12 Most Valuable 1996 Upper Deck Basketball Cards

1996 Higher Deck #58 Kobe Bryant Rookie Card

Estimated PSA 10 Worth: $275

Kobe Bryant’s rookie yr was, in a phrase, sophisticated.

Chosen out of highschool with the thirteenth choose of the 1996 NBA Draft, Bryant instantly ran afoul of then-Los Angeles Lakers head coach Del Harris.

From early on, Bryant believed he was an elite participant who might break down any participant, professional or in any other case, in a one-on-one matchup.

Harris felt the child was filled with himself and repeatedly advised him to purchase into the system and cease dribbling and taking pictures as a lot.

It was an uncomfortable state of affairs from day one, and Bryant puzzled if he’d made the precise determination to return out.

“Man, if I knew this sh** was going to be like this, I might’ve gone to highschool,” Bryant stated later. “As a result of I felt like my coach, Dell Harris at the moment, was making an attempt to ensure he did not present favoritism to the younger child, and consequently, he swung fully in the other way and did issues that weren’t actually honest.”

Bryant performed simply 15.5 minutes per sport for the 56-win Lakers, averaging 7.6 factors (on 41.7% taking pictures, 37.5% from three), 1.9 rebounds, and 1.3 assists.

He performed even fewer minutes within the playoffs (14.8 mpg) with an 8.2 ppg scoring common in 9 postseason contests.

1996 Higher Deck #16 Michael Jordan

Estimated PSA 10 Worth: $125

The 1997 NBA Finals will endlessly be remembered for Michael Jordan’s “Flu Recreation.”

The 1996-97 NBA season shall be remembered because the marketing campaign through which Jordan and the Chicago Bulls made everybody else sick.

Jordan received his ninth scoring title in 96-97 (29.6 ppg) to vault the Bulls to the second-best report in NBA historical past (69-13).

If Chicago hadn’t rested a lot of its regulars over a 1-3 stretch to finish the season, they’d simply have pulled off unprecedented back-to-back 70-win seasons.

MJ did all of it for the Goliaths from Chitown.

He took house each All-NBA First Group honors and All-Defensive First Group honors for the eighth time.

Ending runner-up to Utah’s Karl Malone within the NBA MVP race, Jordan one-upped his West Coast rival within the NBA Finals, dusting off the Jazz in a six-game showdown.

His Airness received his fifth Finals MVP, highlighted by the aforementioned “Flu Recreation”, a 38-point Recreation 5 stunner the place Jordan battled a deathly sickness to stave off the Jazz on the highway, 90-88.

“Most likely probably the most tough factor I’ve ever achieved,” Jordan stated. “I virtually performed myself into passing out simply to win a basketball sport.”

1996 Higher Deck #91 Allen Iverson Rookie Card

Estimated PSA 10 Worth: $100

It is becoming that one of the vital controversial careers in NBA historical past started with one of the vital controversial Rookie-of-the-12 months campaigns we have ever seen.

Chosen 1st total out of Georgetown within the 1996 Draft, Allen Iverson was already the most popular matter within the league earlier than taking part in a single sport with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Traditionalists hated his shoot-first, shoot-always mentality and uncompromising character.

Youthful followers felt seen and represented by him.

Iverson was a lightning rod and a hot-take magnet.

He was additionally so rattling good.

Iverson received ROTY with 44 of 115 first-place votes, outlasting Stephon Marbury and Vancouver’s Shareef Abdul-Rahim regardless of Philadelphia’s 22-60 report.

He completed sixth within the NBA in scoring (23.5 ppg), seventh in steals (2.1), and eleventh in assists (7.5), a gaudy stat sheet punctuated by an NBA rookie report 5 consecutive video games with 40 factors or extra.

But it doesn’t matter what the 6-foot taking pictures guard completed, he took it on the chin.

Gamers, coaches, and followers roasted him at each alternative, both as a result of they did not perceive him or did not need to.

“I did not really feel folks ought to have come at me the best way they did,” Iverson stated. “I might by no means criticize anybody within the NBA. I might by no means discuss anybody’s sport. I do not perceive why they got here at me like that.”

1996 Higher Deck #165 Michael Jordan

Estimated PSA 10 Worth: $100

The “Recreation In Footage” subset that spans playing cards #165 – 179 in Sequence One packs is without doubt one of the finest subsets I’ve ever seen.

Higher Deck’s use of motion photographs on these playing cards is a masterstroke, capturing not simply the participant’s bodily prowess but in addition their character in real-time.

The John Starks card, with its ‘Coronary heart’ theme, is a poignant reminder that victory isn’t all the time about expertise, however about dedication and the desire to win.

Anfernee Hardaway’s card highlighted the necessity to play with “Class” and produce dignity and respect to oneself and the opposite gamers on the court docket.

And Michael Jordan was the proper determine to point out “Excellence.”

Nobody labored more durable or was as devoted to his craft as Michael Jordan, who put in tons of hours to hone his craft.

And it confirmed, too.

Numerous particular person accolades to associate with six NBA championship rings have been the last word proof of his excellence.

Higher Deck hit a house run with this subset by placing these intangible features of the sport entrance and middle.

1996 Higher Deck #139 Chicago Bulls

Estimated PSA 10 Worth: $75

The “Constructing A Winner” subset is one other distinctive concept that Higher Deck got here up with to focus on the highest gamers on every staff within the league.

The entrance of every card within the subset options three gamers and the yr and methodology with which the staff acquired them.

For instance, the Chicago Bulls card states that the staff landed Michael Jordan with the third choose of the 1984 NBA Draft and later acquired Scottie Pippen by way of a commerce in 1987.

The reverse of the playing cards reveals two extra gamers, together with a superb write-up on every staff’s plan and course of for placing collectively a possible successful squad.

Nevertheless, as nice as these playing cards are, let’s be trustworthy: many of those groups have been removed from winners.

Certain, they tried.

However no person stood an opportunity towards this crew.

By the top of the 1996-97 season, the Bulls completed 69-13 and, in the event that they hadn’t rested guys, might have challenged their impeccable 72-10 end from the yr earlier than.

As anticipated, they rolled by the Jap Convention playoffs earlier than dispatching the Utah Jazz in six video games within the NBA Finals.

1996 Higher Deck #148 Los Angeles Lakers

Estimated PSA 10 Worth: $75

The five-member crew on the Los Angeles Lakers’ “Constructing A Winner” card seems to be superb.

Shaq was Shaq.

Nick Van Exel and Eddie Jones have been implausible within the backcourt, forming one of many league’s finest level and taking pictures guard duos.

Cedric Ceballos had already made one All-Star Recreation as a member of the Lakers in 1994-95.

And Kobe was Kobe.

However Kobe was younger.

On the time, he was an 18-year-old rookie and much from the “Black Mamba” with killer instincts who would dominate later in his profession.

Nonetheless, this Lakers squad was ferocious sufficient to complete second within the Pacific Division at 56-26.

They usually had an honest run within the playoffs, too.

The Portland Path Blazers have been no match for L.A.s quickness and energy, because the Lakers simply dropped them in 4 video games.

Nevertheless, they met an altogether totally different problem within the Western Convention Semifinals.

Karl Malone, John Stockton and the remainder of the Utah Jazz had waited lengthy sufficient for championship glory, and the Lakers definitely weren’t going to disclaim them.

Ultimately, the Chicago Bulls would, however Utah had no bother coping with L.A. in 5 video games earlier than advancing.

1996 Higher Deck #69 Ray Allen Rookie Card

Estimated PSA 10 Worth: $70

For a technology of NBA followers and gamers, SLAM Journal was every little thing.

In circulation since 1994, its affect was by no means better than within the mid-Nineties.

So when SLAM launched its 1996 NBA Draft particular, you finest imagine that the children within the draft class have been on the sting of their collective seats.

This included Ray Allen.

Drafted fifth by the Minnesota Timberwolves and subsequently traded to the Milwaukee Bucks for Stephon Marbury, the 21-year-old UConn product was immortalized as one among 11 gamers on the duvet of SLAM’s ’96 Draft concern.

It was an honor, but it surely was additionally a kick within the intestine.

Allen obtained the duvet however was additionally named the participant most definitely to “fade into obscurity.”

“Abruptly you see this checklist and my shoulders drop, as a result of it actually bothered me,” Allen stated.

SLAM could not have had it extra mistaken.

Allen landed on the All-Rookie Second Group in 1996-97 with averages of 13.4 factors, 4.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 0.9 steals in 30.9 minutes per sport.

He went on to develop into a first-ballot Corridor-of-Famer, a ten-time All-Star, and a two-time NBA champ and at present sits twenty third on the all-time video games performed checklist (1,300).

Obscurity by no means performed so good.

1996 Higher Deck #350 Allen Iverson

Estimated PSA 10 Worth: $70

Since 1979, Dan Patrick has been one of the vital recognizable names in sportscasting and radio.

And you might have seen him in films, too.

However within the Nineties, he was most well-known for his lead position on ESPN’s “Sportscenter,” the place he would recap all the most recent highlights along with his colourful type.

In the event you have been a sports activities fan, you knew Dan Patrick.

Capitalizing on Patrick’s fame and marketability, they have been good to design a whole subset after him of their 1996 basketball launch.

The “From Method Downtown” subset, named after one among his notorious catchphrases, consists of fourteen playing cards of a number of the greatest names in basketball.

On the reverse, Patrick offers his opinion and evaluation on every participant.

On Iverson’s card, Patrick mentions that Iverson was the most effective faculty participant he had ever seen, which is a gigantic praise.

He additionally highlights his dedication and fearlessness.

Whereas it is not a rookie ecard, contemplating his base card will get that distinction, it is nonetheless extremely fascinating in its place first-year card.

1996 Higher Deck #280 Steve Nash Rookie Card

Estimated PSA 10 Worth: $50

There was no room for Steve Nash with the 1996-97 Phoenix Suns.

Chosen fifteenth total within the ‘96 Draft, the Santa Clara was shuffled down the depth chart behind three-time All-Star Kevin Johnson and the newly-acquired Sam Cassell.

After head coach Cotton Fitzsimmons was axed for Danny Ainge and Cassell was dumped to Dallas for former Rookie-of-the-12 months Jason Kidd, there have been even fewer minutes to go round.

Nash performed simply 10.5 minutes per sport for the 40-win Suns.

Even in Ainge’s revamped small-ball system, the long run Corridor-of-Famer couldn’t purchase crunch time minutes.

As an alternative, he made probably the most out of his garbage-time appearances, hitting at a 41.8% clip past the arc on 0.8 three-point makes an attempt per sport.

The 22-year-old South African averaged 3.3 factors and a pair of.1 assists in 65 contests (two begins).

The uncooked numbers look unimpressive, but Nash’s per-36s of 11.2 factors and seven.3 assists offered a fleeting glimpse on the participant he might and would develop into.

1996 Higher Deck #61 Shaquille O’Neal

Estimated PSA 10 Worth: $60

All Los Angeles Lakers common supervisor Jerry West needed to do was give it to Shaquille O’Neal straight, and he obtained his man.

“So after I was leaving Orlando, he introduced me right here and advised me the reality,” O’Neal stated. “I might have a younger staff and a man named Kobe. That man’s going to be good, however in a few years, you are going to have championships.”

Earlier than O’Neal made the leap from the Magic, the new-look Lakers have been a playoff staff with loads of potential.

After Los Angeles secured the 24-year-old massive man on a seven-year, $120 million pact, they have been a dynasty in ready.

First, they needed to get O’Neal wholesome and preserve him there.

Shaq missed 30 video games in 1996-97 to a sprained proper MCL, marking his second consecutive yr abbreviated by damage.

The excellent news got here within the 51 video games he did play.

Regardless of lacking over 30% of the yr, O’Neal was a top-ten MVP finisher and notched a Third-Group All-NBA nomination.

He averaged a 26.2/12.5 double-double within the common season with 2.9 blocks and adopted that with a 26.9/10.6 and 1.9 blocks per sport in 9 playoff contests.

Los Angeles wasn’t able to parlay Shaq’s presence into trophies, however the celebrations weren’t too far off.

1996 Higher Deck #74 Stephon Marbury Rookie Card

Estimated PSA 10 Worth: $30

The Stephon Marbury/Ray Allen draft-night swap divided everybody.

Some felt the Minnesota Timberwolves overpaid to seize Marbury, particularly by tossing in a future first-round draft choose.

Others felt Allen was the safer transfer and that the Bucks had received out.

Everybody stood on one facet of the fence or the opposite.

Everybody, that’s, aside from Stephon Marbury.

“I did not care,” Marbury stated. “I used to be within the NBA. It did not matter. I mainly was speaking about taking part in with Glenn Robinson and Vin Baker, after which I used to be speaking about taking part in with Kevin Garnett. That is what occurred.”

The 19-year-old Georgia Tech level guard wasn’t nervous about something a lot besides balling out.

And that is simply what he did in 1996-97.

After lacking eight of the staff’s first 9 video games, Marbury locked in as the perfect complement to budding massive man Kevin Garnett.

The Brooklyn native positioned second within the league’s Rookie-of-the-12 months race, averaging 15.8 factors, 7.8 assists, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in 67 regular-season video games.

Minnesota completed 40-42 to seize the primary playoff berth of the staff’s eight-year historical past.

Marbury could have been unaffected, however he positive affected change up north.

1996 Higher Deck #284 Jermaine O’Neal Rookie Card

Estimated PSA 10 Worth: $25

Over 18 seasons within the NBA, Jermain O’Neal was a six-time All-Star, three-time All-NBA nominee, and the 2001-02 season’s Most Improved Participant.

At simply 17 years previous, O’Neal earned the excellence as one of many NBA’s youngest gamers in historical past when the Portland Path Blazers drafted him within the ’96 Draft.

The large man was one among a number of promising younger youngsters drafted proper out of highschool throughout that period.

However his profession did not take off instantly.

It was extra like a crawl.

As I discussed earlier, he was 2001’s Most Improved Participant.

In 4 seasons with Portland, O’Neal confirmed promise however by no means averaged greater than 5 factors and 4 rebounds per sport.

Nevertheless, the Indiana Pacers noticed loads of potential within the teenager, a lot in order that they have been keen to commerce All-Star Dale Davis for him and Joe Kleine.

And that is when his profession took off.

In his first season, he performed greater than half-hour in 80 video games, almost averaging a double-double with 12.9 factors and 9.8 rebounds per sport.

Over the subsequent seven years with the Pacers, O’Neal was an All-Star in six straight seasons.

From then on, his profession would endure a gradual decline.

He would play for 5 extra groups earlier than retiring after the 2013-14 season.

1996 Higher Deck Basketball Playing cards In Assessment

This set goes down in interest historical past as top-of-the-line of the Nineties.

With a rookie class that features Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, Ray Allen, Steve Nash and a number of other different superstars, how could not it?

After which there have been Corridor of Famers like Jordan, Shaq, and plenty of extra.

However in a set loaded with big-time rookies and Corridor of Famers, I believe the subsets are one of the vital underappreciated options.

Higher Deck did a implausible job of together with a number of artistic subsets.

Different details about this set consists of:

Guidelines: 360 playing cards 

Distribution: Sequence One (#1 – 180); Sequence Two (#181 – 360)

Subsets:

• Constructing A Winner (#136 – 164)
• The Recreation In Footage (#165 – 179)
• Dateline NBA (#316 – 330)
• Dan Patrick “From Method Downtown” (#331 – 359)

Insert Units

• Autographs
• Dateline: NBA 5×7
• Fastbreak Connections
• Technology Pleasure
• Meet the Stars Immediate Winner
• Meet the Stars Trivia Problem
• Michael Jordan Better Heights
• Michael’s Viewpoints
• NBA Choose-Up Recreation Sweepstakes Stickers
• Predictors
• Predictors II
• Rookie Exclusives
• Rookie of the 12 months
• Smoothe Grooves

The Kobe Bryant rookie will all the time carry this set.

But it surely has a shocking surrounding forged.

You merely cannot go mistaken with the 1996 Higher Deck basketball set.