Published Feb. 5, 1995|Updated Oct. 3, 2005
With his team sporting the best record in the NBA, thanks in large part to his league-leading scoring, it comes as little surprise that the Shaquille O'Neal hype is starting to work its way back into the hands of basketball card collectors.
When Shaq took the league by storm in 1992-93, virtually all his cards skyrocketed in value. Eventually, the prices leveled off or, in some cases, dropped in value and remained steady throughout most of the 1993-94 season.
This year, the Magic and Shaq are off to such a good start that collectors feel they can go pretty far in the playoffs. This has translated into aggressive buying of Shaq cards. The surge is not as strong as it was during his rookie year, but it's healthy.
Should the Magic go far in the playoffs, there is no telling what some of Shaq's key cards may do on the market. This is especially true for central Florida hobbyists, who can expect to pay more than what is reflected in any price guide because of regional premiums.
Some of Shaq's cards receiving attention include the 1992-93 Hoops Draft Redemption and Magic's (as in Johnson) All-Rookie. Hoops issued both of these cards late in the 1992-93 season and they caught fire, soaring to well over $100.
They have since dropped and settled, but now are receiving renewed interest. The Draft Redemption single is back up in the $75 neighborhood and the Magic's All-Rookie is solid around $125.
The following year, Ultra issued a number of insert sets that included Shaq. Among the better cards are the Scoring Kings and Jam City, which have increased in value to $50-$60. Upper Deck released a popular SE Die-Cut All-Star set that has a Shaq card climbing toward $100.
Last summer, SkyBox issued a USA Portrait set that included Shaq. A popular card, it is generally an easy sell at $100, but can get as much as $150. Also issued last summer was the Upper Deck USA Chalk Talk set. At $60, the Shaq card has been attracting a lot of attention lately.
For '94-'95 there are many more Shaq cards to choose from, but the SkyBox Center Stage is solid at $50 and the Stadium Club First Day Issue checks in at $75-$100.
Those are just some of the many O'Neal cards doing well on the market. And teammate Anfernee Hardaway certainly hasn't gone unnoticed by collectors. Likewise, there are a number of other young players currently sharing the spotlight. Here is a quick look at some of them:
Hardaway: Two of his key cards are the 1993-94 Upper Deck SE Die-Cut All-Star and the 1994-95 Ultra All-Rookie Team. The former has been scorching as it has climbed to second in the set behind Shaq's at $70. The Ultra issue is part of a very popular set and checks in at $50.
Jimmy Jackson: Not too much to choose from here, but collectors like his 1992-93 Upper Deck card. It has received more attention than any other card from a recent basic set. Part of this is due to the fact that Jackson had so few cards the past two years and because it was released late in the 1992-93 season, therefore making it less plentiful than other cards in the set. The result is a solid $10 card in a set that be purchased for only three times more.
Jamal Mashburn: Most of his better cards are in the $10-$15 range. Those rising above include his 1994-95 Collector's Choice Gold Signature at $40 and this year's Ultra All-Rookie Team card at $35. These cards are part of quality sets that, combined with Mashburn's improved play, could prove to be big winners in the near future.
Jason Kidd: Another of the triumvirate of young Mavs, Kidd has a few decent cards, including the 1994-95 SkyBox Draft Picks issue that is steady at $30. A more expensive card, his Stadium Club First Day Issue from this year, is among that set's most valuable at $60.
Grant Hill: Like fellow rookie Kidd, Hill is featured in the Stadium Club First Day Issue set. The card is the most valuable in the set at $150. As far as basic-issue cards, his 1994-95 Upper Deck is hot at $10.
