Top 10 Most Valuable Celtics Basketball Cards of All Time

The Boston Celtics are one of the most iconic and successful franchises in NBA history. With 17 championships and over 20 retired numbers hanging in the rafters, the Celtics have had some of the greatest players to ever lace 'em up. Naturally, Celtics cards have always been popular with collectors.

Certain vintage Celtics cards can fetch a pretty penny nowadays. Let's check out the top 10 most expensive Boston Celtics cards of all time. Prices are based on actual sales data.

1. 1957 Topps Bill Russell RC (#77) - $165,000+

• Bill Russell is arguably the greatest winner in NBA history with 11 championships as a player
• His 1957 Topps rookie card is his only recognized rookie card from his playing days
• A PSA 9 mint copy sold for $165,000 in 2021 - an all-time record for a Russell card

As the cornerstone of the Celtics 1960s dynasty, Bill Russell is an absolute legend. The 11 rings speak for themselves - no one has won more.

Russell's '57 Topps rookie card is his only official RC from his playing career. It's extremely tough to find in high grade due to poor print quality. Only two PSA 10 gems exist.

2. 1969 Topps Lew Alcindor RC (#25) - $150,000+

• Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) is the NBA's all-time leading scorer
• His rookie is one of the most iconic basketball cards ever produced
• A PSA 10 gem mint copy fetched $150,000 in 2020

Before changing his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Lew Alcindor was a phenom at UCLA. He was so dominant, the NCAA banned the dunk temporarily.

Alcindor lived up to the hype in the NBA, becoming a 6x MVP and 19x All-Star. His 1969-70 Topps rookie card is arguably the most iconic post-war card.

A PSA 10 Alcindor RC sold for a record $150k in 2020. Even PSA 5s can sell for $5,000+.

3. 1957 Topps Tom Heinsohn RC (#47) - $109,200

• Tom Heinsohn was part of all 9 Celtics titles in the Bill Russell era
• His rookie card is very condition sensitive
• A PSA 9 mint copy fetched over $109k in 2021

Tom Heinsohn was a stud right away for Boston, winning the 1956-57 Rookie of the Year award. He was a key contributor on all nine championship teams during the Bill Russell era.

After retiring in 1965, Heinsohn became the Celtics head coach - leading them to two more titles. He's truly a Boston Celtics legend.

Heinsohn's 1957 Topps rookie card is very tough in PSA 9 condition. Only one PSA 10 example exists.

4. 1957 Topps Bob Cousy (#17) - $89,625

• Bob Cousy was a 13x All-Star and 6x champ with the 1950s Celtics
• His '57 Topps card is his last as an active player
• A PSA 8.5 fetched nearly $90k in 2021

Bob Cousy was the catalyst of the Celtics dynasty in the 1950s and early 60s. The Houdini of the Hardwood dazzled fans with his ballhandling and passing.

Cousy's 1957 Topps card was the last one issued during his illustrious playing career. It's very condition sensitive and high grade copies are scarce.

This sharp PSA 8.5 Cousy sold for $89,625 at auction in 2021 - a record price.

5. 1957 Topps Bill Sharman (#17) - $71,400

• Bill Sharman was a 4x champ and 8x All-Star for Boston in the 1950s
• His '57 Topps rookie is short printed and very tough
• A PSA 8 copy sold for over $71k in 2019

Bill Sharman played alongside Bob Cousy in the backcourt during the Celtics' early title runs. He was lights out from the field and the foul line.

As one of the short prints in the 1957 Topps set, Sharman's rookie card is very hard to track down in top condition. A PSA 8 copy fetched $71,400 in 2019.

6. 1957 Topps Sam Jones RC (#32) - $62,654

• Sam Jones won 10 titles with the Celtics in the 1960s
• His rookie card is one of the keys to the '57 Topps basketball set
• A PSA 8.5 copy hammered for $62k+ in 2020

Sam Jones joined the Celtics in 1957 and went on to win 10 NBA championships - only fellow Celtics Bill Russell (11) and Tom Heinsohn (9) have more.

Jones was known for hitting clutch shots and coming up big when it mattered most. He's seventh on the Celtics' all-time scoring list.

Jones' 1957 Topps rookie card is short printed and very tough in top condition. This PSA 8.5 example sold for over $62k in 2020.

7. 1961 Fleer Bob Cousy (#11) - $55,100

• Cousy's 1961 Fleer card was from his final season in the NBA
• Fleer cards from this era are extremely rare and valuable
• This PSA 7 fetched $55,100 at auction in 2020

After Bob Cousy retired in 1963, Fleer secured rights to produce NBA cards for one season. Less than 100 cards were made for each player.

The 1961 Fleer set was essentially printed as a tribute to Cousy's career. His card (#11) came from his final season in 1961-62.

There are likely less than 10 PSA 7 copies of this legendary Cousy card. This one sold for over $55k in 2020.

8. 1969 Topps Bill Russell (#60) - $49,740

• Russell's '69 Topps card was the last issued during his legendary career
• High grade examples are tough to come by
• A PSA 8 copy sold for nearly $50k in 2018

Bill Russell retired after leading the Celtics to an NBA championship in 1969 (his 11th ring as a player). This 1969 Topps card came from his farewell tour.

It's Russell's last basketball card from his illustrious playing career. Gem mint copies are virtually impossible to find owing to poor print quality.

This PSA 8 example fetched an impressive $49,740 at auction back in 2018.

9. 1969 Topps John Havlicek (#55) - $49,590

• Hondo won 8 titles with the Celtics in the 60s and 70s
• His 1969 Topps card came from the season after Boston's 1968 title
• A PSA 8.5 copy sold for nearly $50k in 2021

John "Hondo" Havlicek spent his entire career with the Celtics, winning eight championships along the way. One of the game's greatest all-around players.

His 1969 Topps card was issued after the Celtics' 1968 title victory over the Lakers. It's one of just two Havlicek cards from the 1960s.

This PSA 8.5 example hammered for close to $50k at auction in 2021. Hi grade Hondo rookies don't surface often.

10. 1957 Topps Jim Loscutoff RC (#2) - $39,600

• Loscutoff spent his whole career with Boston, winning 7 titles
• His rookie card is coveted by vintage Celtics collectors
• A PSA 8 copy fetched nearly $40k in 2014

Jim Loscutoff was never a star, but he played valuable minutes on some great Celtics teams in the 1950s and 60s. He won seven rings in his nine years.

Loscutoff's rookie card is one of the more valuable cards in the '57 Topps basketball set. It's very short printed.

Here's a super sharp PSA 8 example that sold for $39,600 back in 2014. Even low grade copies can sell for thousands.

Honorable Mentions:

• 1960 Topps Bob Cousy (#17) - $30k+
• 1965 Topps John Havlicek RC (#123) - $20k
• 1968 Topps John Havlicek (#75) - $15k

That does it for our list of the top 10 most expensive Boston Celtics cards of all-time. Vintage Hall of Famers like Russell, Cousy and Heinsohn command the biggest money. Rookie cards from the late 1950s and 1960s are especially valuable.