The Atlanta Hawks are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA, tracing their history back to the Tri-Cities Blackhawks in 1946. Over the decades, many legendary players have suited up for the Hawks franchise. Naturally, basketball card collectors covet the rarest cards of the top Hawks players throughout history.

In this article, we’ll countdown the top 5 most valuable Atlanta Hawks basketball cards of all time. We’ll explore each card, the player featured, and what makes it so prized among collectors.

#5 - 1957-58 Topps Bob Pettit (#11)

• Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $20,000+
• Player: Bob Pettit
• Why It's Valuable: Pettit's lone vintage card as a reigning MVP

The 1957-58 Topps card of Hawks legend Bob Pettit comes in at number five on our list. This is Pettit's only recognized rookie card, coming during his fifth NBA season.

What makes this card so valuable is that Pettit is featured during his reign as the 1956-57 NBA MVP. It would be the first of two MVPs for Pettit. Vintage cards of players as reigning MVPs always carry a premium.

The 1957-58 Topps set as a whole is extremely difficult to put together in high grade. Centering issues plague the set, making PSA 10 Gems very elusive. Given Pettit's status as a top-50 all-time NBA player, it's no surprise that his lone vintage issue goes for over $20k when graded mint.

#4 - 1969-70 Topps Lew Alcindor (#25)

• Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $25,000
• Player: Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)
• Why It's Valuable: Legendary HOFer's rookie card

The 1969-70 Topps #25 card of Lew Alcindor checks in at #4 on our ranking of Hawks card values. This is the rookie card of the player who would become known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Jabbar is considered by many to be the greatest center in basketball history after winning a record six MVP awards and six championships. He also held the all-time scoring record for over three decades. His rookie card is obviously in extremely high demand.

Like most vintage basketball issues, the 1969-70 Topps set is riddled with awful centering issues. PSA 10s are very hard to come by, especially for marquee rookies like Alcindor. Given Jabbar's sterling resume, it's easy to see why his RC approaches $25k in top grade.

#3 - 1986-87 Fleer Dominique Wilkins (#6)

• Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $30,000
• Player: Dominique Wilkins
• Why It's Valuable: The Basketball Card Boom's most iconic cards

Dominique Wilkins' 1986-87 Fleer card comes in at #3 on our ranking with a PSA 10 value of $30,000. 'Nique was an athletic marvel for the Atlanta Hawks in the 1980s and his second-year card remains one of the most recognizable issues from the infamous Basketball Card Boom.

The 1986-87 Fleer basketball set is arguably the most iconic basketball card release of the 80s. It's front-loaded with the biggest rookie cards from the class like Chris Mullin, Chuck Person, Detlef Schrempf, and Brad Daugherty.

In terms of Hall of Famers, Wilkins is the undisputed star of the set. His iconic Slam Dunk Contest battles with Michael Jordan only enhanced his popularity. Collectors have flocked to this iconic Wilkins card over the past 35 years.

#2 - 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan (#57)

• Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $100,000+
• Player: Michael Jordan
• Why It's Valuable: The most legendary basketball card ever produced

It should be no surprise that Michael Jordan's 1986-87 Fleer rookie card comes in as the runner-up on our list of Hawks card values. This is the undisputed Holy Grail of basketball cards. Gem Mint copies have sold for as much as $150,000 at auction.

While Jordan's career with the Chicago Bulls made him a global icon, his NBA journey started with the Hawks after being drafted third overall in 1984. That gives Hawks collectors a claim to chase after the legendary Jordan RC.

In PSA 10 grade, there's really no telling how high the value could go. With each record-breaking sale, more collectors and investors flock to the 1986-87 Jordan as basketball card collecting continues to boom.

#1 - 1969-70 Topps Lew Alcindor (#187)

• Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $150,000
• Player: Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)
• Why It's Valuable: Legendary HOFer's extremely scarce rookie card variation

Easily topping our list of the most valuable Hawks cards is the legendary 1969-70 Topps #187 rookie card of Lew Alcindor. While Alcindor's regular rookie is #25 in the set, card #187 is a scarce variation featuring a photo of the rookie phenom in his Hawks jersey rather than UCLA.

This coveted Hawks variation is arguably the rarest mainstream basketball rookie card ever printed. PSA 10 examples very rarely surface at auction, but when they do, they command six-figure sales. Given Kareem's unmatched NBA career and achievements, it's easy to see why the Hawks RC variation is so coveted.

While regular collectors likely can never dream of adding this card to their collection, it remains the gem of basketball card collecting and the ultimate goal for Hawks collectors. If you come across card #187 from the 1969-70 Topps set, you've found one of the most prized basketball cards on the planet.

Conclusion

That does it for our ranking of the top 5 most valuable Atlanta Hawks basketball cards of all time. The Hawks have seen several legendary players suit up over the decades, making their cards a treasure for collectors. From Bob Pettit's vintage MVP issue to Kareem's impossible-to-find rookie, Hawks cards offer a fascinating market for years to come.