Any collector wishing to add a John Stockton rookie card has two excellent but very different options: the 1984 Star #235 and 1988 Fleer #115.
At first, the large gap in time between the two probably seems strange...
After all, Charles Barkley, Hakeem Olajuwon and Michael Jordan had rookie cards in the 1984 set but also debuted in the 1986 Fleer set.
So, why didn't Stockton join them in the '86 Fleer set?
Well, each of those other guys was already a starter and budding superstar when Fleer began printing its landmark '86 set.
But Stockton wasn't on their level just yet.
Instead, he primarily served as Rickey Green's backup until the 1987-88 season.
And because the 1986 Fleer set contained just 132 cards, Stockton and other lesser-known players like him were left out.
In the end, it didn't matter.
Stockton went on to join them as one of the greatest players of all time.
He just had to wait a couple more years for his Fleer rookie.
And in this guide, we'll take a detailed look at both Stockton rookie cards.
Let's jump right in!
1984 Star #235 John Stockton Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 9 Value: $3,500
It might seem hard to believe, but there was a time in the hobby when basketball cards weren't too popular.
During the late 70s and early 80s, demand for baseball and football cards held steady.
But basketball cards were a different story.
Interest had declined so much that Topps exited the market entirely after their 1981-82 basketball set.
Yet, entrepreneur Robert Levin saw an opportunity.
One year later, he released the landmark 1983 Star basketball card set.
For three years, Star remained the only NBA-licensed company in the hobby.
Instead of distributing the cards in wax/cello packs, Star grouped the cards by team in small poly bags.
Eventually, Fleer came along in 1986, while Upper Deck and Topps began producing basketball cards in 1991 and 1992, respectively.
But for a brief time, Star was king.
And of all 24 different Star sets, the 1984-85 Star basketball set remains the most desirable.
Most of that popularity is because of the #101 Michael Jordan rookie card.
However, the set also contains rookie cards of NBA icons Charles Barkley, Hakeem Olajuwon, and John Stockton.
Finding any 1984 Star basketball card in mint condition is difficult due to miscuts that plagued the set and from dings/dents endured while being semi-exposed via those poly bags.
Less than 0.1% of 1984 Star cards submitted to PSA have received a PSA 10 grade, while less than 0.5% have received a PSA 9 grade.
That's how condition-sensitive these cards are.
Coincidentally, John Stockton's rookie has received the most PSA 9 grades, with 18 examples.
There is also one PSA 10 example.
1988 Fleer #115 John Stockton Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $400
While it may not contain as many Hall-of-Fame rookie cards as its 1986 Fleer counterpart, the 1988 Fleer basketball set is well-known for having rookie cards of four big-name Hall-of-Famers: Scottie Pippen, Reggie Miller, Dennis Rodman and John Stockton.
Along with the Michael Jordan base and All-Star cards, each rookie is among the most desirable in the 132-card checklist.
However, Stockton's rookie is the least expensive of the quartet.
In today's market, in PSA 10 condition, Miller's rookie runs around $2,000, Pippen's around $1,750, and Rodman's around $1,600.
John Stockton's rookie in a PSA 10 holder is valued far less than those three at around $400.
Why the huge price difference?
After all, Stockton is the NBA's all-time leader in steals and assists, as well as a ten-time All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medal winner.
There's no question he's one of the greatest point guards of all time.
It all comes down to population.
Of all the Pippen, Miller and Rodman rookies submitted to PSA, roughly 1.5% to 2% have returned in a PSA 10 holder.
Meanwhile, Stockton's rookie cards have received a PSA 10 grade around 8% of the time.
So, it's far easier to find in high grade.
As with anything in life that is relatively more abundant, Stockton's rookie value has dipped as a result.
Stockton's rookie and the '88 Fleer set overall have always been some of my favorite cards of the era.
The team-themed color schemes create outstanding eye appeal and the star-studded checklist is tough to beat.
The John Stockton Rookie Card Review
Now that we've gone through the list, here are some of my thoughts on John Stockton's rookie cards:
Most Valuable: Stockton's most valuable rookie card is his 1984 Star #235, which can be worth over $3,2500 in PSA 9 condition.
In a PSA 10 holder, Stockton's 1988 Fleer rookie is worth several hundred dollars but usually sells for only $45 or so in PSA condition.
It's far less valuable, but still highly desirable.
My Favorite: The 1988 Fleer basketball set was one of the first that I started collecting as a kid.
For that reason alone, I'd have to lean towards Stockton's '88 Fleer rookie as my favorite.
I vaguely remember the Star basketball sets back then so the nostalgic factor isn't nearly as strong.
Obviously, based on value, the '84 Star is the one to have.
But based on design, aesthetics, nostalgia, etc., I'd have to go with his '88 Fleer rookie.
John Stockton's Rookie Season Recap
When the Utah Jazz selected John Stockton with the 16th pick of the 1984 NBA Draft, they had no clue he'd end up as the NBA's all-time assists and steals leader.
He wasn't a complete unknown during his collegiate days at Gonzaga.
But he wasn't an All-American.
Still, the Utah Jazz front office saw something in Stockton and went with their gut.
And while the payoff ended up being huge, it got off to a slow start.
Not only did John Stockton serve as Utah's backup point guard behind Rickey Green during his 1984-85 rookie campaign, he wasn't the full-time starter until the 1987-88 season.
Stockton played in all 82 games during his rookie campaign but started only five times, averaging about 18 minutes per game.
With that limited time, Stockton averaged 5.6 points, 5.1 assists and 1.3 steals, well under his career marks.
It would take several years, but once Stockton got his chance as the full-time started, he proved to be elite.
Again, as I mentioned in the opener, Stockton didn't appear in the 1986 or 1987 Fleer sets because his play didn't allow him to make the cut for the relatively small 132-card checklists.
However, the 1984 Star and 1988 Fleer rookie cards both turned out to be just fine.