If you were an NBA fan in the late 90’s, you love Allen Iverson. You may say you hate him, but you really love him.
Card collectors and “AI” fans have shelled out some impressive sums of money for the most expensive Allen Iverson basketball cards. Many card collecting experts predict that Iverson’s basketball cards will continue to increase in value because of his iconic status among NBA fans.
The man simply known as “The Answer” is one of the most prolific scorers in NBA history but is even more loved for his larger-than-life personality. The 6 foot shooting guard from Georgetown was the NBA Rookie of the Year (1997), 11-time NBA All-Star, 2-time All Star Game MVP (2001, 2005), 4-time NBA Scoring champ (1999, 2001, 2002, and 2005), NBA Most Valuable Player (2001), and was elected the the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016.
Without further ado, the Most Expensive Allen Iverson Basketball Cards
12 Most Expensive Allen Iverson Basketball Cards
1. 2007-2008 UD “Exquisite Collection” All NBA Access Triple Logoman Patch #NBA-BIM Allen iverson/Kobe Bryant/Stephon Marbury Game Used Patch Card (#1/1) – PSA 7
Price: $146,400
This brings us to the most expensive Allen Iverson card ever sold. Iverson had to share the spotlight with two other members of the 1996 Rookie Class, Kobe Bryant and Stephon Marbury.
This is the third card on the list from the Upper Deck “Exquisite Collection” but the only one that features 3 players. It is another 1 of 1 and contains a game used NBA Logoman patch from each player. The patches being the primary feature of the card makes it truly unique. What else is unique about this card?
The price tag.
Coming in at nearly twice the price of second most valuable Allen Iverson card, this is the only card on the list with a 6 figure price tag. The buyer came in with a winning bid of $146,400 at Goldin Auctions.
2. 2016-2017 Panini National Treasures “Logoman Autographs” #46 Allen Iverson Signed “NBA Logoman” Game Used Patch Card (#1/1) – BGS 8
Price: $79,200
Many of the Most Valuable Basketball cards in existence share these same characteristics. Often called just a “Logoman” or “Patch Autos”, these cards from Panini feature a game worn jersey patch and an authentic autograph from the player. Being a 1 of 1, the condition of the card becomes less important.
Like most Panini National Treasures Cards, this card is first class all the way. Simple, clean, and only the necessary parts. The game worn jersey patch is the NBA Logoman from Iverson’s Sixers Jersey. Iverson’s classic signature is scrawled in blue ink at the top of the card and the photo of Iverson from his rookie season is perfect.
3. 1997-1998 Skybox Metal Universe Allen Iverson Precious Metal Gems Red BGS 7
Price: $67,200
Skybox Precious Metal Gems cards are some of the most coveted among NBA card collectors and the 1997-1998 set is the crown jewel. If you have a card from this set, take good care of it. Even at BGS 7, this is one of the higher graded PMG (Precious Metal Gems) cards in existence.
A Michael Jordan Skybox Precious Metal Gems Green from this same set once sold for $915,000 and is estimated to be worth well over $1 Million now. It is one of the most expensive Michael Jordan cards ever sold.
This Iverson card is in unusually good condition for a PMG card and could end up being the Most Valuable Iverson card if sold again.
4. 1996 Topps Chrome Refractor Allen Iverson Rookie Card PSA 10
Price: $61,000
This is the official Allen Iverson Rookie card and the most valuable Allen Iverson rookie card. The 1996 Topps basketball set is a classic and includes one of the most valuable basketball cards in existence, a 1996 Topps Chrome Refractor Kobe Bryant BGS Black Label, the top condition in sports card grading. It is the most valuable Kobe Bryant rookie card ever sold.
The 1996 NBA Draft Class was a stellar one, featuring 4 future NBA Hall of famers (Iverson, Ray Allen, Kobe Bryant, and Steve Nash). It also included future NBA All-Stars in Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Stephon Marbury, Antoine Walker, Peja Stojakovic, Jermaine O'Neal, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas.
The 1996 Allen Iverson Topps Chrome Refractor actually sold in a private sale on eBay which is unique for a card of this value. The card features the young Iverson (pre-braids) in his old school Sixers jersey flexing his left arm and letting out a scream.
5. 2005-2006 UD “Exquisite Collection” Rainbow Allen Iverson 1/1 – BGS 8.5
Price: $24,000
Another hit from the Upper Deck “Exquisite Collection”, this Rainbow parallel is a 1 of 1 meaning it is the only card in the set. This unique card fetched a price of $24,600 in an auction at Goldin Auctions.
This great-looking card features an incredible action shot of Iverson hanging in the air, mid jumper.
6. 1996 Skybox E-X2000 Credentials Allen Iverson RC PSA 10
Price: $18,288
The Skybox E-X2000 is a staple on any Most Expensive basketball card list from this era. While the base version only has nominal value even in highly graded condition, the Credentials parallel has immense value.
Any PSA 10 in one of Skybox’s sets is a rarity, hence the $18,000+ price tag on this Iverson collectible.
7. 1998-1999 Skybox Premium Star Rubies Allen Iverson 3/50 – PSA 7
Price: $15,733
Another point for Skybox here and it won’t be the last card on this list. The 1998-99 Skybox Premium Star Rubies is one of only 50 cards. At $15,000 and graded PSA 7, it is the Most Expensive card of its kind. Many of the Skybox cards have condition issues making anything in highly graded condition valuable.
8. 2015 Panini Immaculate Collection Dual Kobe Bryant & Allen Iverson Auto BGS 8
Price: $14,400
The 1996 NBA Rookie Class included two all-time greats, Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson. This 2015 Panini Immaculate Dual Autograph card features both of those greats. This brightly colored card is a beauty and would make any basketball card collector drool.
There are only 25 of these cards in existence. This card is graded BGS 8. One would presume that a higher graded version of this card could fetch mid 5 figures.
9. 1996 Fleer Metal Allen Iverson Precious Metal PSA 10
Price: $14,000
Not to be confused with Skybox Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems, this Fleer Metal card is a completely different card. While the Fleer Metal Precious Metal insert includes a limited print run of 98, this particular card is in immaculate condition, earning a perfect GEM MINT 10 grade from PSA. The Precious Metals was the most valuable parallel from the Fleer Metal set.
Most of the valuable Iverson Rookie Cards are from the Topps Chrome refractor ilk but this is the exception.
10. 1997 Skybox Premium Star Rubies Allen Iverson BGS 8.5
Price: $12,300
Skybox dominated the basketball card in the late 90’s. On the heels of the “junk wax” era, Skybox were one of the first to limit print runs and make their premium cards more scarce.
This particular set of Skybox Premium Star Rubies has a print run of 50. This particular Iverson card is one of the highest known graded copies, earning a grade of 8.5 NM-MT. The card was sold to a private seller in an eBay sale.
11. 2012-2013 Panini Gold Prizm Allen Iverson 2/10 BGS 9.5
Price: $12,000
Though the release of this card came after Iverson’s retirement from professional basketball in 2011, it came in a time when high-end basketball cards were starting to become more valuable (due to smaller print runs). While the scarcity of this run is a big reason for the card's value, the pristine condition (BGS 9.5) makes it the most valuable Panini Prizm for Iverson.
The Panini Prizm Gold base set was another popular and valuable set in 2012-2013. The photo on the card features Iverson setting up his patented crossover.
12. 2004-2005 UD “Exquisite Collection” Triple Patches Parallel Allen Iverson Triple Patch Card #1/3 BGS Mint 9
Price: $12,000
2005 was a banner year for Iverson. Nearing the end of his 1st tenure with the Philadelphia 76ers, Iverson won his fourth NBA scoring title and 2nd NBA All-Star Game MVP Award.
The 2004-2005 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Allen Iverson Triple Patch card is one of only three in existence. The $12,000 card features 3 game worn jersey patches from Iverson’s Sixers jersey. This card set comes a year after one of the most successful basketball card series in history.
The 2003-2004 UD Exquisite Collection features a Lebron James Rookie card that has sold for over $1 Million several times. The most recent sale of $5.2 Million made this Lebron James card one of the Most Expensive Basketball Cards ever sold and marks the height of the basketball card hobby frenzy.
Tid Bits
Ironically, no card from the 2001 NBA season was included in the top 12 list. 2001 was Iverson's undisputed best season in the NBA. He finished the year with an NBA scoring title, All-Star Game MVP honors, NBA MVP Award, and his only NBA Finals appearance.
In Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers, Iverson dropped 48 points on the way to the Sixers only win of the series. Shaquille O'Neal later claimed that he could have blocked more of Iverson's shots that game but chose not to because AI was one of his favorite players.
The Lakers would go on the win the NBA Championship in 5 games.
Iverson's Financial Troubles
Allen Iverson was one of the most influential players in recent memory but the end of his career and retirement were marred by financial troubles. Iverson's lavish spending habits and troubles withe the IRS are well documented. Regardless of his money woes, Iverson is one of the more popular NBA players of the past 30 years.
