When it comes to Earvin “Magic” Johnson Jr., what else is there left to say… a fierce competitor, one of the game’s all-time best, and a true ambassador for basketball. The exceptional career on the hardwood has translated in the hobby with collectors holding Mr. Johnson’s cards in great value. The few that have Magic’s cards with high grades have big money sitting on the shelves.
The quick rundown of the career that helped change the NBA and basketball for the better:
Basketball Triple Crown Winner: NCAA Championship (1979), NBA Championship (1980. 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988), Olympic Gold Medal (1992) – Barcelona
NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player (1979)
12-time NBA All-Star
3-time NBA Finals MVP (1980, 1982, 1987)
3-time NBA Most Valuable Player (1987, 1989, 1990)
4-time assists leader
2-time steals leader
Career Totals: 17,707 points (19.5 ppg), 6,559 rebounds (7.2 rpg), 10,141 assists (11.2 apg)
Top 5 Valued Magic Johnson Basketball Cards
1987-88 Fleer Stickers #1 Magic Johnson
Values: The 1986-87 Fleer basketball set is one of the most coveted sets pre-50 parallels, autos, patches, etc. But this ’87 sticker from Fleer is Johnson’s most valuable card. The low-end values are easy to get into for collectors with a raw price tag around $5. But a 10 pushes beyond $8,500.
BGS Pop Info: Getting that 10 Black Label or Pristine is seemingly impossible. Of the 220 graded by Beckett, there are zero 10s and just one 9.5. Getting an 8 is far more likely, based on the numbers, with 56 handed out by BGS.
1986-87 Fleer Sticker #7 Magic Johnson
Values: The ungraded value of the ’86 Fleer Sticker can range from $20 to $30 depending on the time and place. A NM grade is valued under $100 with this sticker being Magic’s second most valuable card on the secondary market, fetching around $8,000 for a 10. A rarer card in the wild is the overprint back.
BGS Pop Info: A favorite among collectors to get graded with 953 on record. There are seven 9.5s on the market and zero 10s. Getting an 8 or 8.5, both at 122, is a more common grade.
1981-82 Topps #21 Magic Johnson !
Values: There is a big value drop from an NM 8, around $100, to north of $16,000 as a 9.5. A 10 can get in the neighborhood of $8,000. Collectors should know, there are four versions of this card, two #21 and two #W109. The difference between the two #21s, one has a blank back. Same goes for the #W109.
BGS Pop Info: Only four cards with a blank back have been graded, one #21 (NM 8) and three #W109 (8.5, 9, 3rd taken off report). The #21 has been graded 699 times with 14 Gem-Mints awarded.
1986-87 Fleer #53 Magic Johnson
Values: One of his most valuable and coolest cards. The image perfectly captures Johnson creating his “magic” mid-flight against Boston Celtics forward Kevin McHale – Showtime! Unlike some of the other cards on the list, the #53 raw is pricier running between $40-50. Oddly, a 7 grade is around $60 with an 8 in the $100 ballpark. A 10 can go over $3,000 with a 9.5 dropping to $780.
BGS Pop Info: Collectors have graded 1,342 #53 Magic Johnson cards. This set has produced some gems, or Gem Mints, 81 to be exact. There are 297 BGS Mints in circulation.
1981-82 Topps #W109 Magic Johnson SA ! – Super Action
Values: Selling on eBay, this card can be had at the right time around $5 raw going up to $18-19. A 10 pushes this card over $2,300. Collectors can get the #W109 mixed up with the #21; buyer beware. The W variation stands for West.
BGS Pop Info: There are fewer versions of this card graded on the secondary market, 152 in total. It is easier to come across 8s (36) and 8.5s (34) but 9s (19) and 9.5s (3) are out there.
Just Missed the List
1987-88 Fleer #56 Magic Johnson
Values: This card trades hands consistently around $8 raw. Like a lot of cards, it is a risk to get it graded in hopes of netting a big return. A 7 grade is $14-15 in value with an 8 around $22. A 9 stretches out to $100 followed by $275 at 9.5 and $2,200-plus as a rare 10.
BGS Pop Info: In a moment of insanity, all 421 cards graded by BGS were looked over… twice! Zero 10 subgrades have been awarded for centering, surface, corners, or edges per cards still available to look up to the public. The lucky 56 to get a Mint 9 and six to get Gem Mint 9.5 have the unicorns.
Honorable Mentions
1988 Fleer #123 All-Star Magic Johnson
1989 Fleer Sticker #5 Magic Johnson
1988 Fleer #67 Magic Johnson
1995 Topps Finest Refractor #252 Magic Johnson
1988 Fleer Sticker #6 Magic Johnson
1993 Skybox Premium Showdown Series #SS12 Magic Johnson, Larry Bird
1989 Converse Earvin “Magic” Johnson
*2021 Panini Prizm Black Gold Prizm #248 Magic Johnson /5
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