Watched first four episodes of The Last Dance and its enjoyable so far. Re-living Chicago Bulls last hurrah and the drama the team endured during their way to 6th and final title of Michael Jordan era. Part 3 and 4 flashback to the beginning of Bulls dynasty with Phil Jackson now as coach employing triangle offense and team coming together in bulking up to battle Pistons Nasty Boys to getting their first title against Magic and the Lakers. What else happen in the 1990? The sport card boom with basketball cards getting a piece of the action. Fleer was sole producer of NBA cards with famed 86-87 set til Hoops enter the foray in 1989. It was follow up with Skybox (1990), Upper Deck (1990), and Topps (1992). Companies have either been bought out and merged or declared bankruptcy and have their assets and name sold. In 2005 only three remain on producing NBA cards: Topps, Upper Deck, and Panini. Just as 2000 decade about to end the basketball card landscape changed. In early 2009 Panini got exclusive rights to produce NBA cards which they hold today. For Topps and Upper Deck 2009-10 is the final time to produce NBA licensed set. Upper Deck would still produce a few basketball related sets under NCAA
license. For Topps it was their last foray and likely remain that way
into foreseeable future. Topps went out of basketball with a big bang.
The 2009-10 set was at 330 cards, the largest since 2000-01 set (295 cards). The cards are from hobby box I bought when it came out. The design was basic and effective with a name, position, and team logo on the front.
It's the run of the mill stats on back of the card but got a black border around it. It makes the card prone to chipping.
Speaking of Dwight here's him with a massive block with Paul Pierce underneath him.
Overhead view of KG grabbing a board
Big Baby pushes down Brad Miller
Steve Novak celebrating a winning shot
Joel Przybilla underneath Big Z after tangling with each other
Samuel Dalembert stretching
KD about to lay it up
LeBron about to slam it down
There's randomly inserted cards such gold border cards (numbered to 2010) which been a fixture of Topps. DeShawn Stevenson entering the court looking like a winner. Matt Bonner laying it up past a Clipper.
You may find black border (numbered to 50) card. Chris Wilcox about to slam it in
Randomly inserted are chrome cards. I was lucky to pull a chrome refractor of Carmelo as he lays it up past Ron Artest.
Insert set titled Draft Snapshot featuring shot of players taken from day of the draft year. If you like looking at fine threads from the draft this is for you. Bosh looking good in that gold color tux on draft night.
You know what else made this set iconic? The draft class. It's one of strongest draft class since 2004. The final 15 cards of the set featured the first 15 players drafted of 2009 class. That year's rookie crop have produced MVPs in both regular season and finals, scoring leaders, assist leaders, All-NBA, and various All-Stars along few busts. The biggest one is this card....
The man who would lead Warriors dynasty in 2015-2020. One of faces of the NBA as he's a two time MVP and a 6-time All Star. He's the only one that is STILL playing for his drafted team which is a rarity now. If you are looking pick up this card expect to put down big money on it. This card can fetch for $100-$125 ungraded. A 9.5 grade card was sold for almost $600 last month.
I was lucky to get both the base and the gold out of the box. A league MVP (2018), two time scoring champ, and 8 time All-Star. Still have not been to NBA finals yet. Currently playing for Houston Rockets. His rookie card can be fetched $20-$30 ungraded.
A four-time All-Star; currently playing for San Antonio Spurs
First overall pick of that year draft he have to miss 2009 season due to injury. He returned taking rookie of year in 2010 as well becoming a six-time All-Star, and Slam Dunk contest winner. Currently playing for Detroit Pistons. I say he's at twilight of his career as his knees and body are breaking down.
One-time All Star and former NBA All-Defensive First Team (2018). Currently playing for New Orleans Pelicans
Then you have the players who either have serviceable or journeyman career
Taken 5th overall didn't come to the league til 2011 where he played for Timberwolves til 2017. Currently playing for Suns.
He was raw potential star only to flame out and have a journeyman career. Last played in the NBA in 2018.
A star at North Carolina he played 7 years in the NBA before spending at season in G-League then the last three years in China.
Named rookie of the year in 2009 he spent 10 years with 4 teams in the league before getting kicked out for violating anti-drug program.
Then you have the following two busts from my box:
Drafted 2nd overall played 4 seasons with 4 teams and at the time the highest drafted player to get sent down the G-League (which is surpassed by Anthony Bennett). Despite last playing in the league in 2014 he still hard at work trying get back in NBA playing in the G-League.
The surprised pick that analysts immediately knew it was bad pick the second it was announced. Drafted 4th overall played three seasons before playing remainder of his career overseas. Last known season as a player is 2014.
That's it from the box I got about a decade ago. I believe I paid $90 for it at the time. I wish I found my ordering records from that period. The set is 95% complete and I should get singles to complete it but I'm too lazy. Topps delivered game winning shot on their final NBA release. Just like Michael Jordan winning shot over the Jazz for their 6th and final NBA championship of their dynasty. It was right timing with the rookie class and circumstances on how they projected to leave a memorable set for basketball card collectors. Panini still haven't produced a memorable set since they got NBA license. Maybe they are banking on Zion Williamson career path on how to call NBA card set a classic.
If you want purchase a box of this set expect to pay big money on it. Ebay listings have hobby boxes over two grand. Dave and Adam got it at over $2300. I wonder how many bought at the time and have it sitting and stashed somewhere as the prices have gone up 20X since.
It's cold down here in Texas and what's best way to spend day indoors opening boxes of sport cards. A trip to local antique shop here got me stop at vendor booth selling boxes from junk wax era ranging from $5 to $10 a box. Being a sucker for junk wax fun I bought few boxes from sets I partially have or been lost. One of boxes is 1990-91 Hoops which is height of junk wax era. While opening packs I notice the allocation is different from their inaugural
set. From packs of their first set once you get certain cards you know the pattern
who its going be. It was very much random on this set despite getting repeat cards often. The box yielded me a with 90% complete set. Who did I get?
Start off cards 1-26 which is All-Star subset. Back of the cards have stats from player's All-Star game. A good selection of photos of Admiral shooting over Sir Charles and Rolando about to get blocked by Isiah. Any MJ card of him shooting is easily tops along with The Chief slam dunk and Reggie about to go long distance. Magic card wins easily as he got photobombed while holding All-Star MVP trophy
Let's go with rookies as the cards easily stand out a rookie label tag. I'm not sure which logo is an eyesore. This one or MLB rookie logo. To get the label its the player's first year in the league. It was good year for rookies for 89-90 season. Start of with the rookie of the year.....
The Admiral. Despite saying Rookie of the Year this is his third ever Hoops card. His first ever card came out in Hoops first year set. Like Ken Griffey Jr Upper Deck rookie, his Hoops rookie card became iconic as one of must have card at the time. Despite two years away due to Navy service commitment he never missed a beat he once stepped on NBA court becoming a Hall of Fame player. His play in his rookie season drove his rookie card up. Hoops released a second card for series 2.
As for other rookies:
His teammate Sean Elliot had a good serviceable career spending all but one season of his career with the Spurs. He bounced back from kidney transplant to play again. His jersey is one of ten jerseys Spurs retired.
The Rain Man was toast of the Sonics leading them to the NBA Finals only fall to MJ Bulls in 95-96 season. If Sonics didn't overpay a bench player would he still end up disgruntled and be overweight?
Tim Hardaway was part of Warriors Run TMC along with Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullins. His 14 year career netted him 5 All Star appearances, All NBA Team, and gold medal in the Olympics. Heat retired his jersey while Warriors criminally haven't done it yet.
Glen Rice had 15 year career with 3 All Stars appearance winning MVP in 97.
By the time journeyman Cliff Robinson left the league another Cliff Robinson popped up and is seen shooting a free throw. This one went on 18 year career playing for five teams with one All Star appearance and 6th Man Award.
One of first players from former Yugoslavia to play had 16 year career spending 14 of them on both northern and southern California. The Hall of Famer is currently GM of Sacramento Kings.
Another former Yugoslav player this is a sad one. The late Drazen Petrovic went to Nets becoming team's star player before tragically killed in accident. Prior going to NBA he dominated Yugoslav league. Nets retired his jersey in 1993 and posthumously enshrined in basketball Hall of Fame in 2003.
What a shot for Danny Ferry first ever card. Drafted 2nd overall in 1989 decide to play in Italy instead for Clippers. I don't blame him. Clippers traded him to Cavaliers where spent 10 years with the team before going to Spurs for three seasons winning a title in 2002. After his playing career he worked in front office for Spurs, Cavaliers, Hawks, and Pelicans.
The first two Soviet players to play in the league. Both were teammates of USSR team who won gold in 1988 Olympics. Volkov is the first to get drafted. He played two seasons with the Hawks before returning to play in Europe. Recently he's been signing through mail with address from Atlanta. Marciulionis was a shooter coming off the bench before a leg injury shorten his career. He got inducted in basketball Hall of Fame in 2014.
Then to the stars and Hall of Famers I pulled. I'll start with....
The Human Highlight Real with star studded shot of him about to throw down one of his signature dunks.
The Bad Boys of Pistons who won their second straight NBA title. Yes its missing Bill Laimbeer but you got duo of Joe Dumars laying up, Isiah Thomas dribbling down the court showing who's no. 1 and defensive player of the year and pre-identity crisis Dennis Rodman dunking the ball.
The legendary Magic of Showtime Lakers. Here's a card photography that got ruined because of silly yellow box. It made Magic look silly at it with "Who? Me?" look on his face.
The twilight of the Celtic trio. Bird and McHale bodies broke down. Parish was a Celtic til 1994 playing final three seasons with Hornets and Bulls getting his final ring. For Celtics it was rough fall with death of Reggie Lewis adding to the blow. The team never recovered throughout the 90s.
Stockton and Malone formed one of best 1-2 teammate combos in the NBA as both were faces of the Jazz. Despite going to two finals both couldn't get the championship ring as both ended in hands of one Michael Jordan and the Bulls. This is going become a recurring theme.
Speaking of the Knicks their star player and face of the franchise of that era Patrick Ewing. He had Hall of Fame career with 11 All-Star appearances, NBA All-Team, and two trips to the finals. Both trips end up as losses first to Rockets in 1994 and Spurs in 2000. Didn't get to play in 2000 finals due to injury. Spent his final two years of his career with Sonics and Magic which is so wrong. Took up coaching where he is currently coach at Georgetown.
The Dream would added H next to the A of his name. He lead the Rockets to two straight NBA titles in 94 and 95 during the time MJ retired from the league for season and half. In a "this so wrong" move he ended his career with Raptors instead the Rockets.
Clyde the Glide would lead Blazers to the finals in that season only to lose against MJ and the Bulls. The story of 90s NBA finals. He would be traded to Rockets in 95 and finally got that ring along with Hakeem. He would also be part of the 1992 Dream Team.
The C in Warriors Run TMC trio. The five time All-Star and Hall of Famer is a two time Olympic gold medalist with 1984 USA basketball team and 1992 famed Dream Team. Was coaching for St. John til he stepped down this year.
Good picture selection of Charles Barkley of reaching out and snagging the ball likely from out of bounds. One of best players to never win NBA title. He came close in 93 with the Suns only lose to, guess what, MJ and the Bulls. After his playing career ended he transitioned to NBA analyst.
I'm done with stars, wait a minute, I almost forgot about....
It's your Airness and the Greatest of All Time about throw down and posterizing a Heat player in this awesome cardboard shot. When it comes to NBA in the 90s just mention Michael Jordan and the Bulls dynasty with six titles. He IS the face of the 90s NBA trendsetting the league to mainstream being on box of Wheaties, Nike commercials, a video game, and a movie with Bugs Bunny. Older generation of NBA fans consider 90s NBA as last great era. His cards still hold high regards in the hobby to this day even the junk wax era.
Few noteworthy cards from this box:
A miscut card of Adrian Dantley. Look at that crop.
What is about this Greg Grant card? There's a letter from one of early Beckett claiming singer Paula Abdul is in the background.
The card made headlines last year and drove up prices temporary. In the background are Melendez brothers sitting at courtside. Both murdered their parents and went on spending spree. Both are now serving life sentences for the murders.
There was another card in this set that had short buzz but forgotten in the hobby
This Sam Vincent card. It showed him laying up a ball, but look who's on lower right of the card. It's Michael Jordan and that number. It's not 23, its number 12! The game took place Valentine's Day of 1990. The story went his jersey got stolen before the game and had no backup. Only jersey available was no. 12 with no name stitched to it. He still put up his usual numbers but Bulls lost to Magic that night. MJ wearing 12 got immortalized on this card. Hoops remade Sam Vincent card and put it in series 2 packs. Meanwhile you can watch highlights of Jordan wearing 12 in this video.
That was fun box to rip pulling cards and reminiscing about the players from that era which is time I started watching the NBA.
