Top 10 Baketball packs of all time.
I was recently asked to name my top 5 rookie showing basketball packs of all time so it was too hard and here's my top 10 list: Alright here's my thoughts
- Wilt chamberlain
- Michael Jordan
- Bird/magic
- Charles Barkley
- O. Robertson
- Ewing
- Malone
- Wilkins
- Gervin
- Rodman
3-8 are fairly close in value. I like Ewing and Malone packs for rarity, but of course Dr J would make the list but none of his rookie showing packs exists, just like Maravich and Kareem. Of course 3-5 would also be replaced by any '57 pack with a star showing as they are so rare too. I also would add the 1974 Gervin pack somewhere in the top 10 because there's just 1 but it drops in value from all the 1986 rookies. My apologies to Olajuwan and Drexler becuase of the value of their rookie showing packs should beat out Rodman I just wanted to put a 1988 pack onto the list and he's the only rookie that qualifies.
Let me know your thoughts!
Join the Rookie stars on top PSA registry today:
1980-1989 Cello Packs - Rookies
Comments
-
I've been trying to assemble my top 10 Rookie Pack list for a few years now. Here's the progress and please share your basketball rookie packs, I love to see what's out there!!
Follow me at LinkedIn & Instagram: @ryanscard
Join the Rookie stars on top PSA registry today:
1980-1989 Cello Packs - Rookies1 -
nice packs for sure
0 -
There is a Dr. J pack out there!
Craig AKA "Crazylegs"0 -
@Crazylegs said:
There is a Dr. J pack out there!Oh that I wish that there was I would love to see a pic. My list was based on the PSA pop report and there arent any yet that have been graded:
Follow me at LinkedIn & Instagram: @ryanscard
Join the Rookie stars on top PSA registry today:
1980-1989 Cello Packs - Rookies0 -
Follow me at LinkedIn & Instagram: @ryanscard
Join the Rookie stars on top PSA registry today:
1980-1989 Cello Packs - Rookies1 -
I sold it a while back in 2 boxes I sold.
The boxes also had packs with Wilt, Pistol Pete, Cunningham and a few
ABA & NBA Leader cards.Craig AKA "Crazylegs"0 -
Any key 1971 Rookie (Issel, Barry, Lanier, Cowens) should make the list just by pure
scarcity alone of the '71 issue. You'll find about 20 or more 1972 boxes for every
1971. It wouldn't surprise me if some of the 1972 boxes out there have some more
Dr. J showing packs. 1957, 1961, 1971, 1970 2nd series and 1986 in that order.Craig AKA "Crazylegs"0 -
Chamberlain has some fleer packs floating around too
0 -
Follow me at LinkedIn & Instagram: @ryanscard
Join the Rookie stars on top PSA registry today:
1980-1989 Cello Packs - Rookies1 -
@Crazylegs said:
Any key 1971 Rookie (Issel, Barry, Lanier, Cowens) should make the list just by pure
scarcity alone of the '71 issue. You'll find about 20 or more 1972 boxes for every
1971. It wouldn't surprise me if some of the 1972 boxes out there have some more
Dr. J showing packs.I agree a Barry or Issel etc. would show up on the list 8-10 somewhere but unfortunate no examples exist just like the Dr J. yet. I went strictly by the PSA Pop report to make the list so unless it shows up there their existence is kind of like a unicorn. Now if someone had a picture they could post or show something exists in a GAI pack I'd be willing to call it at least a Narwhal.
Follow me at LinkedIn & Instagram: @ryanscard
Join the Rookie stars on top PSA registry today:
1980-1989 Cello Packs - Rookies0 -
great packs--will try to load a few pics later today of one of the best packs out there!
0 -
The suspense is killing me... Can't wait to see what it is.
Follow me at LinkedIn & Instagram: @ryanscard
Join the Rookie stars on top PSA registry today:
1980-1989 Cello Packs - Rookies1 -
Here's my number 3, you can make out the Erving pretty clearly from the scan. In my opinion still one of the best value basketball packs out there.
Follow me at LinkedIn & Instagram: @ryanscard
Join the Rookie stars on top PSA registry today:
1980-1989 Cello Packs - Rookies0 -
Here's the Gervin pack. I think this one will end up being pretty rare. It's currently the only 1974 pack labeled with a star showing and when you look at this wax pack with the red coloring it's almost impossible to see the showing card. I would love to see a Walton too, but not sure if ew will find one??
Follow me at LinkedIn & Instagram: @ryanscard
Join the Rookie stars on top PSA registry today:
1980-1989 Cello Packs - Rookies0 -
here are 2 pretty nice ones. The Maravich has gotta be the only one out there. Got it in the mid '90s from an AH that was out of NJ. Sportscards Plus? Bought the West pack also. Paid $500 each--got 3 each of both years



3 -
Wow, gorgeous packs.
Joe
IG: goatcollectibles23
The biggest lesson I've learned in this hobby, and in life, is that if you have a strong conviction, you owe it to yourself to see it through. Don't sell yourself, or your investments, short. Unless the facts change. Then sell it all.0 -
Here's the Gervin> @flatfoot816 said:
here are 2 pretty nice ones. The Maravich has gotta be the only one out there. Got it in the mid '90s from an AH that was out of NJ. Sportscards Plus? Bought the West pack also. Paid $500 each--got 3 each of both years


Wow the Maravich pack is awesome, hadn't seen one of those before!
Follow me at LinkedIn & Instagram: @ryanscard
Join the Rookie stars on top PSA registry today:
1980-1989 Cello Packs - Rookies0 -
@rtimmer said:
Here's the Gerving > @flatfoot816 said:here are 2 pretty nice ones. The Maravich has gotta be the only one out there. Got it in the mid '90s from an AH that was out of NJ. Sportscards Plus? Bought the West pack also. Paid $500 each--got 3 each of both years


Wow the Maravich pack is awesome, hadn't seen one of those before!
+1 But, can we see the back please to see if we can spot Maravich in all its glory?!
0 -
@secretstash said:
@rtimmer said:
Here's the Gerving > @flatfoot816 said:here are 2 pretty nice ones. The Maravich has gotta be the only one out there. Got it in the mid '90s from an AH that was out of NJ. Sportscards Plus? Bought the West pack also. Paid $500 each--got 3 each of both years


Wow the Maravich pack is awesome, hadn't seen one of those before!
+1 But, can we see the back please to see if we can spot Maravich in all its glory?!
It might be hard to see with that wrapper and in the GAI case??
Follow me at LinkedIn & Instagram: @ryanscard
Join the Rookie stars on top PSA registry today:
1980-1989 Cello Packs - Rookies0 -
Adding this to here also since I finally hit my own white whale.
Found this pack after years of looking for one. 1980 topps basketball Bird/Erving/Magic RC back. I found this in an old GAI slab mislabeled(no rc notation).

I am sure someone can do a better overlay to the pack to show all of the key areas defined, but I tried to photoshop the coloration to show. Key points are the blue C starting to form on Bird plus the blue frame, julius is obvious, magic you can see his leg and half torso/arm.
Cannot wait to get this to PSA with the correct holder!
0 -
@secretstash said:
@rtimmer said:
Here's the Gerving > @flatfoot816 said:here are 2 pretty nice ones. The Maravich has gotta be the only one out there. Got it in the mid '90s from an AH that was out of NJ. Sportscards Plus? Bought the West pack also. Paid $500 each--got 3 each of both years


Wow the Maravich pack is awesome, hadn't seen one of those before!
+1 But, can we see the back please to see if we can spot Maravich in all its glory?!
GREETINGS! pack has literally been in the bank vault for several years. It's time for inventory check so I'll pull it in the near future and post a new pic
0 -
Follow me at LinkedIn & Instagram: @ryanscard
Join the Rookie stars on top PSA registry today:
1980-1989 Cello Packs - Rookies1 -
thats a nice one...only a few of those floating around i'm sure
0 -
@coinspacks said:
thats a nice one...only a few of those floating around i'm sureActually lucky enough that this is the only PSA Chamberlain showing pack that exists. This is the best basketball pack out there in my opinion. I think if a Dr J were ever graded that would sneak into second, but the Jordan tops are also in the mix.
Now if I could only find a Kareem showing GAI pack that might give second a shot as well.
Follow me at LinkedIn & Instagram: @ryanscard
Join the Rookie stars on top PSA registry today:
1980-1989 Cello Packs - Rookies0 -
@coinspacks said:
thats a nice one...only a few of those floating around i'm sureThere was actually a box of 1961s that just sold for $120,000 because it had a Chamberlian showing pack in the box. Oh and of course 1961 boxes are generally fairly rare to come around.
Follow me at LinkedIn & Instagram: @ryanscard
Join the Rookie stars on top PSA registry today:
1980-1989 Cello Packs - Rookies1 -
that is an amazing pack. Gotta be one of the best packs out there...period. Congrats on a nice pick up that appreciated quite a bit I am sure
0 -
Just picked this up. Nice piece in my Jordan collection.
Joe
IG: goatcollectibles23
The biggest lesson I've learned in this hobby, and in life, is that if you have a strong conviction, you owe it to yourself to see it through. Don't sell yourself, or your investments, short. Unless the facts change. Then sell it all.0 -
@SpinFadeSplash23 said:
Just picked this up. Nice piece in my Jordan collection.
WOW~!
I cannot see the jordan but PSA did so that is one amazing pack!!!
0 -
@SpinFadeSplash23 said:
Just picked this up. Nice piece in my Jordan collection.
Wow clearly a top 5 pack and fairly rare considering its a 1986 pack with only 132 cards in the set. Certainly one I wish I had in my collection. I basically cheat and count the Jordan sticker back as my '86 Jordan pack but those are much more plentiful.
Hopefully the price came down a little bit for you too from the one that sold at $10k last summer during the Jordan frenzie.
Follow me at LinkedIn & Instagram: @ryanscard
Join the Rookie stars on top PSA registry today:
1980-1989 Cello Packs - Rookies0 -
I didn't pay anywhere near 10k. Considering only five in the world exist per the Pop Report, I feel I got a very, very fair deal.
Joe
IG: goatcollectibles23
The biggest lesson I've learned in this hobby, and in life, is that if you have a strong conviction, you owe it to yourself to see it through. Don't sell yourself, or your investments, short. Unless the facts change. Then sell it all.0 -
Great Jordan pack, but is it killing anyone else knowing that a 30 year old stick of gum is laying on top of a Jordan RC?
0 -
@SpinFadeSplash23 said:
I didn't pay anywhere near 10k. Considering only five in the world exist per the Pop Report, I feel I got a very, very fair deal.Wow congrats then on the great pack and the phenomenal price. I'd hold this pack forever I just don't see too many more hitting the pop but the demand continuing to roll higher.
Follow me at LinkedIn & Instagram: @ryanscard
Join the Rookie stars on top PSA registry today:
1980-1989 Cello Packs - Rookies0
Categories
- All Categories
- 520.1K Coins and Currency - PCGS
- 328.5K U.S. Coin Forum
- 14.8K PCGS Set Registry Forum
- 5.2K Q & A Forum
- 41.4K World & Ancient Coins Forum
- 3K U.S. & World Currency Forum
- 96.4K Buy, Sell, & Trade - U.S. Coins
- 7.3K Buy, Sell & Trade - World & Ancient Coins
- 1.5K Buy, Sell & Trade - Currency
- 61 Random
- 246.2K Trading Cards, Autographs and Memorabilia - PSA
- 90.3K Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
- 1.7K Autographs Forum
- 16.4K PSA Set Registry Forum
- 22K Sports Talk
- 115K Buy, Sell & Trade - Cards & Memorabilia
- 663 Buy, Sell & Trade - Autographs
- 2.2K Stamps
- 1.5K Stamps Forum
- 670 Buy, Sell & Trade - Stamps
- 83 Coin Shows
- 83 General Coin Show Information and Discussion
- 11.9K Misc
- 11.9K Testing Forum











