Allen Iverson was a star in the NBA, and his offensive wizardry made him very popular – His rookie cards are some of the most valuable from the 90s era.
His best, and most valuable, rookie card is his 1996-97 Topps Chrome card, with it’s Refractor parallel version – I’ve covered that, and his best alternatives below.
Although the basketball card hobby was different back then to what it is now, there’s no shortage of Iverson rookie cards to choose from – multiple different manufacturers jumped on the hype surrounding him in his rookie year, and that resulted in some great options for collectors in the basketball card hobby.
Table of Contents
Quick Summary: Top 3 Picks
- 1996-97 Topps Chrome #171 (Refractor parallel)
- 1996-97 E-X2000 #53 (Credentials parallel)
- 1996-97 Flair Showcase Row 0 #3 (Legacy Collection parallel)
The Best Allen Iverson Rookie Cards
1996-97 Topps Chrome Allen Iverson #171
The most popular and sought-after Allen Iverson rookie card is the 1996-97 Topps Chrome card, which comfortably reigns supreme.
It’s mine, and many others, pick of the best Iverson rookie, and it’s easily the most expensive.
Although the card is by no means rare, it’s less common than many of Iverson’s other rookie cards, and that mixed with the appeal of the chromium, adds to its value.
The set in general took off, and was (and still is) hugely popular – The Kobe rookie might be the key card from the set, but this Iverson card is one of the big hitters.
The Refractor parallel version is the card to have; A PSA 10 graded copy sold for $55.2k in 2021.
1996-97 Topps Finest Allen Iverson #69
Another Topps product, the 1996-97 Finest Allen Iverson is one of his most recognizable and popular rookie cards.
The Topps Finest set took a tiered approach with the rarity of the cards within the set, there was a Bronze (common) version, Silver (uncommon) version and a Gold (rare) version – all numbered as part of the same set, with a basic Refractor parallel.
This one was issued with a protective film, which could be removed. The presence of the film today doesn’t tend to have much effect on the value of the card – however, ungraded copies will benefit from the added protection. In some cases, it’s best to carefully remove the protective film before grading, if the card’s surface is in better condition than the film.
1996-97 E-X2000 Allen Iverson #53
The 1996-97 E-X2000 Allen Iverson rookie card is one of his most valuable and best options. The design offers something a little unique and has a premium feel about it.
The layered card with the foil border, and the sky background, make for a bold and nice looking card, with a great image of Iverson in action.
It’s clear to see why it’s such a popular Iverson rookie card – the price was high back when it was released, and the scarcity of it means it’s highly valuable now as well. The foil borders damage easily, so it’s hard to find this one in mint condition – another factor in the card’s value.
The card has an even more scarce and expensive parallel, Credentials, numbered /499; A copy, graded a 10 by PSA, sold for $18.3k, back in 2020.
1996-97 Upper Deck Allen Iverson #91
The 1996-97 Upper Deck basketball set offered something a little different. The imagery used on the cards often showed a lighter side to the players, compared to the fiery on-court action shots we are used to seeing on cards.
The Upper Deck Allen Iverson rookie card is a nice option, with a basketball style edge and a dated photo of a smiley Iverson giving the card that something extra.
1996-97 UD3 Allen Iverson #14
Another Upper Deck Iverson rookie card entry was the 1996-97 UD3 card – The UD3 brand never really took off in the hobby, and it had a pretty short lifespan.
It tried to offer something different, which it did achieve with the design – the wooden style glossy stock makes it stand out from his other rookie cards. While it’s not one of his most valuable rookie cards, it’s not a bad option overall.
1996-97 Flair Showcase Allen Iverson #3
The Flair Showcase set stands out because of its unusual card structure approach – every player in the set has 3 different base cards, tiered in rarity using ‘rows’. Row 2 being the most common, Row 1 being less common, and Row 0 being the rarest.
The Iverson Row 2 rookie card from the 1996-97 Flair Showcase set isn’t one of his most expensive rookie cards today, but the great imagery and high-end feel make it a nice option.
All 3 Iverson cards have a Legacy Collection (/150) parallel, which are a lot more valuable. You can expect to pay multiple thousands of dollars for the Row 0 Legacy Collection card in a high grade.
1996-97 Bowman’s Best Allen Iverson #R1
Another chromium Allen Iverson rookie card release was the 1996-97 Bowman’s Best card.
This one was a popular card back when it was released, and chromium cards haven’t lost their appeal today.
Although the Bowman’s Best cards were not the best-known Topps chromium brand for basketball cards, this is one of Iverson’s most popular rookie cards.
There are also the Refractor and Atomic Refractor parallels, with the Atomic version being rarer and more expensive.
1996-97 Ultra Allen Iverson #82
The Allen Iverson rookie card from the 1996-97 Ultra set featured in the series 1 packs.
The slick design has a 90s feel to it, and it’s another popular Iverson rookie card.
It came with 2 parallels – the Gold Medallion and the Platinum Medallion, which was the rareest of the 2, numbered /250.
When Was Allen Iverson’s Rookie Year?
Allen Iverson’s rookie year was the 1996-97 season – He went on to win the NBA rookie of the year award at the end of that season.
Are Allen Iverson Rookie Cards Worth Anything?
Allen Iverson rookie cards from 1996-97 are valuable. The 1997 NBA rookie of the year is a popular player and his rookie cards are some of the most valuable from the 90s era.
The most valuable Iverson rookies are worth tens of thousands of dollars in a high grade.
How Many Allen Iverson Rookie Cards Are There?
There are 16 different Allen Iverson rookie cards from the 1996-97 NBA season, from various different manufacturers.
What Is The Most Expensive Allen Iverson Rookie Card?
The most expensive Allen Iverson rookie card to buy is his 1996-97 Topps Chrome (#171) Refractor parallel card.
Allen Iverson: A Background
Allen Iverson is one of the greatest and most prolific scorers in NBA history, and one of the most influential players to play basketball.
“The Answer” played 14 seasons as a guard in the NBA, and was part of one of the strongest rookie classes of all time – mixing with the likes of Kobe Bryant, Ray Allen and Steve Nash.
Iverson won the NBA rookie of the year award in 1997, despite his strong competition. He was also the NBA’s most valuable player in 2001 as well as being an 11-time NBA All-Star (winning the NBA All-Star game MVP twice).
