Collecting basketball cards can be a fun and exciting hobby. With so many great players throughout NBA history, there are tons of awesome cards out there for fans to chase. When it comes to building a well-rounded collection, rookie cards are always a top priority. These are generally a player's most iconic and valuable cards.
Point guards play a crucial role on the court, as they are essentially floor generals who facilitate offense. They handle the ball more than any other position, so fans love collecting rookie cards of the NBA's top assist men over the years. This list will cover 5 must-have rookie cards for point guard enthusiasts and basketball card collectors in general.
Ever since bursting onto the scene out of small-school Davidson College, Stephen Curry has captivated fans with his limitless shooting range and crafty scoring ability. He evolved into one of the NBA's biggest superstars and led the Golden State Warriors to four championships.
Curry's rookie cards come from 2009-10 products when he first entered the association. The main rookie cards that collectors chase are:
These rookie-year gems display Curry in his early Warriors uniform and are highly sought-after. His Topps Chrome and Upper Deck Draft Edition RC's tend to be the most popular and valuable. Given Curry's meteoric rise to stardom, his rookies are a must for any basketball or point guard collection.
When talking about the top point guards ever, Earvin "Magic" Johnson is in the upper echelon. He dazzled for the Showtime Lakers in the 80s with his sublime passing and all-around skills. Magic is one of the game's ultimate winners, having led the Lakers to five championships and three MVPs.
Since Johnson's rookie cards come from 1980-81, they have an appealing vintage look and feel. Here are some of the key cards to track down:
The Topps regular issue and Fleer rookie cards showcase Magic in his classic gold Lakers uniform. These cards have soared in value over the years and remain hallmarks of the hobby. The dual Magic/Bird topps card pictures two legends together as rookies which is really unique. It's a challenge to find top-grade copies. Johnson's rookie cards are cornerstones for any basketball or point guard collection.
Jason Kidd was a triple-double machine who could impact all areas of the game from the point guard position. His court vision, passing skills, rebounding, and defense helped him emerge as a superstar after entering the NBA in 1994-95.
Kidd's most iconic rookie is undoubtedly his 1994-95 Upper Deck SP card. This foil card was a groundbreaking innovation at the time and depicted Kidd in his original Dallas Mavericks road uniform. There's also an action photo variation which is even tougher to find. Only 300 copies of each Kidd SP rookie were produced.
Since he put together an excellent career and is a likely Hall of Famer, Kidd's SP rookie continues as one of the most valuable cards of the 90s. It's a card that collectors dream of pulling from packs as a kid. This flashy foil rookie is the perfect pickup for fans of Kidd or 90s basketball cards.
Allen Iverson became one of the NBA's most prolific scorers despite his diminutive size. He fearlessly attacked the basket with relentless energy. Iverson led the league in scoring four times and earned an MVP award in 2000-01 when he almost single-handedly carried the Philadelphia 76ers to the NBA Finals.
Due to his immense popularity, Iverson's rookie cards are highly coveted, especially his 1996-97 Topps Chrome Refractor. This shiny, electric card pictures A.I. in his Sixers uniform ready to drive to the hoop. The refractors are some of the mostCONDITIONsought-after rookies from the 90s and are very condition-sensitive. Only 1,000 Iverson refractors were produced.
For basketball card enthusiasts, especially those who grew up watching Iverson become a superstar, this amazing refractor rookie is a definite collection cornerstone.
Since entering the NBA in 2005-06, Chris Paul has established himself as one of the league's premier point guards. His sublime passing and playmaking makes him a triple-double threat every night. Plus, Paul shoots efficiently and plays hard-nosed defense.
After a standout career at Wake Forest University, Paul's NBA rookie cards have always been popular. Here are some key options:
Paul's rookie cards capture him early in his New Orleans Hornets career. Topps Chrome and Bowman Chrome refractors can command big premiums among condition-sensitive collectors. As one of the top point guards of his era, Chris Paul's rookie cards remain in high demand.
Here are some more awesome point guard rookie cards that didn't quite make the top 5 but deserve an honorable mention:
Point guard is such a crucial position in the flow of a basketball game. These floor generals are often the engine that makes a team go. Basketball card collectors love having rookie cards of the best point guards throughout NBA history.
The cards mentioned in this article, like Stephen Curry, Magic Johnson, and Jason Kidd rookies, are some of the most iconic and valuable basketball cards out there. rookie cards of great point guards remain popular with fans and collectors.
Whether you're a seasoned veteran or just getting into the hobby, the rookie cards on this list are some of the must-own pieces for any basketball or point guard collection. Which one is your personal favorite?