On the heels of Boston taking home its record 18th NBA championship, we take a look at the top 10 Celtics players with the most expensive card sales in history.
1. Larry Bird
Though this list is typically limited to cards upon which the player appears solo, an exception must be made for the legendary 1980 Topps Scoring Leader card, which combined the rookies of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, as well as an appearance from Julius Erving.
A PSA 10 sold for $840,000 in August 2021 during the peak of the card boom. With a population of 23 for PSA 10s, this card has fallen quite far from its peak, but remains one of the most recognizable and significant basketball cards ever produced.
2. Bill Russell
No surprise here. Russell’s 1957 Topps rookie card (PSA 8.5) sold for $666,000 in May 2023, marking an all-time high for any card featuring a solo Celtics player.
Coming from the inaugural Topps basketball set, this card is a Pop 2 with just three higher at PSA 8.5. CardLadder has no records of any PSA 9 examples selling publicly.
3. Jayson Tatum
With plenty more to prove compared to his predecessors, Tatum now has one title to hang his hat on. His most expensive sale came in May 2022, when a National Treasures RPA /99 graded PSA 10 / Auto 10 sold for $193,200.
We’ve yet to see any of his cards approach this level in the lead-up or time since the title — but the 26-year-old has plenty of time.
4. John Havlicek
With just two PSA 10 examples of Havlicek’s 1969 rookie card appearing in the population report, it has been more than five years since a public sale. The last time we saw one cross the auction block, it was October 2018, and it fetched $100,655.
Who knows how high the next sale for one of these vintage grails could reach when one finally appears for public auction?
5. Ray Allen
Not to diminish the excellence of Ray Allen, but the $73,800 sale of one his his coveted Green PMG /10 in March 2023 might be equally a result of the desirability of PMGs generally as much as Allen’s collectibility.
Garnett’s top individual card comes courtesy of one of the most beloved — and overlooked — modern basketball releases of the 21st century.
The one-of-one Logoman sold in June 2021 for $67,200.
7. Bob Cousy
If it seems like a crime to see Cousy so far down this list, take solace in the fact that PSA 8 examples, such as the 1957 rookie card which sold for $63,000 in August 2021, have only sold 10 times since 2020 — though, the most recent comp came in under $30,000.
8. Jaylen Brown
Now boasting an NBA Finals MVP award, maybe Brown belongs on this list? His National Treasures RPA Logoman sold for $60,000 in December 2022.
The top sale in 2024? Under $11,000.
**9. Bill Walton **
Walton’s record sale came in May 2021 for his 1974 Topps rookie card in PSA 10 grade, selling for $36,900. One of just three at the grade, it has been almost three years since the most recent comp for the legendary big man, who died last month at age 71.
10. Nate Archibald
Rounding out the top ten is Nate "Tiny" Archibald, whose 1971 Topps rookie went for $31,558 in October 2021. The only PSA 10 in existence, CardLadder shows no public sales of the card before or since.
Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct.