The world of trading cards has existed for a while, and while basketball has never been the top trading card sport, its popularity is still undeniable. Similarly, the 1960s weren’t the heyday for basketball, but there are still plenty of valuable basketball trading cards from the 60s. Basketball fans are still willing to pay a lot of money for these cards from some of the legends that transformed the game.

1969 Topps Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Rookie Card

In 1969, NBA’s all-time scorer made his debut in the league, and since then, people have uttered his name alongside the likes of Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Larry Bird. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the 7′ 2″ monster of the sport, was one of the best players in the 70s, but he made his debut in 1969. Today, his Topps #25 Lew Alcindor Rookie Card sells for $40,000.

However, it’s important to remember that $40,000 was high-quality, a PSA 8. Finding cards from this era that are still in that condition is a challenge, and as the quality goes down, so does the value. People have sold other cards at a PSA 4 for around $1,000. It's hard to find pristine copies of this card, but even if yours isn’t in the best condition, it will still be worth some money.

1961 Fleer Wilt Chamberlain Rookie Card

Along with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the player most people remember from this era of basketball is Wilt Chamberlain. He’s one of the most dominant players to pick up the ball, but not many Chamberlain cards have found their way into circulation. Currently, the most valuable Chamberlain card is his 1961 Fleer #8 Rookie Card, estimated at $35,000. The card looks quite different from modern-day basketball cards, and it also sports the old Philadelphia Warriors logo, but that doesn’t diminish its value. On the contrary, this card’s value has only risen as time progressed, and more and more card collectors continue to add it to their wish lists.

1961 Oscar Robertson Rookie Card

Entering the NBA at the same time as Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson is another league legend, though he hasn’t gotten the same attention as others. Robertson, also known as the “Big O,” debuted on the Cincinnati Royals, but today the team is the Sacramento Kings. Today, Oscar Robertson’s 1961 Fleer #36 Rookie Card sells for about $22,000, but that value will only keep going up. This card is a collector’s favorite, partly because the “Big O” became the first NBA player to average a triple-double. While other legends of the game have reached the same feat in the years since, Robertson was the first.

There are a lot of valuable basketball trading cards from the 60s, but finding any of these cards and getting your hands on them is a big challenge. Because of the rarity, it’ll be difficult to find anyone selling cards like these for anything less than five figures. However, you don’t need to start your collection with these cards. Instead, you can invest in some vintage basketball card packs from us at JRI Cards to build your collection without breaking the bank! Contact us today so we can find you some wonderful cards that will start your collection or contribute to it in the best way possible.