Los Angeles Lakers rookie cards that are worth collecting
By Josh Wilson
Lakers cards worth collecting: Magic Johnson rookie card
This one is so low on the list because honestly, good luck finding one. Magic Johnson’s incredible career lifted the Lakers/NBA brand in a significant way, but his rookie season fell right smack-dab in the middle of the garbage era for basketball cards. Very few of his rookie cards made it through to this day while retaining their original shape or integrity.
One of the most commonly spoken about Magic Johnson rookie cards is an insert including him, Julius Erving, and Larry Bird on the same card.
It’s quite valuable given that there are only a few left with respectable quality. One that was graded as a PSA 8 recently sold for $5,500.
There is a PSA-7 currently bidding, too. As of Wednesday (October 28, 2020) morning, it’s under $250. An ungraded card was bidding for just over $100.
If fans are interested in Magic Johnson cards for a personal collection, the best bet is to look for something that was printed in recent years. Panini, even in modern boxes, still prints a fair amount of cards that are nods to the legends. I recently unpacked a slick “Old School” Magic Johnson in a pack of Mosaic retail that features a black-and-white photo of him in his Lakers days with a stained glass-inspired background.
So, heck, if you can afford it and want the Bird/Erving/Magic card, go for it! I think sticking to modernized legend cards is your best bet for Johnson, though.
Lakers cards worth collecting: Jerry West rookie card
This card being so old, it ranks low on this list because it’s going to be extremely challenging to come by, and because the card just doesn’t look great.
Originals of the card if PSA graded go for thousands of dollars, but be wary when purchasing, there were reprints of this card made that are nearly worthless.
If you just want to grab it for the sake of having it for display, a reprint can go for as cheap as a few bucks on eBay.
Lakers cards worth collecting: James Worthy rookie card
James Worthy’s rookie card is a lot like Michael Jordan’s. The weird story behind it is that it basically doesn’t exist. Basketball cards had fallen off completely when Jordan and Worthy’s careers were starting, and as a result, their debut cards (which are considered to be their “rookies”) came years later in 1986.
Worthy’s and Jordan’s Fleer 1986 cards look very similar in color scheme and design, and Worthy’s typically sells for a lot less, as you might imagine. While Jordan’s Fleer 1986 brings in a few thousand, Worthy’s auctions for a few hundred, depending on the grade.
It’s a tough card to collect, and it falls down the list here in part because it’s not a true rookie.