During the 90s, companies put numbers on insert cards. For instance, if you see a card that says “9 of 30,” that means you got card No. 9 out of 30 of such cards. Modern NBA cards have a name for inserts such as Kaboom, Optic My House, and more.
Parallels. Parallels are basically serial numbered versions of base cards. They often come in the same designs as the base cards but with different color schemes. Parallels look cool, but they do not typically carry the same value as rookie cards.
Patch cards. Patch cards have game-worn jersey patches in them. Because of this, they are usually thicker than the other types and look very different from basic cards.
Autograph Cards. Pretty self-explanatory. Every time you see a player’s John Doe in there, that’s it. Some of these cards have signatures in translucent stickers, while some actually sign the card, driving up its value.
Combination Cards. Oh sure, there really is nothing officially called combination cards, but some extremely rare ones are a mixture of everything. The LeBron rookie card I mentioned earlier is actually a rookie card, a patch card, an autographed card all in one. Sure, we can call it a rookie patch card, but “combination” could also work.
2. Keep You Cards in Mint Condition
No one likes crumpled things, and there’s nothing more true in the case of basketball cards. Any fold or scratch, even the slightest, drags the card’s value. That is why you need to do everything in your power to keep the cards in the best condition. And any good collector knows it requires money to pull that off.
For starters, you may need cases, sleeves, or binders to put the cards into. In any case, you can never be too careful when it comes to your investment.
3. Learn to Know The Value of the Cards
The thing is, you’ll never know what cards you’re going to protect if you don’t really know their value. And sometimes, collecting also involves trading, so if you have no idea how much your card is worth, you’d probably end up getting ripped off.
You can use several websites as sources of information or have yourself a handy basketball card price guide for starters. Either way, you must know the price of your cards.
What is the Most Expensive Basketball Card?
We already tipped you off with the most expensive card in basketball card history– the 2003-04 Upper Deck rookie patch autograph card!
The second most effective sold for a crazy $4. 6 million in the open market. It is one of those “combination” cards I talked about earlier, a patch-autograph hybrid that is truly one of a kind.
Rounding out the top 6 are:
2013-14 Giannis Antetokounmpo Logoman Patch Autograph Card ($1,857,300) 1996-97 Kobe Bryant Topps Chrome Refractors Rookie Card ($1,795,800) 1997 Michael Jordan Upper Deck Signature and Jersey Card ($1.44 million) 2004-05 LeBron James Upper Deck Ultimate Signature Logos ($1,291,500)
Wondering what Kobe basketball cards are worth the investment? Check out this article.
How to Find out What Basketball Cards are Worth?
As already mentioned, knowing the value of your cards is half the war, even more. Just like in any market, you have to be knowledgeable about it before you’re thinking of becoming a player. The fundamentals of the basketball card game are just like basic marketing.
Here’s how it works: You have competitors, and you’ll have buyers who would buy the cards as high as you want to sell them. Now, you can only do the latter if you know its actual value. If you see the card is worth $1,000, you can probably sell it in the $600-$800 range.
These are some things to consider to find out the value of basketball cards:
1. Check out price guides
Back in the 90s, you’d have to have a Beckett to learn how much a basketball card is worth. You may still use the updated versions now, but it’s a hassle folding sheets of paper every time you have to look something up. On this day of the Internet, you can find any information online at your fingertips and that includes the value of basketball cards.
The best way to know how competitive the marketplace is is by checking eBay and other selling platforms. That’s pretty much like checking StockX for shoe prices. If you’re really quite serious about card-collecting, you can buy or subscribe to special pricing software like Slabstox or Card Ladder.
2. Know the name and the year of the card
Most cards can easily be identified by the player it features, but you can also check the name and the year of the card. Of course, in doing this, you may need to summon the power of the world wide web once again.
Inserts, for instance, have numbers that say 4/63, which means you got the 4th card out of a complete set of 63. After checking these out, look at the card’s price in retail stores and base your selling price on that.
3. Other things to look out for
When you’re dealing with basketball cards, a combination of age and condition could fetch you a very good price. It doesn’t matter if it’s John Havlicek, Pistol Pete Maravich, or Al Attles; if you have a card from that long ago in perfect condition, chances are, some collector is going for it. Even if you have a semi-rare card and you keep it in tip-top shape, you’d still be able to sell that at a considerable price.
One other thing you can do to drive the price of your cards is to get them authenticated by the manufacturer. In my opinion, this is always a must if you have a limited edition card or other rare ones.
Where to Buy Basketball Cards?
Basketball cards are common items in malls and other shops, but you can also check some in online selling platforms like eBay and Amazon. For sure, those are the usual places where to buy basketball cards. Of course, buying straight from a pack guarantees almost nothing, so this option is not the way to go if you’re looking for a specific card.
If you are searching for something specific and not treasure-hunting with new packs, it pays if you surround yourself with friends that share the same interest. Hang out in a few forums and social media groups, and you might find yourself a good deal from different contacts.
Wrapping Things Up: How to Know What Basketball Cards are Worth
Collecting basketball cards is not exactly rocket science, but it’s not for everyone either. Just because you’re a fan of the sport doesn’t mean you will do well in this hobby. Still, if you decide to take it seriously, then the most important thing for you to know is the value of basketball cards.
The simplest way to up your card game is to know the types of cards. There are basic cards, inserts, patches, autographs, and some really rare ones that are combinations of everything. After that, you need to be proactive yourself, like perhaps subscribing to a card-pricing software, looking up a basketball card price guide, and checking updated prices online. And if you’re looking to score a specific card, it doesn’t hurt to make friends with people who are already in the game before you. Chances are, they could point you in the right direction.
When dabbling with collecting basketball cards, here’s the deal, though: Most of this stuff is cheap and does not carry a monetary lick. You will seldom find something with Michael Jordan basketball cards value or a LeBron rookie card. That’s not how it often works. If you’re looking for basketball cards to invest in or consider making it a permanent source of income, then this is not it.
Now, let’s say you already know what basketball cards are worth the money, and you already have several under your care; the key is to keep it in mint condition. If you have in your possession a limited edition card or something rare, why not authenticate it with the manufacturer to drive the price up?
In any case, when you already know the value of basketball cards in your hands, protect them at all costs because you’ll never know what could happen in the future. I’m pretty sure the owner of that LeBron card did not have any idea that it’s going to be worth seven figures down the line. You very well might be the next lucky guy.
Did you like this post? Then check out our other basketball FAQs here.
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Basketball Card Price Guide - CardMavin
Use MAVIN to look up your basketball card values. Enter a description of your card into the search box and see the average price it sells for online.
You’ll need a few details:
Enter the year. Look at the back for the copyright date, or the last year of stats.
Enter the brand. For example: Topps, Upper Deck, Fleer, Hoops, etc.
Enter the player’s name.
Enter the card number. Found on the back of the card.
Search for:
Looking up a Basketball Card’s Value
The search results will show basketball card prices, based on recently sold cards… hopefully just like yours. The “worth” that initially shows is the average price (including shipping) of the results showing on the page.
Use the Checkboxes
If you get a lot of results that don’t match your basketball card, try adding more details to your search. You can also use the checkboxes to get an average price. Pick a few comparable items (“comps”). This gives you a much more accurate estimate of what your basketball card is worth.
Graded Cards
To look up graded basketball cards, enter the grading company and grade, for example PSA 9 or BGS 9.
What to do Next
Once you’ve gone through and searched for the value of your basketball cards using our price guide, you have several different options:
If they’re valuable: You can either hold onto the cards, perhaps get them graded if not already, and see if they appreciate in value over time. Alternatively, you sell it to a local card shop, but keep in mind dealers pay wholesale prices… they have to make a profit after all, and selling a large collection takes a considerable amount of time and resources… so don’t expect to get eBay prices for your basketball cards when you sell to a dealer. If you have the time and patience, you can sell it yourself on eBay and get a competitive price. Read our guide to selling on eBay.
If not: Basketball cards don’t have to be worth money to be considered valuable. Card collecting has been a beloved hobby that has been passed through generations. Each card has sentimental value to someone: where they found it, how they traded for it, who gave it to them. If your cards aren’t worth money, they could be worth some memories to a relative or a stranger. Put them on Craigslist, take them to a card shop, donate them, or hold onto them to give to the next generation.
Author Andrew FordPosted on Categories BasketballLeave a comment on Free Price Guide for Basketball Card Values
The most expensive basketball cards of November-December - Hobby: Collectible cards - Blogs
Hobby: Collectible cards
Blog
Hello everyone!
After a short break, the top most expensive basketball cards are back. Today we will capture 2 months - November and December.
In order for the cards of different periods to be presented in the top, I divided it into three parts: before the 90s, the 90s and the first half of the 00s and the last 10 years.
Let's go from new cards to old ones (most often this means an increase in cost).
So, the top 4 most expensive new cards.
4) In fourth place is a 1/1 LeBron James card from Flawless 2015-16 with the NBA logo. They paid $10,300 for it.
3) Next is newcomer Steph Curry from Topps Chrome 2009-10. The gold parallel in this collection has a circulation of 50 copies. Added to this is the almost perfect condition of the card, and the total price is $10,600.
2) And the same amount was paid for a Karl-Anthony Towns card with a mourning patch dedicated to Flip Saunders of Flawless 2015-16.
1) And in the first place, 2 league logos and two Golden State stars - the same Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. It's the same Flawless collection from last season. The price of this card is $12,000 without one dollar.
Further older cards. I will say in advance that all 4 are from the second half of the 90s
4-3) And open the top two cards of Michael Jordan with a jersey and an autograph. In the first case, the card in this form was inserted into the blocks of the Upper Deck 19 collection98-99 - a kind of parallel with the autograph with a circulation of 23 copies. $10,999 was paid for the card. And the second card in the collection of the previous season was a regular unnumbered jersey. For a re-release in 2013, an autograph was at stake in the Jordan Collection. The resulting result was estimated at $15,000.
2) Next, another overlay of the top newcomer from Topps Chrome. This time it's Kobe Bryant and the 1995-96 collection. Plus, the card itself is in excellent condition. Price $17500.
1) And in the first place is the red parallel Metall Universe PMG by Michael Jordan with an edition of only 100 copies. In addition, the card number 23/100 is of additional interest. It should also be noted that the card was sent to the PSA for an authenticity check, but not for a condition assessment. The rating would not be high - edge damage (not rare for cards of this sub-series) is visible to the naked eye. As a result, the card was sold for $21453.
Well, the oldest top contains only the classic rookie cards of future NBA legends.
4) And this list opens with Wilt Chamberlain's map from the Fleer collection from 1961. The condition of the card is 9 points out of 10 possible, and the price is $32,211.
3-2) Next, two cards from rookie Michael Jordan. Moreover, for a rarer 9-point card from Star-85, they paid more ($40,207) than for a 10-point card from Fleer-86 ($35,999).
1) Well, absolutely out of competition is the triple card of Larry Bird, Julius Irving and Magic Johnson - the main newcomers of the 1979 season-80 from Topps. Three members of the Hall of Fame + the perfect condition of the card itself gave a total of $96423.
Thank you for your attention!
Bank card numerology: numbers that attract money . And since our contemporary is increasingly resorting to the use of such an instrument as a bank card, numerologists warn that his choice should be taken very carefully. Correspondents of IA "Express-Novosti" listened to what experts in this field are talking about, and are in a hurry to share their knowledge with their readers.
Photo: express-novosti.ruexpress-novosti.ru
So that the card does not repel material well-being, it is important to know what kind of financial energy it contains. You can find out this by a simple calculation, namely, by adding all the digits until you get one digit: 4117 7600 8602 3785 = 4+1+1+7+7+6+0+0+8+6+0+2+3 +7+8+5=65 = 6+5 = 11 = 1+1 = 2. And now the final figure will tell you exactly what kind of energy a particular bank card is endowed with. Now IA Express-Novosti will tell you exactly what this or that final figure is talking about.
Video of the day
One
A card with such a potential can bring real prosperity to its owner, but only if it is used to pay for large acquisitions. And of course, she will work one hundred percent if funds are regularly received into her account, and not from case to case.
Two
With such a number, a bank card does not promise money luck, therefore it is not worth leaving any funds on its accounts. Accumulating in this case will not work, because circumstances will constantly arise that force the owner to spend the funds available there.
Troika
Such a card will bring good luck if its accounts are replenished from various sources. Small but regular receipts will fuel the energy of the card, and it will attract even more new sources of financial flows.
Four
This instrument is ideal for long-term investments, savings and deposits. The card will allow you to save up for expensive acquisitions, as well as create a fairly impressive financial cushion for a rainy day. But you also need to spend money from this card carefully, without withdrawing more than necessary and replenishing the account as quickly as possible.
Five
Such a card will be a great help when traveling, since the funds available there are a priori intended for recreation and entertainment. Based on this, it is not worth transferring all available savings to such a card, since almost everything will be spent. Well, such a tool is definitely not suitable for savings.
Six
This tool will be relevant for daily use and making everyday purchases, for example, products and essential goods. Therefore, it is better not to put too much money there in order to save yourself from temptations and unnecessary expenses.
Seven
This figure is considered lucky for the card, because it allows you to competently and prudently manage the family budget. It can not only pay off with the greatest benefit, but also save money for a "rainy day". And of course, it is able to bring financial success and prosperity to its owner.
Other factors that may affect a basketball card’s value include the specific player featured, the year it was manufactured, and other relevant points.
So, how do you start collecting basketball cards? 
)
They often come in the same designs as the base cards but with different color schemes. Parallels look cool, but they do not typically carry the same value as rookie cards.
Any fold or scratch, even the slightest, drags the card’s value. That is why you need to do everything in your power to keep the cards in the best condition. And any good collector knows it requires money to pull that off.
6 million in the open market. It is one of those “combination” cards I talked about earlier, a patch-autograph hybrid that is truly one of a kind.
Now, you can only do the latter if you know its actual value. If you see the card is worth $1,000, you can probably sell it in the $600-$800 range.
Of course, in doing this, you may need to summon the power of the world wide web once again.
For sure, those are the usual places where to buy basketball cards. Of course, buying straight from a pack guarantees almost nothing, so this option is not the way to go if you’re looking for a specific card.
After that, you need to be proactive yourself, like perhaps subscribing to a card-pricing software, looking up a basketball card price guide, and checking updated prices online. And if you’re looking to score a specific card, it doesn’t hurt to make friends with people who are already in the game before you. Chances are, they could point you in the right direction.
I’m pretty sure the owner of that LeBron card did not have any idea that it’s going to be worth seven figures down the line. You very well might be the next lucky guy.
Alternatively, you sell it to a local card shop, but keep in mind dealers pay wholesale prices… they have to make a profit after all, and selling a large collection takes a considerable amount of time and resources… so don’t expect to get eBay prices for your basketball cards when you sell to a dealer. If you have the time and patience, you can sell it yourself on eBay and get a competitive price. Read our guide to selling on eBay.
Today we will capture 2 months - November and December. 
It's the same Flawless collection from last season. The price of this card is $12,000 without one dollar. 
In addition, the card number 23/100 is of additional interest. It should also be noted that the card was sent to the PSA for an authenticity check, but not for a condition assessment. The rating would not be high - edge damage (not rare for cards of this sub-series) is visible to the naked eye. As a result, the card was sold for $21453. 
But you also need to spend money from this card carefully, without withdrawing more than necessary and replenishing the account as quickly as possible. 
