15 Most Valuable 1991 Fleer Basketball Cards

1991 Fleer #29 Michael Jordan

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $300

In a career packed full of iconic moments, one of Michael Jordan's most memorable occurred during Game 1 of the 1991-1992 NBA Finals against the Portland Trail Blazers.

After draining his sixth three-pointer in just the first half, Jordan headed back on defense and shrugged at the crowd in disbelief himself at the shooting clinic he was unleashing.

Jordan was absolutely on fire that half, torching Portland for a first-half NBA Finals record 35 points.

The season itself was one of Jordan's best as the legendary superstar earned his 8th-straight All-Star appearance, 6th-straight NBA scoring title, both the regular season and Finals MVP awards, and notched both an All-NBA (1st) and All-Defensive (1st) selection.

This card has cooled off a bit lately but is still worth several hundred dollars in top condition.

1991 Fleer #255 Larry Johnson Rookie Card

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $175

The hype surrounding Larry Johnson could not have been any bigger when the Charlotte Hornets selected him with the first overall pick in the 1991 NBA Draft.

Johnson was one of the hottest players in NCAA Basketball after he led the UNLV Runnin' Rebels to a title in 1990 and a shocking upset to Duke in the 1991 Final Four.

The young superstar transitioned easily to the NBA as he averaged 19.2 points and 11 rebounds per game to earn 1991-1992 Rookie of the Year honors.

His popularity was through the roof, and to this day, his "Grandmama" ad campaign on television where he dressed as a grandma to promote his Converse shoe deal remain some of the most iconic commercials of the 1990s.

He would make two All-Star teams in five seasons with the Hornets before moving along to the New York Knicks, where he played a lesser but critical role on many great Knicks teams.

This card was on fire when it first hit the hobby, and given the recent resurgence of 1990s basketball cards, its price has increased respectably as kids then have now turned into adult collectors full of nostalgia.

1991 Fleer #375 Michael Jordan Team Leader

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $135

Like many of these lists highlighting the top cards of early 1990s basketball card sets, Jordan appears many times on this list.

The imagery on his "Team Leader" card is one of my favorites in the set, as Jordan shoots a jumper over Joe Dumars of the arch-rival Detroit Pistons while his Hall of Fame sidekick Scottie Pippen looks on in the background.

The revere of the card anoints him "King of the World" and discusses all of his career exploits, finally solidified by his first championship ring when the Bulls beat Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers.

1991 Fleer #211 Michael Jordan All-Star

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $115

Jordan's All-Star card features him driving hard to the basket during a home game at the old Chicago Stadium that preceded his later playing days at the United Center.

A headshot of him smiling with a towel draped over his shoulders adds a nice dual-image design element to this card.

On February 10, 1991 in Charlotte, NC, the East All-Stars led by Jordan's 26-point performance notched out a narrow 116-114 win over the West All-Stars.

Had he not totaled an eye-popping ten turnovers, the margin of victory could've been a bit higher.

1991 Fleer #220 Michael Jordan League Leader

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $115

Jordan's "League Leaders" card features a fantastic action shot of the Bulls legend going up for the score as Indiana's Chuck Person tries to stop him.

The Pacers were another team in the East who always played Chicago tough, and Person was one of the key reasons up until he left for Minnesota after the 1991-1992 season.

As a kid growing up in Central Indiana, I remember how beloved "The Rifleman" was to the Pacers' fan base.

He was nearly right up there with Reggie Miller.

The 1986-1987 NBA Rookie of the Year, Person has to be on the list of some of the greatest NBA players never to make an All-Star team.

Enough about Person, though, Jordan is the center point on this card and the reverse side contains a great write-up that highlights his abilities on both offense and defense.

1991 Fleer #8 Larry Bird

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $60

You can't talk about Magic Johnson without talking about Larry Bird, and vice versa.

Since the two met up in the 1979 NCAA Championship Game, they went on to form arguably the most significant individual rivalries in all of sports history.

Ali and Frazier.

Brady and Manning.

Woods and Mickelson.

They were fierce competitors as well, but I'd argue that Bird and Magic were even more heated.

Johnson has the edge over Bird when it comes to championships in head-to-head matchups as he and Michigan State prevailed over Bird and Indiana State in college, and he and the Lakers won two out of three NBA Finals against Bird and the Celtics.

The 1991-1992 season was Bird's last, as chronic back problems finally proved too much.

Bird posted another fine season during that final year as he averaged 20.2 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game while earning his twelfth All-Star selection.

1991 Fleer #100 Magic Johnson

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $60

Considered by many to be the greatest point guard of all time, Magic Johnson was known for putting on a show every time he stepped on the court.

His court awareness and ability to read and break down opposing defenses allowed Johnson to fill the highlight reels with no-look passes, slicing buckets, and other wizardry that earned him the well-deserved nickname "Magic."

Johnson was a fierce competitor, and over his storied career, he would rack up the 1979-1980 Rookie of the Year award, twelve All-Star appearances, three MVPs, three Finals MVPs, ten All-NBA selections, and five NBA championship rings.

Like Jordan, Magic Johnson also often found himself pitted against Joe Dumars and the Detroit Pistons, so it was great that Fleer captured the two foes going head to head on this card.

In the 1988 NBA Finals, Johnson and the Lakers would take down Dumars and the Pistons 4-3 in a tough-fought series that went the full seven games, but the following season Dumars and the Pistons embarrassed the Lakers as they routed them 4-0.

1991 Fleer #238 All-Star Game

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $50

As Jordan slices through Magic Johnson and Chris Mullin for the score, Charles Barkley awaits eagerly in case he's needed for an unlikely offensive rebound.

Who knows, though: he may have had to on this play as Barkley notched an incredible 22 rebounds that game.

He also put up 17 points and for his impressive overall effort, he would rightfully earn MVP honors.

Barkley's performance wasn't the only thing to shock spectators during the All-Star weekend that year.

I remember one of the most iconic moments of them all being the dunk contest during which Dee Brown covered his eyes with his arm as he threw one down on his way to the trophy.

1991 Fleer #233 All-Star Game

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $50

The NBA All-Star Game has always presented the opportunity for many players who were seemingly bitter enemies the rest of the season to join forces to help their respective conferences to victory.

Joe Dumars and the Detroit Pistons as well as Patrick Ewing and the New York Knicks gave Jordan some of his steepest competition on his road to multiple NBA Finals throughout the 1990s.

But here, it's nice to see them in a less heated moment as Bernard King and Charles Barkley joke at the other end of the bench.

The 1991 NBA All-Star Game was certainly a tough one as the East barely beat the West 116-114.

1991 Fleer #277 Dikembe Mutombo Rookie Card

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $50

Famous for wagging his finger in the air after blocking opposing players' shot attempts, Dikembe Mutombo was one of the most exciting and dominant defenders of the 1990s.

Mutombo could score if he had to and was usually good for double-digit averages, but it was his rebounding ability and tenacious defense that really made him a nightmare for other teams.

The Hall of Famer led the league in blocked shots per game three seasons in a row from 1993-1995, earned six All-Defensive Team selections, and won the Defensive Player of the Year Award an NBA record four times (tied with Ben Wallace).

Mutombo set a personal best for most blocks in a game during a matchup against the Clippers in 1993 in which he racked up an incredible twelve blocks.

He also snagged 21 rebounds that night.

His rookie card has soared in price during the recent surge in the sports card market.

1991 Fleer #33 Scottie Pippen

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $35

The Chicago Bulls had always been high on Scottie Pippen, evidenced by the trade they composed of Olden Polynice and future draft choices to land the future Hall of Famer.

And when Phil Jackson was named head coach heading into the 1989-1990 season, Pippen's career took off as he found himself an integral piece of the legendary triangle offense that the Bulls mastered.

Pippen posted per-game averages of 21 points, 7.7 rebounds and a career personal best 7 assists during the 1991-1992 season as he and Jordan found themselves in the middle of creating the best one-two punch in NBA history.

He earned both his second All-Star selection and NBA Championship that season, as well.

If the Bulls and Sonics never made that trade in 1987, the history of the Chicago Bulls organization and the entire NBA would have been significantly different.

1991 Fleer #77 Hakeem Olajuwon

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $35

One of the greatest centers of all time, Hakeem Olajuwon was an unstoppable force on both offense and defense.

Many players earned nicknames over their careers but few had a handle for their own specialty move.

In Olajuwon's case, his signature "Dream Shake" left opposing defenders helpless as the big man would use his footwork and agility to put them out of position and unable to contest his shot effectively.

That move especially came in handy during the 1993-1994 and 1994-1995 seasons as he rode it to help lead the Rockets to back-to-back NBA titles during that stretch.

Olajuwon was a 12-time All-Star, 12-time All-NBA selection, 9-time All-Defensive Team member, 2-time Defensive Player of the Year, 2-time Champion, 2-time Finals MVP, and the 1994 NBA MVP.

The greatest athlete to ever represent the city of Houston, Olajuwon also nearly brought an NCAA Championship to the city when he and the Houston Cougars fell heartbreakingly short 54-52 to N.C. State on a last-second dunk in the 1983 title game.

1991 Fleer #151 Charles Barkley

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $35

I would guess that Shaq edges Charles Barkley when it comes to the number of nicknames in NBA history, but some of my favorites for Barkley were: The Leaning Tower of Pizza, The Incredible Bulk, The Round Mound of Rebound.

The legendary power forward had a big game and even bigger personality, creating a reputation for telling you exactly what was on his mind with no holding back.

He played the game the same way, and in sixteen seasons, he earned twelve All-Star selections, eleven All-NBA selections, and the 1992-1993 MVP award.

With career per-game averages of 22.1 points and 11.7 rebounds, Barkley is a no-brainer when it comes time to discuss the greatest power forwards of all time.

Unfortunately, the most glaring thing missing from his impeccable resume is an NBA Championship ring.

This card features a great action shot of Barkley going up for a tip-in or rebound as the Utah Jazz's John Stockton, Karl Malone and Blue Edwards look onward.

1991 Fleer #63 Dennis Rodman

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $30

Dennis Rodman is probably the shining example of how you can carve out a Hall of Fame career in the NBA without having to be flashy on offense.

If the game was on the line, Rodman was not your guy to take the game-winning shot.

However, if you wanted a shutdown defender and someone to mop up rebounds night after night, then Rodman could deliver.

Beginning with the 1991-1992 season in which he set a career-high mark with a whopping 18.7 rebounds per game, Rodman led the league in rebounding for seven straight seasons.

And he did it across three different teams: the Detroit Pistons, the San Antonio Spurs, and the Chicago Bulls.

I remember him stating during an interview that he would anticipate how the ball would come off the rim based on the shot angle and rotation of the ball.

With that kind of dedication to his craft, it's no surprise he was effective as he was and the five championship rings are further proof.

1991 Fleer #201 Karl Malone

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $30

The game's second-leading scorer of all time, Karl Malone spent nineteen seasons in the NBA searching for a title but unfortunately never did get a ring.

By the time the 1991-1992 NBA season rolled around, Malone and teammate John Stockton had perfected their signature pick and roll as he posted 28 points and 11.2 rebounds per game on his way to earning his fifth straight All-Star nomination.

Amazingly, Malone appeared in the playoffs every year of his career, eighteen times with the Jazz and once with the Lakers.

Twice he went to the Finals with the Jazz in 1997 and 1998, only to lose to Michael Jordan and the Bulls.

Things looked most promising for him in 2003-2004 when he teamed up with Shaq, Kobe Bryant, and Gary Payton to win a title with the Lakers, but the Detroit Pistons surprisingly defeated them in five games.

Fortunately, Malone did win a gold medal with Team USA in both the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympics.

1991 Fleer Basketball Cards In Review

As you can see, Michael Jordan makes up a significant portion of the top cards in this set but there are plenty of other stars and Hall of Famers.

With a checklist of 400 cards, this was Fleer's largest basketball card set they'd ever produced at the time.

Outside of the standard set, Fleer also produced other oddball cards that year with Wheaties, Tony's Pizza, 3D Wrapper Redemptions and even limited edition autographed cards of Dominique Wilkins and Dikembe Mutombo.

These uncommon cards can be worth significant money in high grade as they're not as easy to find in nice shape.

Even if you never come across any of those rarer cards, there is still plenty to love about the 1991 Fleer set as it features a lot of 1990s star power and design elements.