The most expensive basketball card EVER isn't a Michael Jordan rookie, or a Lebron James insert. The now two-time MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo, is king of basketball cardboard with with a seven-figure rookie card.
When you think of the most expensive basketball card ever, the 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card comes to mind, right? Our good friend, Darren Rovel, over at Action Network has told you and I that PSA 10 MJ rookies are hitting 100K. A hundred grand isn't close to the most expensive basketball card - not even a tenth of the way there!
This blog is sponsored by JUST COLLECT where we specialize in buying vintage cards, autographs, and collections - including Giannis rookies. If you have any of THESE cards, give us a shout; we'd be interested in buying.
Fresh off of back-to-back MVP awards, Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Bucks had a rookie card sell for $1,857,300! Yes, an extra digit there. Not 185 grand - 1.85 MILLION.
If you think 1.85 million is an astonishing jump from a $100K MJ rookie, poor Jordan (probably the only time that adjective has been attached to his name in the last 35 years) actually ranks quite low compared to high-end modern cards. Just six weeks ago, a LeBron James signed rookie card from the "Exquisite Collection", one of just 23 examples, sold for 1.8 million dollars! What kind of card commands a seven-figure sum? The Giannis rookie from National Treasures, and is the only one in existence.
The 1.85 Million 2013-14 Panini National Treasures Logoman
The most sought after cards today: National Treasures. National Treasures sport a lovely, very thick card stock, and these particular logoman cards have the swatch of the player's jersey containing the NBA logo (that beautiful Jerry West red, white, and blue silhouette). The logoman cards are also autographed by the players. Each signed logoman is unique - just one copy ever of the player made each season.
Each National Treasures box contains only 10 cards. You're most likely not going to find a sealed box from 2013-14 where the Giannis rookies reside, but since we know the signed logoman is public, the price may have dipped slightly. To give you an example of cost - one full box of 2019-20 National Treasures is currently selling for $4,000 per box.
With just one copy made, living in a box priced at several thousand dollars, and a man that is fighting to be the best basketball player on the planet, it's not hard to fathom a 1.85 million-dollar sale for this particular rookie card. The latest PSA POP report states 315 PSA 1986 Fleer Jordan cards exist. Comparing the Fleer to logoman, having over 300 more copies available, not being signed, and missing a piece of jersey, the Fleer just doesn't command as much as the sole Giannis logoman.
Would You Buy The Giannis logman or an MJ Rookie Card?
Our favorite question - "if money was no object...". Let's pretend bills do not exist, and you have two million dollars to spend where the Giannis card sold at Goldin Auctions. You rolled doubles and landed on Free Parking; you're on easy street here and flush with cash.
Which would you rather buy?
- 18 PSA 10 Michael Jordan Fleer Rookie Cards
- 1 Giannis National Treasures signed logoman
No wrong answer here, and we'd love to know which you would choose, and why! Post below or reach out on our Facebook page.
Looking to Buy National Treasures?
Our sister company, Vintage Breaks, has spots available in a 2019-20 National Treasures box HERE.
You can buy one spot, or the whole box! Obviously we make zero promises on what is in the box, but like Giannis, there are 1 of 1 logoman signed cards in the set. There has been a $500,000 bounty on the Zion logoman, too!
All spots on the Vintage Break site, not just National Treasures, include tax, shipping, and your cards are shipped in protective holders. The price per spot you see on the website is what you will pay. You'll always receive your spot, too! Vintage Breaks doesn't do team or player spots; you won't go home empty-handed.
Looking to SELL?
We're always interested in buying collections, especially vintage cards and older wax!
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