The NBA has develop into a world sport. Due to that, gathering basketball playing cards has develop into a highly regarded pastime the world over, thanks partly to worldwide superstars like Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo. With the trade exploding because the COVID-19 pandemic, collectors have been eyeing the extra trendy playing cards, however that doesn’t imply you need to flip away from classic, particularly playing cards from the Seventies. That’s why StudyFinds has give you an inventory of the most effective basketball playing cards from the ’70s.
Basketball playing cards aren’t the one highly collectible memorabilia in the marketplace in the present day. The ever-popular Nike Air Jordans aren’t only for sneakerheads — they’re additionally coveted amongst collectors. Essentially the most sought is the Air Jordan I, which may go for as a lot as $30,000. Different favourite pairs embody the Air Jordan IV and the Air Jordan III.
Air Jordans aren’t the one sneakers collectors go for. Others embody the Nike LeBron XX (20) and the Nike KD 15. These sneakers are within the $125-$200 vary to purchase. Investing in collector’s objects enters you into an elite neighborhood of basketball followers with an appreciation for the game in contrast to another.
Are you able to improve your assortment? Because of on-line specialists, StudyFinds has put collectively an inventory of the highest 5 greatest basketball playing cards from the Seventies. Did we miss one? Tell us within the feedback beneath.
The Listing: Greatest Seventies Basketballs Playing cards, Based on Collectors
1. 1972 Topps Julius Erving Rookie Card
Julius Erving was an innovator of the slam dunk in basketball. “Dr. J” soared via the air attending to the rim, mesmerizing basketball followers within the course of. One of many greatest basketball players of all time, Erving was a 16-time All-Star, a four-time MVP and a three-time champion throughout the ABA and NBA, making his 1972 Topps rookie card a sought-after collectible.
“This 1972 Topps Julius Erving Rookie Card #195 card is his rookie card and undoubtedly his most dear card,” writes Cardbase. “It includes a younger Julius Erving, then a member of the Virginia Squires within the ABA, on a easy background that’s paying homage to a lot of the early Seventies Basketball playing cards. Whereas not an ideal situation card, this PSA 9 Mint copy is the most effective we’ve seen and that’s why it went for $50,000 in February 2021. Whereas just a few variations of the identical card on the similar grade offered later for a bit much less, we will count on to see these numbers rise over time. Folks received’t quickly neglect the immortal Dr. J and his distinctive efforts on the court docket.”
“It’s a basic card from a visible perspective. Topps went with a colourful, retro design with a picture of Erving in his ABA Virginia Squires. It’s a basic,” notes All Vintage Cards. “Like the opposite basketball rookie playing cards price cash on this checklist, Erving’s rookie card has plentiful provide. PSA has graded over 5,000 copies, making it an inexpensive purchase for a lot of collectors. There’s just one PSA 10 (Gem-Mint) #195 Erving rookie card in existence and about 200 PSA 9 (Mint) copies. PSA 9 Erving rookie playing cards have averaged $20,000+, making it one of the helpful basketball playing cards within the hobby. The excellent news? Ungraded or decrease graded copies may be discovered on eBay for lower than $100.”
The Cardboard Connection referred to Erving as “one among trendy basketball’s greatest innovators.” “Whereas the Seventies introduced many superstars to the sport, few reached the pedestal Erving is positioned upon. A two-time ABA champion and one-time NBA champion, Dr. J is without doubt one of the all-time basketball greats. The 1972-73 Topps Julius Erving rookie card is, to many, probably the most iconic basketball rookie card of the last decade. It’s additionally one among solely a pair that’s prone to value you greater than a few hundred {dollars}.”
2. 1970 Topps Pete Maravich Rookie Card
Pete Maravich was an absolute wizard with the basketball in his fingers. “Pistol Pete” averaged an astounding 44 factors per sport throughout his college career at Louisiana State College. Despite the fact that accidents minimize quick his 10-season NBA profession, Maravich was named an All-Star 5 occasions.
“There have been 1000’s of college basketball players over the previous 4 a long time. After which there may be Maravich,” writes Sports Collectors Daily. “He truly had a stellar NBA profession however Maravich will endlessly be recognized with floppy socks and the gold and purple colours of LSU. The numbers appear not possible, even when the Tigers’ offense was constructed for him to do nearly every little thing. His 44.2 ppg scoring common is to school hoops what Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak is to baseball. Maravich scored 3667 whole factors…in three varsity seasons. Needless to say he by no means performed with a three-point line both. If he had that luxurious, a research confirmed he would have averaged 57.”
“The 1970 Topps Pete Maravich Rookie Card #123 is a ‘Tall Boy’ card, which is taller than the common sports activities trading card. Whereas Topps stopped producing these playing cards within the mid-Seventies, this yr was a very good one for key gamers and rookies,” notes Cardbase. “Pete joined the NBA as one of the promising of the bunch after a profession in faculty ball that had ESPN title him the best faculty participant ever in 2005. On the 1970 Topps Basketball card, Pistol Pete appears to be like unassuming sufficient, however as soon as he was on the court docket, he was a dominant participant who was an knowledgeable in long-distance pictures. Sadly, the 3-point rule solely confirmed up formally within the NBA within the final couple of years of his play.”
Last Word on Sports known as Maravich’s 1970 Topps rookie card “one of the iconic and wanted basketball playing cards in historical past.” “Maravich was one of many most talented and exciting players within the sport, and his rookie card is very coveted by collectors because of its rarity and historical significance. The cardboard includes a younger Maravich in his Atlanta Hawks uniform and is extensively thought-about one of the visually hanging basketball playing cards ever produced. In 2021, a PSA 10 graded copy of this card offered for $670,000 at public sale, setting a brand new document for the most costly Pete Maravich card ever offered and highlighting the enduring reputation and worth of this legendary basketball card.”
3. 1970 Topps Pat Riley Rookie Card
It’s the one card within the prime 5 checklist that’s a favourite amongst collectors not for his taking part in profession, however for what he’s performed in teaching and as an govt. Pat Riley was an honest basketball participant for 9 seasons throughout his NBA profession, however he’s greatest recognized for main the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Warmth to a number of championships as a coach and an govt.
“Most collectors shopping for the 1970-71 Topps Pat Riley rookie card are doing so based mostly on his coaching career. In LA, Riley received 4 championships through the Lakers heydays of the Eighties, groups that featured Magic Johnson and Kareem. Riley additionally received one other championship as head coach of the Miami Warmth in 2006,” says All Vintage Cards. “Pat Riley’s rookie card has solely been graded 900 occasions by PSA, and the cardboard’s massive measurement has made the playing cards fairly situation delicate. There aren’t any PSA 10 copies and solely 14 PSA 9 copies. Thus, shortage on the PSA 9 grade makes the Riley rookie card one of the helpful problems with the Seventies. Current gross sales of PSA 9 copies have averaged $3000 at public sale, however the final sale was in 2021.”
“Earlier than turning into one of many biggest coaches in NBA historical past (and a darn good govt, too), Pat Riley was an athletic swingman who carved out a decent area of interest as a journeyman function participant over a nine-year profession,” writes Old Sports Cards. “Riley’s first cease with the San Diego Rockets ended after three years following the 1969-70 season when the group offered his rights to the Los Angeles Lakers. The previous Kentucky Wildcats standout logged the bottom minutes-per-game whole of his profession in 1970-71, seeing motion for simply 9.4 minutes per sport with the star-laden Lakers. He averaged simply 4.9 factors on a modest 41.3% taking pictures, tacking on per-game averages of 1.3 assists and one rebound.”
Due to his coaching accolades, Riley was elected to the Basketball Corridor of Fame in 2008. “Pat Riley labored an excellent deal on the sidelines as a participant. He had little affect in serving to the Lakers received the League title in 1972, however he saved pushing and have become one of many most interesting coaches within the sport. He was solely an assistant coach through the 1980 title win for Los Angeles,” notes American Legends. “He then labored as the pinnacle coach for the subsequent 5 years (4 years with the Lakers). Riley’s Topps rookie card from 1970-71 has an odd picture however a well-known design. As with 1976-77, the gathering was outsized as Topps explored one thing new.”
4. 1974 Topps Bill Walton Rookie Card
After a legendary college career at UCLA, Invoice Walton took the NBA by storm in 1974. Regardless of lacking 4 seasons because of accidents, Walton was a two-time All-Star and a two-time NBA champion.
“The 1974 Topps Invoice Walton Rookie Card #39 card includes a younger Invoice Walton in his Path Blazers uniform, together with his shaggy 1970s hair in a primary portrait shot. As with so many playing cards on this most dear Seventies Basketball playing cards checklist, the design is straightforward however the fascinating aspect is how they appeared to paint within the picture with day-glo hues extra paying homage to the design of the early 1980s. It’s sort of an anomaly right here: A extra intriguing design amongst an inventory of fairly static designs so frequent on this period of the sport,” writes Cardbase. “As soon as once more, this can be a card that PSA notes as having few of their document books in the best way of further copies. That’s the reason a PSA 10 Gem Mint copy fetched a powerful $36,900 when it was bought in Could 2021.”
“Invoice Walton was one of the beloved, revered, and talented players within the historical past of the NBA. Walton is one among solely 4 gamers within the historical past of basketball to have received a number of NCAA and a number of NBA Championships,” notes All Vintage Cards. “Walton’s 1974-75 Rookie card is probably the most helpful basketball card within the 1974-75 Topps set. An excellent set which additionally options the rookie card of ‘Ice Man’ George Gervin.”
The Cardboard Connection listed Walton’s 1974 Topps rookie card one of many ten most dear basketball rookie playing cards of the ’70s. “One has to surprise if the 1974-75 Topps Invoice Walton rookie card was the inspiration for Michael J. Fox’s makeup in Teen Wolf. The colours, types and hair go away little doubt as to the period this card is from. Walton was a famous person even earlier than he performed in his first NBA sport. A 3-time Naismith School Participant of the 12 months and two-time AP School Participant of the 12 months, Walton helped lead UCLA to a pair of NCAA Championships. Though injuries plagued his NBA profession, Walton nonetheless amassed a number of accolades and received a pair of NBA World Titles. He then went on to a successful broadcasting career.”
5. 1975 Topps Moses Malone Rookie Card
Moses Malone is perhaps probably the most underrated famous person in NBA historical past. Drafted straight out of highschool in 1974, Malone was the ultimate piece of the puzzle for the Philadelphia 76ers’ 1982-83 NBA championship group. Over 21 seasons, Malone was a 13-time All-Star and a three-time MVP. “This 1975 Topps Moses Malone #254 card is taken into account his ABA rookie card and it’s a dazzler,” says Cardbase. “Displaying Malone’s 6 ’10’ ‘ body leaping greater whereas a participant from the opposite group stumbles beneath is maybe a really perfect method to keep in mind Malone’s dominant play when a rebound was on the road. This motion shot is maybe the most effective on this checklist because it reveals the participant at his greatest and on the court docket.”
“Moses Malone’s 1975-76 Topps Rookie card received’t win any awards for design. The Topps set featured full measurement card pictures and the image quality is fairly fuzzy, and to say the least ugly,” writes All Vintage Cards. “PSA has graded over 2,000 Moses Malone rookie playing cards, with 38 incomes a Gem-Mint, PSA 10 grade, and over 450 PSA 9 (Mint) grades. Excellent, PSA 10 copies have offered for over $40,000, whereas a PSA 9 sells for round $1,000 on eBay.”
The Cardboard Connection additionally has Malone’s 1975 Topps rookie card as a part of its prime ten most dear basketball rookie playing cards of ’70s checklist. “If you will get over the truth that his face is hard to tell apart, the picture on Moses Malone’s 1975-76 Topps rookie card is spectacular, capturing plenty of motion in each the foreground and background. A 3-time NBA MVP, Malone helped the 76ers sweep the Los Angeles Lakers within the 1983 finals. Among the many league’s prime ten all-time main scorers, Malone was elected to the Basketball Corridor of Fame in 2001. Even nonetheless, collectors ought to have the ability to discover a professionally graded near-mint copy of his rookie card for below $50.”
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