You must have seen those crazy numbers in the news lately about basketball cards selling for millions of dollars.
In 2024, we saw some auction results that have steered the market in a certain way, especially over the last few months of the year. Some have set new benchmark records, while the others influenced the market value of a lot of similar cards. So, let’s give you information and get you prepared for the basketball card season 2025-26.
For the sake of curating a brief list, only cards above $50,000 value are considered.
Key Takeaway
The five most expensive basketball cards sold at Heritage auction are:
- 2003 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection LeBron James (Number Pieces Autographs)
- 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan Rookie #57
- 2003 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Kobe Bryant (Number Pieces Autographs)
- 2003 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Michael Jordan (Number Pieces Autographs)
- 2003 Topps Chrome Gold Refractor LeBron James #111

35. 2003 LeBron James Upper Deck Ultimate Collection (Ultimate Rookie Autograph)
- Sold on: Feb 25, 2024, on Heritage Auctions.
- Sold for: $50,400.00
- Grade: 10 (GEM MINT)

34. 1970 Lew Alcindor, Jerry West, Elvin Hayes Topps – NBA Scoring Leaders #1
- Sold on: Oct 4, 2024, on Heritage Auctions.
- Sold for: $25,200.00
- Grade: 10 (GEM MINT)

33. 1977 Robert Parish Topps Rookie #111
- Sold on: Dec 5, 2024, on Heritage Auctions.
- Sold for: $52,800.00
- Grade: 10 (GEM MINT)

32. Signed 1986 Michael Jordan Fleer Rookie #57
- Sold on: Dec 5, 2024, on Heritage Auctions.
- Sold for: $52,800.00
- Grade: 9 (MINT)

31. 2003 Lebron James Upper Deck Exquisite Collection (Patches Autographs)
- Sold on: Dec 5, 2024, on Heritage Auctions.
- Sold for: $52,800.00
- Grade: 9.5 (GEM MINT)

30. 2004 Michael Jordan Upper Deck Exquisite Collection (Number Pieces Autograph)
- Sold on: Aug 23, 2024, on Heritage Auctions.
- Sold for: $54,000.00
- Grade: 10 (GEM MINT)

29. 2003 LeBron James Upper Deck Exquisite Collection (Noble Nameplates Autograph)
- Sold on: Dec 5, 2024, on Heritage Auctions.
- Sold for: $55,200.00
- Grade: 9 (MINT)

28. 1969 Jack Marin Topps #26
- Sold on: Oct 4, 2024, on Heritage Auctions.
- Sold for: $63,000.00
- Grade: 10 (GEM MINT)

27. 1961 Elgin Baylor Fleer In Action Rookie #46
- Sold on: Feb 25, 2024, on Heritage Auctions.
- Sold for: $66,000.00
- Grade: 10 (GEM MINT)

26. 1984 Michael Jordan Star Co. #101
- Sold on: Mar 22, 2024, on Heritage Auctions.
- Sold for: $78,000.00
- Grade: 8 (NEAR MINT)

25. 2003 Kobe Bryant Upper Deck Exquisite Collection (Limited Logos-Autograph Patch)
- Sold on: Dec 5, 2024, on Heritage Auctions.
- Sold for: $84,000.00
- Grade: 10 (GEM MINT)

24. 2003 Michael Jordan Upper Deck Exquisite Collection (Noble Nameplates Autograph)
- Sold on: Oct 26, 2024, on Heritage Auctions.
- Sold for: $114,000.00
- Grade: 7 (NEAR MINT)

23. 2003-04 LeBron James Topps Chrome Refractor #111
- Sold on: Dec 5, 2024, on Heritage Auctions.
- Sold for: $114,000.00
- Grade: 10 (GEM MINT)

22. 1969 Elgin Baylor Topps #35
- Sold on: May 16, 2024, on Heritage Auctions.
- Sold for: $120,000.00
- Grade: 10 (GEM MINT)

21. 2004 Kobe Bryant Upper Deck Exquisite Collection (Limited Logos Autograph Patch)
- Sold on: Oct 4, 2024, on Heritage Auctions.
- Sold for: $120,000.00
- Grade: 8 (NEAR MINT)

20. Signed 1984 Michael Jordan Star Co. Rookie #101
- Sold on: Dec 5, 2024, on Heritage Auctions.
- Sold for: $120,000.00
- Grade: 10 (GEM MINT)

19. 2003 Kevin Garnett Upper Deck Exquisite Collection (Number Pieces Autograph)
- Sold on: Oct 4, 2024, on Heritage Auctions.
- Sold for: $132,000.00
- Grade: 7 (NEAR MINT)

18. 2009-10 Stephen Curry Panini National Treasures Century Gold Rookie Patch Autographs #206
- Sold on: Dec 5, 2024, on Heritage Auctions.
- Sold for: $132,000.00
- Grade: 9.5 (GEM MINT)

17. 1961 Wilt Chamberlain Fleer Rookie
- Sold on: Dec 5, 2024, on Heritage Auctions.
- Sold for: $132,000.00
- Grade: 9 (MINT)

16. 2003 LeBron James Upper Deck Exquisite Collection (Limited Logos- Autograph Patch)
- Sold on: Oct 4, 2024, on Heritage Auctions.
- Sold for: $150,000.00
- Grade: 10 (GEM MINT)

15. 1998 Michael Jordan Topps Chrome (Preview-Refractor) #77
- Sold on: Aug 24, 2024, on Heritage Auctions.
- Sold for: $168,000.00
- Grade: 10 (GEM MINT)

14. 1986 Michael Jordan Fleer Rookie #57
- Sold on: Aug 24, 2024, on Heritage Auctions.
- Sold for: $168,000.00
- Grade: 10 (GEM MINT)

13. 2003 Kobe Bryant Upper Deck Exquisite Collection (Noble Nameplate Autograph)
- Sold on: Oct 4, 2024, on Heritage Auctions.
- Sold for: $174,000.00
- Grade: 10 (GEM MINT)

12. 2003 Michael Jordan Upper Deck Exquisite Collection (Limited Logos)
- Sold on: Aug 23, 2024, on Heritage Auctions.
- Sold for: $174,000.00
- Grade: 9 (MINT)

11. 1986 Michael Jordan Fleer #57
- Sold on: Jul 12, 2024, on Heritage Auctions.
- Sold for: $198,000.00
- Grade: 10 (GEM MINT)

10. 1961 Wilt Chamberlain Fleer Rookie #8
- Sold on: May 16, 2024, on Heritage Auctions.
- Sold for: $198,000.00
- Grade: 9 (MINT)

9. Signed 1986 Michael Jordan Fleer Sticker Rookie #8
- Sold on: Aug 24, 2024, on Heritage Auctions.
- Sold for: $204,000.00
- Grade: 9 (MINT)

8. 1986 Michael Jordan Fleer Rookie #57
- Sold on: Mar 22, 2024, on Heritage Auctions.
- Sold for: $210,000.00
- Grade: 10 (GEM MINT)

7. 2009 Stephen Curry Bowman 1948 Rookie Black Parallel #106
- Sold on: Aug 24, 2024, on Heritage Auctions.
- Sold for: $210,210.00
- Grade: 10 (GEM MINT)
Also read: Ultimate guide for sports card investing on a budget

6. 2003 Michael Jordan Upper Deck Exquisite Collection (Autograph Patches) #AP-MJ
- Sold on: Dec 5, 2024, on Heritage Auctions.
- Sold for: $240,000.00
- Grade: 9 (MINT)

5. 2003 LeBron James Upper Deck Exquisite Collection (Number Pieces Autographs) #NP-LJ
- Sold on: Aug 23, 2024, on Heritage Auctions.
- Sold for: $252,000.00
- Grade: 10 (GEM MINT)

4. 1986 Michael Jordan Fleer Rookie #57
- Sold on: Jan 27, 2024, on Heritage Auctions.
- Sold for: $372,000.00
- Grade: 10 (GEM MINT)

3. 2003 Kobe Bryant Upper Deck Exquisite Collection (Number Pieces Autographs) #NP-KB
- Sold on: Aug 23, 2024, on Heritage Auctions.
- Sold for: $408,000.00
- Grade: 7 (NEAR MINT)

2. 2003 Michael Jordan Upper Deck Exquisite Collection (Number Pieces Autographs) #NP-MJ
- Sold on: Oct 4, 2024, on Heritage Auctions.
- Sold for: $562,800.00
- Grade: 9 (MINT)

1. 2003 LeBron James Topps Chrome Gold Refractor #111
- Sold on: Oct 4, 2024, on Heritage Auctions.
- Sold for: $645,000.00
- Grade: 10 (GEM MINT)
Final Take:
It is surprising to not see Luka Dončić, Anthony Edwards, or even Victor Wembanyama make it into the list of top 35, being three of the most promising and hyped players before the current NBA season. This suggests that auctions are primarily focused on well-established players or players that are retired. The new rising stars do not gain so much traction in the eyes of the collectors because their ongoing playing careers make them all the more vulnerable to invest.
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