Basketball is one of the world’s most popular games. Almost every county has a park with a basketball court on it where young and old alike go to play the game and make new friends.
You may have basketball legends like Micheal Jordan or Magic Johnson, or even The Shaq, Shaquille O’Neal, and have trading cards of these players. But few people know just how valuable these cards are.
Different companies produced basketball cards and quite notable among them is Skybox International Inc which started in 1989 and produced till 1995. This article presents 29 of the most valuable 1990 Skybox Basketball Cards.
Table of Contents
29 Most Valuable 1990 Skybox Basketball Cards: Price List
No. |
Card |
Grade |
Price |
1 |
Michael Jordan |
Ungraded |
$7,866.68 |
2 |
Magic Johnson |
Ungraded |
$1,700 |
3 |
David Robinson |
Ungraded |
$2,499.99 |
4 |
K.C. Jones |
Ungraded |
$149 |
5 |
Shawn Kemp |
Ungraded |
$1,999.99 |
6 |
Drazen Petrovic |
Ungraded |
$1,460 |
7 |
Gary Payton |
Ungraded |
$10,000 |
8 |
Karl Malone |
PSA 8 |
$250.72 |
9 |
Clyde Drexler |
PSA 10 |
$125 |
10 |
Manute Bol |
Ungraded |
$125 |
11 |
Akeem Olajuwon |
PSA 10 |
$119.99 |
12 |
Chicago Bulls Checklist |
Ungraded |
$200 |
13 |
Isiah Thomas |
PSA 10 |
$149.99 |
14 |
Vlade Divac |
GMA 10 |
$122.49 |
15 |
Scottie Pippen |
HGA 8.5 |
$100 |
16 |
Jerry Sloan |
Ungraded |
$175 |
17 |
Phil Jackson |
Ungraded |
$100 |
18 |
Los Angeles LA Lakers Team |
PSA 10 |
$189.99 |
19 |
Tim Hardaway |
PSA 10 |
$100 |
20 |
New Jersey Nets Checklist |
PSA9 |
$150 |
21 |
Boston Celtics Checklist |
PSA 9 |
$150 |
22 |
Derrick Coleman |
Ungraded |
$100 |
23 |
Seattle SuperSonics |
PSA 7 |
$105 |
24 |
Kevin McHale |
Ungraded |
$149.99 |
25 |
Larry Bird |
Ungraded |
$159 |
26 |
Houston Rockets Checklist |
PSA 9 |
$150 |
27 |
Charlotte Hornets Checklist |
PSA 9 |
$150 |
28 |
Charles Barkley |
Ungraded |
$275 |
29 |
Reggie Miller |
Ungraded |
$275 |
1. Michael Jordan
Price: $7,866.68
Grade: Ungraded
Card Number: #5
This is a 1990 Skybox Card showing Micheal Jordan, the greatest basketball player of all time. He played 15 seasons in the NBA and won six NBA championships while playing with the Chicago Bulls. Jordan was instrumental in making the NBA popular around the world in the 1980s and 1990s. Jordan played with the Chicago Bulls between 1984 and 1993. In 1990 when this Skybox Card came out he won an NBA championship. On March 28 of that year Jordan scored a career high of 69 points in a 117—113 road win over the Cavaliers.
2. Magic Johnson
Price: $1,700
Grade: Ungraded
Card Number: #157
This Skybox Card shows another basketball great by the name of Magic Johnson. He played in the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers. He played 13 seasons with the Lakers, and in 1996 was honored as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. Johnson won the NBA most valuable player award in 1990. Have you ever wondered why he is called Magic? He was given the nickname by a reporter after Johnson notched 36 points, 16 rebounds and 16 assists, all when he was 15 years old. Here on this card Johnson is playing a game with the Lakers. This card is ungraded but very valuable.
3. David Robinson
Price: $2,499.99
Grade: Ungraded
Card Number: #310
This Skybox Card shows Robinson who played basketball professionally in the NBA with the San Antonio Spurs from 1989 to 2003. He played the NBA all-star ten times which included the year 1990 when this Skybox Card was made. This ungraded card shows him about to pitch the ball into the basket. After the 1989 to 90 season he was named the NBA rookie of the year. The card also features David Robinson’s signature.
4. K.C. Jones
Price: $149
Grade: Ungraded
Card Number: Not Numbered
Jones played in the NBA and is best known for playing with the Boston Celtics from 1958 to 1967. He won 11 out of the 12 NBA championships that he played in. He is the third player to have the most championships in the NBA and he remains the only African-American (besides Bill Russell) to have won multiple NBA championships. In 1989 he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Jones went into coaching in 1967. This Skybox Card shows Jones in a suite and tie, as a coach. The card has his signature on the card as well.
5. Shawn Kemp
Price: $1,999.99
Grade: Ungraded
Card Number: #268
Shawn Kemp played in the NBA with several teams. In 1990 when this Skybox Card was produced he was playing with the Seattle Supersonics. He was selected in the 1989 NBA draft and was the youngest in the NBA and took some time to find his footing among older players.
It was during his second season that Kemp began to show heavy promise. He and a few teammates formed a formidable squad. On this card you see Kemp with the ball. This card is ungraded.
6. Drazen Petrovic
Price: $1,460
Grade: Ungraded
Card Number: #237
Petrovic joined the NBA in 1989. Before this he played in Europe in the 1980s. He joined the Portland Trail Blazers in 1989 and was with the team till 1991 where he played shooting. At first he wanted to be productive but the Blazers gave him a narrow role in games because the team already had an arrangement they followed for games. Hence in his rookie year, he averaged 7.4 points in 12 minutes per game. Petrovic was frustrated with the lack of sufficient play time and he left for the New Jersey Jets.
7. Gary Payton
Price: $10,000
Grade: Ungraded
Card Number: Not Numbered
Gary Payton played point guard in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics where he was for 13 years. Payton was one of the tall NBA players at 6 feet and 4 inches. Payton was with the Supersonics in 1990 when this Skybox Card was made.
This is his draft card and 1990 was his rookie year as well. He was the second overall pick and recorded his first double-double of his career in a game with the Nuggets. This ungraded card is worth $10,000. It features Payton on the card holding a ball.
8. Karl Malone
Price: $250.72
Grade: PSA 8
Card Number: #282
Malone was nicknamed the mailman and is one of the greatest power forwards in NBA history. He played with the Utah Jazz from 1985 to 2003. Malone scored 61 points on January 27, 1990 against the Milwaukee Bucks. He scored 49 points against the Golden States Warriors. And on and on heade his mark in the 1990 season. This Skybox Card shows Malone about to dunk the ball. It is a beautiful Skybox Card that is graded 8 by PSA and valuable.
9. Clyde Drexler
Price: $125
Grade: PSA 10
Card Number: #233
Drexler was nicknamed Clyde the Glide. He played 15 seasons in the NBA, and was with the Portland Trail Blazers in 1990 where he was till 1995. Drexler gave the team one of its best seasons in 1990 with a 63—19 record. In 1990 he was named to the All-NBA Third Team. This Skybox Card shows Drexler in action as he dunks the ball in the basket. It is graded 10 by PSA. He got his name from his university days at the University of Houston.
10. Manute Bol
Price: $125
Grade: Ungraded
Card Number: #180
Fans of basketball may remember Manute Bol as an NBA player and a political activist. He is Sudanese-American and considered one of the tallest NBA players at 7 feet and 6 inches. He played for several teams including Golden State Warriors in 1990 but by August was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers for a draft pick. He lasted 3 seasons with the 76ers. This card shows the tall player holding the ball and about to dribble his way through the court. It is ungraded.
11. Hakeem Olajuwon
Price: $119.99
Grade: PSA 10
Card Number: #110
Hakeem is a Nigerian-American former NBA player for the Houston Rockets and then the Toronto Raptors. Hakeem averaged 21.8 in the 1990 to 91 season. He couldn’t not play enough games on account of an injury to his eye socket caused by Bill Cartwright’s elbow. Hakeem was a famous player all the same and had many highlights in his career and won awards. He is in the Basketball Hall of Fame. This Skybox Card shows the athlete with a ball, in a dribble. It is a card in great condition, graded 10 by PSA.
12. Chicago Bulls CheckList
Price: $200
Grade: Ungraded
Card Number: #331
Trading cards didn’t carry the faces of players alone. In fact, trading cards could feature any concept from any sport. This one features the fierce face of the Chicago Bulls. It is a Skybox Card showing the Bulls checklist. It is not graded but a real collectible all the same. A checklist of this nature shows the details of games, reviews and game dates.
13. Isiah Thomas
Price: $149.99
Grade: PSA 10
Card Number: #93
Thomas was a former professional basketball player in the NBA. He played point guard from 1981 to 1994 for the Detroit Pistons. He was an NBA champion in 1989 and 1990. The teams suffered injuries in the 1990 to 91 season which made Thomas play only 49 games on account of a wrist injury. The team managed to win 50 games. This Skybox card was made in 1990 and shows the athlete in action. It is graded 10 by PSA.
14. Vlade Divac
Price: $122.49
Grade: GMA 10
Card Number: #135
Divac is a Serbian basketball player who spent most of his career in the NBA. He has been named one of the 50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors. He made the type of history that few ever did. He is in the class of seven players to record 13,000 points, 9,000 rebounds, 3000 assists, and 1,500 blocked shots. Divac is seen here on this Skybox card with the ball in play. The card is graded 10 by GMA.
15. Scottie Pippen
Price: $100
Grade: HGA 8.5
Card Number: #7XC
PIPPEN played 17 seasons in the NBA and he played with the Chicago Bulls from 1987 to 1998. He played great all through to 1990 which earned him his debut NBA all-star selection in 1990. He suffered a headache in the final that messed up his game. This Skybox card is graded 8.5 by HGA.
16. Jerry Sloan
Price: $175
Grade: Ungraded
Card Number: #326
Sloan has been referred to as one of the most respected coaches in the NBA. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009. Sloan played for the Baltimore Bullets and Chicago Bulls from 1965 to 1976. He was coaching the Utah Jazz team in 1990. He won the NBA all-star twice, and is on the list of top 15 NBA coaches in NBA history. This Skybox card shows Sloan as a coach at a game for one of his teams. It is an ungraded card.
17. Phil Jackson
Price: $100
Grade: Ungraded
Card Number: #304
Phil was a basketball player, coach and executive. He was a power forward and played 12 seasons in the NBA. He played with two teams in his career; the New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets from 1967 to 1980. He was the coach of the Chicago Bulls in 1990. He was called the Zen Master for his application of eastern philosophy in his coaching style. He is shown on this card as a coach. This card is not graded and is an old collectible from 1990. It is colorful and attractive.
18. Los Angeles LA Lakers Team
Price: $189.99
Grade: PSA 10
Card Number: #340
This Skybox card is dedicated to the Los Angeles Lakers. The team was founded in 1947. The team’s colors are purple,gold and black. Many great players have been a part of this team. They include LeBron James and Jones Mason. Phil Jackson once led the team to five championships. Magic Johnson and Dennis Rodman are in the hall of fame.of this team too. The card is graded 10 by PSA.
19. Tim Hardaway
Price: $100
Grade: PSA 10
Card Number: #95
Hardaway played in the NBA for several teams which included the Golden Star Warriors between 1989 and 1996. He won the NBA all-star in 1990.
20. New Jersey Nets Checklist
Price: $150
Grade: PSA 9
Card Number: #344
This Skybox card features the New Jersey Nets Checklist. This card was made in 1990. On September 26, 2011 rapper Jay Z who was a minority owner announced the change of the team’s name after their move to Brooklyn. The name officially changed to Brooklyn Nets. This card is graded 9 by PSA. The Nets were experiencing an inability to attract new talents. The move was necessary to reestablish their glory.
21. Boston Celtics Checklist
Price: $150
Grade: PSA 9
Card Number: #329
Skybox made this 1990 card to celebrate the Boston Celtics. The team is based in Boston and competes in the NBA. It was founded in 1946. The current roster of the Celtics included players like Ryan Payton and White Derrick. This team’s symbol is a man wearing a waistcoat and a bowler hat with a basketball balanced on the tip of his forefinger. This card is graded 9 by PSA.
22. Derrick Coleman
Price: $100
Grade: Ungraded
Card Number: #362
Derrick Coleman is shown on this Skybox 1990 card after his retirement. He wears a black suit. He was in the NBA and played with several basketball teams including the New Jersey Nets from 1990 to 1995. He won a Big East Player of the Year and First-Team All-Big East in 1990. Coleman was a left handed player and this gave him some edge in his active years.
23. Seattle SuperSonics
Price: $105
Grade: PSA 7
Card Number: #352
This is a checklist card made by Skybox in 1990 to celebrate one of the NBA’s greatest teams, the Seattle Supersonics. The team was founded in 1967. They changed their name to Oklahoma City Thunder in 2008. Then they relocated from Seattle to Oklahoma City in the same year. This card is graded 7 PSA.
24. Kevin McHale
Price: $149.99
Grade: Ungraded
Card Number: #19
McHale was an NBA player, coach and analyst who spent all his career playing for the Boston Celtics. He is also a hall of Fame inductee. McHale played from 1980 to 1993. He played NBA all-star for 7 times, also in 1990. McHale seemed to suffer health issues, and the 1989 to 1990 season represented one of his most healthy seasons. This Skybox card is signed by him and ungraded.
25. Larry Bird
Price: $159
Grade: Ungraded
Card Number: #14
Bird was a basketball player, coach and executive in the NBA. He was nicknamed The Hick from French Lick and Larry the Legend. He is one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He played from 1979 to 1992 for the Boston Celtics. He won numerous awards and is in the Basketball Hall of Fame as a player.
26. Houston Rockets Checklist
Price: $150
Grade: PSA 9
Card Number: #337
This is a Houston Rockets Checklist from 1990 by Skybox. The NBA team is based in Houston and was founded in 1967. Their arena is the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. Players on the current roster of the team includes Wood Christian, John Wall, and Kevin Porter. This card is graded 9 by PSA.
27. Charlotte Hornets Checklist
Price: $150
Grade: PSA 9
Card Number: #330
This card is a Charlotte Hornets Checklist card by Skybox in 1990. The team is owned by Micheal Jordan. It was founded in 1988 and in 2004 their name changed to Charlotte Bobcats. The roster currently has the likes of Ball LaMelo, Bouknight James on it. The card is graded 9 by PSA.
28. Charles Barkley
Price: $275
Grade: Ungraded
Card Number: #211
All fans of basketball know Charles Barkley as an analyst on TNT. He was an NBA player for three teams and the last of them was Houston Rockets from 1996 to 2000. He was nicknamed Chuck, and The Round Mound of Rebound. He won many records and is in the Basketball Hall of Fame. Since 2000 he has been an analyst for TNT, Turner Network Television.
29. Reggie Miller
Price: $275
Grade: Ungraded
Card Number: #117
Miller played his whole 18 years in the NBA with the Indiana Pacers. He was widely known for his accurate three-point shooting. He was always precise even in pressure situations and especially against the New York Knicks. It was for this reason he got the nickname Knick Killer. He retired with the most three-point field goals made. This 1990 Skybox Reggie Miller card is ungraded but has his signature on it.
Conclusion
There’s certainly a lot to recall in the world of basketball from 1990 in particular. And these Skybox cards help perfectly. Do you have Skybox cards from 1990 or any year for that matter? It may be a good idea to have your card graded, as this increases its value. And if it’s signed on, even better.
