Ryan Barone (@ballcardgenius, Card Expert) is a lifelong member of the hobby. He has been quoted in PSA Magazine, and his content has regularly been mentioned in “Quick Rips” (the Topps RIPPED Newsletter) and across other hobby publications. hello@ballcardgenius.com; Last Time Ago LLC dba Ballcard Genius.
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While many of the cards below might be way out of your price range (and mine), you never know what might turn up at the next garage sale, or what might be unexpected handed down to you from a distant relative.
Given the number of cards and the amount of details involved, I’ll present the info in a few different ways, starting with the 100 most valuable list and gallery, followed by commentary and then the next tier of MJs best cards. I’ll also add a section on how you can find values of your own cards or those you might be interested in.
Here are the 100 most valuable Michael Jordan basketball cards:
| Card | Avg |
|---|---|
| Michael Jordan 1998 Metal Universe #8-LP Linchpins Raw | $4,344.29 |
| Michael Jordan 1997 Metal Universe #1 Platinum Portraits Raw | $3,500.00 |
| Michael Jordan 1986 Fleer #57 Base Raw | $2,704.95 |
| Michael Jordan 1996 SkyBox Z-Force #4 Big Men on Court - Z-Peat Raw | $2,666.06 |
| Michael Jordan 1996 SkyBox E-X2000 #5 A Cut Above Raw | $2,627.00 |
| Michael Jordan 1996 Topps Finest #291 Gold - Refractor (with Coating) Raw | $2,525.00 |
| Michael Jordan 2003 Exquisite Collection #3 Base /225 Raw | $2,425.00 |
| Michael Jordan 1998 Topps #EW5 East-West Refractor (w/Kobe Bryant) Raw | $2,365.00 |
| Michael Jordan 1998 Flair Showcase #13TN takeit2.net /1000 Raw | $2,222.00 |
| Michael Jordan 2012 Fleer Retro #97FL-48 Flair Legacy Row 0 /100 Raw | $2,000.00 |
| Michael Jordan 1998 SkyBox E-X Century #15DG Dunk 'N Go-Nuts Raw | $2,000.00 |
| Michael Jordan 1997 Metal Universe Championship #1CG Championship Galaxy Raw | $1,890.50 |
| Michael Jordan 1997 Bowman's Best #60 Atomic Refractor Raw | $1,855.00 |
| Michael Jordan 1996 Flair Showcase #1 Hot Shots Raw | $1,725.00 |
| Michael Jordan 2002 Topps Chrome #10 Black Refractor /99 Raw | $1,692.75 |
| Michael Jordan 1997 Fleer Ultra #1-US Ultra Stars Raw | $1,632.68 |
| Michael Jordan 1996 Fleer #6 Thrill Seekers Raw | $1,420.96 |
| Michael Jordan 1996 SkyBox Z-Force #4 Big Men on Court Raw | $1,417.84 |
| Michael Jordan 1997 Metal Universe #1 Titanium Raw | $1,392.92 |
| Michael Jordan 1996 Bowman's Best #BC2 Cuts - Atomic Refractor Raw | $1,349.00 |
| Michael Jordan 1996 Fleer Ultra #4 Scoring Kings - Plus Raw | $1,265.37 |
| Michael Jordan 2012 Fleer Retro #20 Molten Metal Raw | $1,225.00 |
| Michael Jordan 1997 Topps Finest #154 Gold - Refractor (No Coating) /289 Raw | $1,202.11 |
| Michael Jordan 1996 Topps Finest #291 Gold - Refractor (No Coating) Raw | $1,200.00 |
| Michael Jordan 1997 Fleer Ultra #1-SPS Star Power Supreme Raw | $1,100.00 |
| Michael Jordan 1998 SkyBox Premium #4DDD 3D Raw | $1,067.33 |
| Michael Jordan 1996 Fleer Ultra #2 Court Masters Raw | $1,049.80 |
| Michael Jordan 1996 SkyBox Premium #5 Golden Touch Raw | $1,031.83 |
| Michael Jordan 1997 Topps Chrome #123 Refractor Raw | $1,025.26 |
| Michael Jordan 1997 Bowman's Best #96 Best Performance - Atomic Refractor Raw | $1,021.42 |
| Michael Jordan 1997 SkyBox Premium #5TL Thunder & Lightning Raw | $1,014.01 |
| Michael Jordan 2002 SPx #89 Spectrum /25 Raw | $1,000.00 |
| Michael Jordan 2001 Fleer Focus #95 Numbers (/30) Raw | $995.00 |
| Michael Jordan 1997 SkyBox Premium #1GT Golden Touch Raw | $980.00 |
| Michael Jordan 1997 Topps #RS1 Rock Stars - Refractor Raw | $950.00 |
| Michael Jordan 1998 Fleer #6E Electrifying Raw | $936.39 |
| Michael Jordan 1993 Topps Finest #1 Refractor Raw | $932.45 |
| Michael Jordan 1997 SkyBox E-X2001 #6 Jambalaya Raw | $910.00 |
| Michael Jordan 1997 SkyBox Premium #1PP Premium Player Raw | $901.03 |
| Michael Jordan 1997 SkyBox Premium #3CA Competitive Advantage Raw | $900.00 |
| Michael Jordan 1997 Fleer Ultra #1-SS Ultrabilities Superstar Raw | $807.50 |
| Michael Jordan 1997 Fleer #7TS Thrill Seekers Raw | $796.99 |
| Michael Jordan 1997 SkyBox Premium #1SS Silky Smooth Raw | $757.46 |
| Michael Jordan 1998 Stadium Club #62 First Day Issue /200 Raw | $722.50 |
| Michael Jordan 1995 Topps Finest #M1 Mystery - Borderless Gold Refractor Raw | $722.49 |
| Michael Jordan 1998 Topps #R1 Roundball Royalty - Refractor Raw | $718.87 |
| Michael Jordan 1997 Fleer #5 Decade of Excellence Rare Traditions Raw | $714.79 |
| Michael Jordan 2002 Topps Chrome #10 White Refractor /249 Raw | $711.00 |
| Michael Jordan 1998 SPx Finite #1 Spectrum /350 Raw | $707.50 |
| Michael Jordan 1996 Fleer Ultra #4 Starring Role Raw | $695.00 |
| Michael Jordan 1998 Topps Finest #81 Refractor Raw | $688.33 |
| Michael Jordan 2008 Upper Deck Radiance #23 Base /299 Raw | $677.00 |
| Michael Jordan 1996 Metal #5 Net-Rageous Raw | $668.15 |
| Michael Jordan 1997 Topps Finest #287 Silver - Refractor (No Coating) /1090 Raw | $667.00 |
| Michael Jordan 2012 Fleer Retro #12 Thrill Seekers Raw | $661.87 |
| Michael Jordan 1995 Flair #4 Hot Numbers Raw | $640.17 |
| Michael Jordan 1996 SkyBox Z-Force #SC5 Slam Cam Raw | $640.00 |
| Michael Jordan 1996 Metal #18 Molten Metal Raw | $626.75 |
| Michael Jordan 2011 Fleer Retro #FL-1 Flair Showcase /150 Raw | $619.50 |
| Michael Jordan 1996 Flair Showcase #23 Row 0 Raw | $615.71 |
| Michael Jordan 2012 Fleer Retro #15 BMOC Big Men on Court Raw | $600.00 |
| Michael Jordan 1998 Metal Universe #1-PM Planet Metal Raw | $599.42 |
| Michael Jordan 1995 Stadium Club #BT14 Beam Team - Members Only Raw | $586.69 |
| Michael Jordan 1996 Metal #4 Maximum Metal Raw | $562.09 |
| Michael Jordan 1997 SPx #6 Gold Raw | $560.00 |
| Michael Jordan 1995 SkyBox E-XL #1 Natural Born Thrillers Raw | $546.07 |
| Michael Jordan 1996 SkyBox E-X2000 #8 Net Assets Raw | $545.94 |
| Michael Jordan 1995 Topps #M1 Mystery Finest - Refractor Raw | $539.00 |
| Michael Jordan 2002 Topps Finest #100 Refractor /250 Raw | $536.00 |
| Michael Jordan 1996 Bowman's Best #BC2 Cuts - Refractor Raw | $534.21 |
| Michael Jordan 1997 Hoops #14HV High Voltage Raw | $533.18 |
| Michael Jordan 1998 SkyBox Premium #1SG Soul of the Game Raw | $501.38 |
| Michael Jordan 1997 Topps #123 O-Pee-Chee Raw | $500.00 |
| Michael Jordan 1997 Fleer #23 Tiffany Raw | $495.25 |
| Michael Jordan 1986 Fleer Sticker #8 Base Raw | $495.09 |
| Michael Jordan 1998 Upper Deck Ionix #Z1 Warp Zone Raw | $490.00 |
| Michael Jordan 1998 Topps #EW5 East-West (w/Kobe Bryant) Raw | $477.75 |
| Michael Jordan 1996 Topps Stars #24 Finest Atomic Refractor Raw | $476.00 |
| Michael Jordan 1994 Topps Finest #331 Refractor (with Coating) Raw | $466.88 |
| Michael Jordan 1997 Topps #G2 Generations - Refractor Raw | $452.56 |
| Michael Jordan 1993 Fleer Ultra #5 Scoring Kings Raw | $424.18 |
| Michael Jordan 1997 Bowman's Best #T2 Techniques - Atomic Refractor Raw | $422.00 |
| Michael Jordan 1998 SPx Finite #201 Finite Excellence - Radiance /590 Raw | $420.00 |
| Michael Jordan 1997 SPx #HH1 Hardcourt Holoview Raw | $418.14 |
| Michael Jordan 1996 SkyBox Premium #B7 Larger Than Life Raw | $414.00 |
| Michael Jordan 1997 Stadium Club #T1B Triumvirate - Luminous Raw | $410.23 |
| Michael Jordan 1997 Metal Universe #1 Planet Metal Raw | $403.29 |
| Michael Jordan 1997 SPx #1 ProMotion Raw | $402.08 |
| Michael Jordan 1996 Bowman's Best #BS6 Shots - Atomic Refractor Raw | $382.59 |
| Michael Jordan 2001 Upper Deck Flight Team #1 High Class Gold /50 Raw | $380.00 |
| Michael Jordan 2011 Fleer Retro #1 CA Competitive Advantage Raw | $354.35 |
| Michael Jordan 1996 Bowman's Best #80 Refractor Raw | $350.01 |
| Michael Jordan 1998 Upper Deck Ovation #7 Gold /1000 Raw | $350.00 |
| Michael Jordan 1997 SkyBox Z-Force #5QS Quick Strike Raw | $347.71 |
| Michael Jordan 1997 Topps Finest #154 Gold - Embossed (No Coating) Raw | $339.48 |
| Michael Jordan 1997 Fleer Ultra #1-SPP Star Power Plus Raw | $338.40 |
| Michael Jordan 1996 Bowman's Best #HR2 Honor Roll - Refractor Raw | $337.23 |
| Michael Jordan 1997 Upper Deck #G5 Great Eight /800 Raw | $328.23 |
| Michael Jordan 1996 Topps Stars #124 Finest Refractor Raw | $328.23 |
| Michael Jordan 1996 Topps Finest #50 Bronze - Refractor (with Coating) Raw | $314.00 |
This is a list of cards from the Market Movers catalog, and those that have not been graded. Values are average sales vales from the last 365 days.
What are we seeing? Here are some observations:
Rookies Always Rule
Other than the fact that these Jordan card values are out of this world, what can we learn from the above? Most obviously, if you ever come across what looks like a Jordan rookie either from 1986 Fleer or 1984 Star, handle with caution and get an expert opinion. As a side note, PSA “recently” started grading the 1984 Star card again.
Skybox, Metal & More
While you wouldn’t know it from today’s releases, Skybox, Metal Universe, and other card brands ruled the basketball insert universe back in the 90s (and are all over the 100 basketball cards worth big money). Frankly, any Jordan insert is worth a deep dive because there are a number of valuable examples (which we will get into in a bit).
Buy the Card, Not the Grade
Last, it’s interesting that when you get into rare Jordan territory, condition becomes less of a concern. While these are raw cards, let me introduce some other info. A few of the top three cards on the list of most valuable graded Jordan cards, are all less than BGS 9, yet sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Not to mention that a PSA 4 PMG sold for nearly $350K (also interesting to note that it sold for only $18K less than the BGS 8 that sold three months prior).
So, while you want to keep cards in amazing condition, don’t be discouraged if you find something rare and it isn’t perfect.
Most Valuable Michael Jordan Insert Cards
Looking at the above list, there is a lot more variety, and while you won’t find many Jordan rookies changing hands without being authenticated, there are a number of insert cards out on the market.
Because there are so many, I put together this scrollable gallery for easy viewing:
Would you believe me if I told you each of those cards has a 365-day average sales value of at least $500 (with many being in the thousands)?
Would you believe me if I told you each of those cards has a 365-day average sales value of at least $500 (with many being in the thousands)?
If you’re looking to build your collection and not spend your life’s fortune, don’t fret. Remember at the beginning of the post I mentioned there are a lot of cards out there to consider?
Best Jordan Inserts Under $50
So, what’s a reasonable dollar amount for a cool Michael Jordan card? Let’s look at cards with an average value of $50 and under. Cool?
First, the list and then the gallery:
- Michael Jordan 1995 SkyBox Premium #SH1 Standouts (Hobby) Raw, $48.14
- Michael Jordan 1999 Upper Deck #W15 Wild! Raw, $47.06
- Michael Jordan 2002 Topps Chrome #TM6 The Move Raw, $46.7
- Michael Jordan 1995 Topps #WC1 World Class Raw, $46
- Michael Jordan 1995 Fleer Ultra #4 Scoring Kings Raw, $45.54
- Michael Jordan 1995 Stadium Club #RM2 Reign Men Raw, $44.69
- Michael Jordan 1997 Stadium Club #H1 Hardcourt Heroics Raw, $43.7
- Michael Jordan 1996 Bowman’s Best #BS6 Shots Raw, $42.64
- Michael Jordan 1998 Bowman’s Best #FB1 Franchise Best Raw, $40.78
- Michael Jordan 1997 Fleer Ultra #1-SP Star Power Raw, $40.49
- Michael Jordan 1995 Topps Finest #HS1 Hot Stuff Raw, $39.25
- Michael Jordan 1997 Stadium Club #RC6 Royal Court Raw, $38.29
- Michael Jordan 1997 SkyBox Z-Force #6LA Limited Access Raw, $36.26
- Michael Jordan 1999 Upper Deck #S1 Star Surge Raw, $36.12
- Michael Jordan 1995 Topps Gallery #EX2 Expressionists Raw, $35.77
- Michael Jordan 1996 Topps #HC2 Holding Court Raw, $34.42
- Michael Jordan 1995 Topps #SS1 Show Stoppers Raw, $32.16
- Michael Jordan 1996 Stadium Club #CA1 Class Acts (w/J. Stackhouse) Raw, $32.12
- Michael Jordan 1995 Fleer Ultra #4 Scoring Kings – Hot Pack Raw, $31.77
- Michael Jordan 1999 Upper Deck #HC1 History Class Raw, $29.82
- Michael Jordan 2002 Topps Chrome #CC8 Coast to Coast Raw, $28.83
- Michael Jordan 1997 Upper Deck #U1 Ultimates Raw, $27.3
- Michael Jordan 1996 Fleer Ultra #7 Board Game Raw, $26.96
- Michael Jordan 1996 Upper Deck UD3 #W1 The Winning Edge Raw, $26.43
- Michael Jordan 1998 Fleer Ultra #1US Unstoppable Raw, $24.8
- Michael Jordan 1993 Upper Deck Special Edition #G11 Behind the Glass Raw, $24.02
- Michael Jordan 1988 Fleer #7 Stickers Raw, $23.97
- Michael Jordan 1995 Topps #SP2 Spark Plugs Raw, $23.61
- Michael Jordan 1998 Stadium Club #S2 Statliners Raw, $23.16
- Michael Jordan 1998 Topps Chrome #CS1 Champion Spirit Raw, $22.69
- Michael Jordan 1995 Topps #TF1 Top Flight Raw, $22.43
- Michael Jordan 1998 Stadium Club #NC1 Never Compromise Raw, $22.04
- Michael Jordan 1997 Fleer Ultra #1-VT View to a Thrill Raw, $20.17
- Michael Jordan 2002 Topps Chrome #ZB13 Zone Busters Raw, $20.12
- Michael Jordan 1995 Fleer #2 Total O – Hot Pack Raw, $19.95
- Michael Jordan 1996 Fleer Ultra #5 Give & Take Raw, $19.92
- Michael Jordan 2002 Topps Pristine #4 Base Raw, $19.77
- Michael Jordan 1996 Topps Chrome #PF-3 Pro Files Raw, $19.68
- Michael Jordan 2013 Fleer Retro #153 ’98 SkyBox Premium Raw, $19.63
- Michael Jordan 1993 SkyBox Premium #D4 Dynamic Dunks Raw, $19.4
How to Find Michael Jordan Card Values
OK, so if any of these amazing cards aren’t on your watchlist or if you just want to know how to find such values, here is a cheat sheet.
Frankly, most of the time you won’t have to look much further than eBay when it comes to looking up card values. Between sold listings/comps and current listings, you should be able to find most of what you’re looking for.
I’ve made it even easier by brining the search box to you. Just plug in your search terms (set name, year, etc.) and off you go.
The hardest thing for you at this point is simply identifying your card’s main information, so here is a quick breakdown.
The three big pieces of info (assuming you know the player’s name) are the set, card number, and year. The set can usually be gathered from the logo on the front of the card, as you can see in the top left here. Additionally, you can usually confirm the set on the back of the card either with another logo or within the fine print.
As for the year of the card, you can see this one says “1995” at the bottom on the back of the card. And since we know the basketball season spans two years on the calendar (starting in October of one year and continuing on into the next calendar year), this can either mean 1994-95 or 1995-96.
Really, though, the printed year will be the first year, as in 1995-96. We can confirm this by looking at the stats and noting the corresponding years. The last year is 1994-95, which means that season has been completed, and this card is for the following year (again, 1995-96).
So again, if I search in “1995-95 michael jordan skybox 15” I shouldn’t have any problem finding recent sold values of that card:
