Top 10 Most Valuable Washington Wizards Basketball Cards of All Time
Basketball cards featuring players from the Washington Wizards franchise are highly sought-after among collectors. Wizards cards can be worth a pretty penny, especially if they are rare inserts or feature legendary players. Let's take a look at the 10 most valuable Wizards basketball cards of all time.
1. 1961 Fleer Oscar Robertson #36 PSA 10 Gem Mint
Estimated Value: $120,000+
The 1961 Fleer set marked the first widespread basketball card release, and Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson remains the key card. The "Big O" played the first decade of his career with the Cincinnati Royals, who later became the Kansas City-Omaha Kings before moving to Sacramento. The population of PSA 10 copies is incredibly small, driving values above $100,000 and making it the most valuable Wizards card.
2. 1986 Fleer Sticker Michael Jordan #8 PSA 10 Gem Mint
Estimated Value: $35,000
While not technically a Wizards card, Michael Jordan's rookie sticker issue is hugely popular among collectors. Jordan joined Washington late in his career, playing for the Wizards during the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons. There are very few PSA 10 copies of Jordan's iconic rookie sticker, pushing prices to the moon.
3. 1997 Skybox Premium Star Rubies Ray Allen #R15 PSA 10 Gem Mint
Estimated Value: $20,000
Ray Allen is best known as an elite three-point shooter, helping the Celtics win a championship in 2008. However, he also spent several seasons playing for the Seattle Supersonics and Milwaukee Bucks before joining the Wizards in 2003. Allen's 1997 Skybox Rubies insert is very condition sensitive, with PSA 10s extremely rare and valuable.
4. 1969 Topps Wes Unseld #55 PSA 10 Gem Mint
Estimated Value: $15,000
Wes Unseld is a legend in Washington, playing his entire NBA career with the Bullets franchise. He won league MVP honors during his rookie season and led the Bullets to a championship in 1978. Unseld's 1969 Topps rookie is one of the keys to the set, especially in flawless PSA 10 condition.
5. 2001 SPx Winning Materials Elton Brand Jersey/Patch #WM-EB PSA 10
Estimated Value: $10,000
Elton Brand was the first overall pick in the 1999 NBA draft, selected by the Chicago Bulls. He joined Washington in 2005 and had several strong seasons with the Wizards. This SPx memorabilia card combines a jersey swatch and patch piece, limited to only 100 copies.
6. 1997 Skybox E-X2000 Keith Askins #30 PSA 10 Gem Mint
Estimated Value: $7,500
While Keith Askins does not have a Hall of Fame resume, his 1997 Skybox E-X2000 card is incredibly rare and valuable in perfect PSA 10 condition. Askins spent a couple seasons with Washington in the mid-1990s as a role player off the bench. It's a testament to 1990s card production that his E-X2000 issue can be worth over $7,000.
7. 1986 Fleer Sticker Chris Washburn #42 PSA 10
Estimated Value: $6,000
Chris Washburn is one of the biggest draft busts in NBA history after being selected 3rd overall in 1986. However, his rookie Fleer sticker card remains popular among collectors. Washburn suited up for the Golden State Warriors to start his brief career before joining Washington for 20 games during the 1988-89 season.
8. 1988 Fleer Sticker Tom Gugliotta #136 PSA 10 Gem Mint
Estimated Value: $5,000
After a stellar college career at NC State, Tom Gugliotta joined the Bullets in time for their name change to the Wizards in 1997. He spent a few seasons providing scoring off the bench for Washington teams in the late 1990s. Googs' 1988 Fleer sticker rookie in PSA 10 condition can command $5,000 or more.
9. 1986 Fleer Danny Ferry #295 PSA 10 Gem Mint
Estimated Value: $3,500
Danny Ferry was the 2nd overall pick in the 1989 draft after a standout career at Duke. He started his NBA career slowly with the LA Clippers before joining the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1993. Ferry spent his final NBA seasons playing a reserve role for the Wizards from 2002-2003. His 1986 rookie card is a popular pick among collectors.
10. 1997-98 Fleer John Williams Precious Metal Gems #158 PSA 10
Estimated Value: $3,000
Precious Metal Gems was an extremely limited Fleer insert set during the late 1990s. Each card featured a small green gem embedded in the front. John "Hot Plate" Williams suited up at power forward for Washington from 1987-1994. His rare Precious Metal Gems rookie card in flawless PSA 10 condition can fetch up to $3,000.
There you have it - the top 10 most valuable Wizards basketball cards of all time. Vintage cards of Wizards franchise players like Wes Unseld, Elvin Hayes, and Phil Chenier are also starting to gain more traction among collectors. Rookie cards of current stars like Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis could someday land on this list depending on Washington's success.