For these collectors who grew up watching NBA basketball within the Nineties, Shawn Kemp rookie playing cards are among the many most sought-after of the period.
And that is regardless of Kemp by no means panning out as a Corridor-of-Famer…
Throughout his prime, he was one of many largest superstars within the league.
Recognized for his unimaginable leaping skill, Kemp constructed a popularity for posterizing many would-be defenders by dunking proper over them.
He was unimaginable to look at.
And he virtually gained a hoop.
Form of…
He and Gary Payton took the SuperSonics to the 1996 NBA Finals however quickly discovered themselves down 3-0 to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.
Regardless of a valiant effort to deliver the collection to 3-2, they fizzled out in Sport 6.
Nonetheless, Kemp and crew put up an admirable struggle towards a stacked Chicago Bulls workforce.
That collection solidified Kemp’s legacy as probably the most common gamers of the 90s.
And on this information, we’ll take an in depth have a look at Kemp’s rookie playing cards.
Let’s soar proper in!
1990 Fleer #178 Shawn Kemp Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 10 Worth: $30
PSA 10 Inhabitants (Charge): 3,203 (37%)
As an indication of rising curiosity in basketball playing cards all through the passion, Fleer boosted its 1990 set guidelines by 30 playing cards from 168 playing cards the 12 months earlier than to 198.
Michael Jordan introduced on a lot of that enhance in demand.
However Shawn Kemp and different up-and-coming superstars definitely performed a giant position.
Collectors may discover rookie playing cards of future Corridor-of-Famers Vlade Divac, Tim Hardaway, Sarunus Marciulionis, and big-name gamers like Shawn Kemp, Glen Rice, and Mookie Blaylock.
Regardless of not being within the Corridor of Fame, Kemp’s rookie is arguably probably the most sought-after of any of the rookies within the set.
That is how common he was in the course of the Nineties.
When this set debuted, Fleer had been within the basketball card enterprise longer than Hoops and SkyBox.
But, regardless of the elevated expertise, I at all times thought their 1990 set design was the worst of the three firms.
Do not get me unsuitable, it isn’t dangerous.
However in comparison with the Hoops and SkyBox designs, 1990 Fleer basketball simply appeared a bit bland.
Nevertheless, the picture of Kemp hovering up for a monster dunk is arguably the perfect of his three rookies.
And that is the best of his rookies to search out in PSA 10 situation: over 3,000 examples of this card have ended up in a PSA 10 holder which is greater than 3 times the quantity of his Hoops and SkyBox playing cards mixed.
1990 Hoops #279 Shawn Kemp Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 10 Worth: $50
PSA 10 Inhabitants (Charge): 426 (13%)
Clocking in at 440 playing cards, the 1990 Hoops guidelines is the biggest of the three mainstream card producers on this record.
1990 SkyBox was shut, with 423 playing cards within the set, whereas 1990 Fleer was a distant third at 198 playing cards.
With all that further room within the guidelines got here extra rookie playing cards.
In comparison with three Corridor-of-Fame rookies within the 1990 Fleer set, there are 5 within the 1990 Hoops guidelines, with Drazen Petrovic and Gary Payton becoming a member of the opposite three talked about earlier.
Kemp’s rookie joins them as one of many keys to the set.
The grey borders of 1990 Hoops are immediately recognizable, and the intense yellow “Rookie” icon provides some much-needed aesthetic pop to the cardboard.
I say that as a result of, in comparison with the opposite motion pictures on his different rookies, the picture of Kemp posting up could appear a bit boring to some.
Nonetheless, it is onerous to argue with any Kemp rookie.
And this set total stays extraordinarily common all through the passion.
Due to their very totally different cameos, the Mark Jackson and Sam Vincent playing cards have introduced further consideration to the set lately.
That is Kemp’s hardest rookie to search out in a PSA 10 grade.
1990 SkyBox #268 Shawn Kemp Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 10 Worth: $30
PSA 10 Inhabitants (Charge): 572 (21%)
The gold borders and futuristic-looking graphics of 1990 SkyBox basketball shaped arguably probably the most recognizable designs of any sports activities card set of the Nineties.
There was merely nothing else prefer it in the marketplace.
And Kemp’s rookie card is likely one of the best-looking within the guidelines.
Lots of the gamers within the set had been remoted.
And that is advantageous because it instantly introduced the collector’s focus to that particular person participant.
Nevertheless, some playing cards, like Kemp’s, featured a number of gamers in motion.
For instance, on Dennis Rodman’s card, he is proven battling Larry Hen for a rebound whereas Charles Barkley fights off a pesky Dennis Johnson on his card.
However Kemp’s card accommodates among the finest multi-player motion pictures in all the set: Kemp taking pictures excessive of Lakers Corridor-of-Famer James Worthy’s outstretched hand.
It is an unimaginable picture.
Kemp wasn’t often known as an excellent shooter across the league and was extra common for his high-flying, highly effective dunks.
Nonetheless, everytime you get two NBA legends on the identical card, it is a win.
The Shawn Kemp Rookie Card Assessment
Now that we have gone by the record, listed below are a few of my ideas on Shawn Kemp’s rookie playing cards:
Most Priceless: Kemp’s most precious rookie card is his 1990 Hopps #279, which might be price over $50 in PSA 10 situation.
Least Priceless: Each the Fleer and SkyBox Shawn Kemp rookies go for round $30 in PSA 10 situation.
My Favourite: I’ve to go along with the 1990 SkyBox as my favourite and it is all due to the design.
The pc-generated graphics within the background and gold borders are about as iconic because it will get for a “Junk Wax Period” set.
My Least Favourite: The 1990 Fleer Shawn Kemp accommodates arguably the perfect picture of the high-flying dunker however, total, the remainder of the design makes it a bit extra bland than the opposite two.
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