The Best Karl Malone Basketball Cards For Collectors

Below are the top 5 Karl Malone basketball trading cards. We have also included some interesting memorabilia items. 

Karl Malone is one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Spending 19 seasons in the NBA at the power forward position, mainly with the Utah Jazz.

Karl Malone Card Collage

He is 3rd all-time in total points scored with 36,928. Behind only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Lebron James. He won 2 NBA MVP awards, made 14 NBA All-Star 14 All-Star teams, and was also named to an incredible 11 All-NBA First Team selections.

Probably the most impressive aspect of Malone’s career, however, is that he missed only 10 games over his first 18 years in the league.

Malone has always had plenty of valuable cards available in the market. Many of which have only increased in value over the last few years.

1988-1989 Karl Malone Fleer Super Star Sticker Card #8

Estimated PSA 10 Value – $600

Estimated PSA 9 Value – $155

1988-1989 Karl Malone Fleer Super Star Sticker Card #8

The sticker cards produced by Fleer have become a hot commodity in the sports card market. This is because finding them in unused and/or mint condition is very difficult.

The 1988-1989 Super Star Sticker series was a limited 11-card set produced by Fleer. Featuring some of the biggest names in the NBA.

The #8 sticker card featuring Malone displays a great action photo of him shooting his patented mid-range jump shot over a defender.

The border/background of the card’s front is mainly blue, and contains star shapes at the top. Along with some red and white color hues mixed throughout the rest of the card on the sides and bottom.

A 2nd, yellow border outlines the photo of Malone. While a separate, yellow banner displays Malone’s name, team, and position in black font at the bottom of the card’s front.

1988-1989 Karl Malone Fleer Super Star Sticker Card #8 back of card

The back of the card contains a very lengthy player bio detailing many of Malone’s professional accomplishments to date. 

1993-1994 Karl Malone Fleer Ultra Scoring Kings Card #6

Estimated PSA 10 Value – $1,000

Estimated PSA 9 Value – $200

1993-1994 Karl Malone Fleer Ultra Scoring Kings Card #6

The 1993-1994 Fleer Ultra Scoring Kings series is one of the most popular and valuable insert sets of the 1990s.

The set included 10 cards, and featured a striking design, with impressive images of lightning displayed on both the front and back of the card.

The card employs a dark purplish/violet hue on both sides. With the front of the card displaying the Fleer Ultra logo on the top left. Malone’s name across the bottom, and a Fleer Scoring Kings graphic at the bottom right.

The image of Malone displayed on the front of the card pictures him ferociously driving toward the basket, one of the most dominant aspects of his game.

1993-1994 Fleer Ultra Scoring Kings Card #6 back of card

The rear of the card lists a player bio highlighting Malone’s impressive scoring abilities. Which culminated in a 27 PPG average during the 1992-1993 season. 

1998-1999 Karl Malone Upper Deck Game Worn Jersey Card #GJ37

Estimated PSA 10 Value – $1,000

Estimated PSA 9 Value – $350

1998-1999 Karl Malone Upper Deck Game Worn Jersey Card #GJ37

For collectors looking for an earlier relic card featuring Malone. The 1998-1999 Upper Deck Game Worn Jersey set is an ideal option.

The front of the card is arrayed in a horizontal layout and is divided into 2 separate backgrounds. A black polka-dot tiled background on the left side and a white background on the right side.

The jersey patch is featured in a round display on the left side, with a small Utah Jazz logo listed to the bottom left of the patch. Malone’s name is listed on a small black insert border attached to the jersey display on its upper left side.

The Upper Deck logo is displayed at the top of the card near the center on the white background, with a close-up picture of Malone’s head directly next to it.

Another full-body picture of Malone going up for a lay-up is displayed near the center of the card, with his name and jersey number listed in black font directly above this image. The word “NBA” is printed in large gold font at the bottom of the card near the center.

1998-1999 #GJ37 Back of card

The rear of the card does not contain a player bio or stats but rather congratulates the card owner on receiving a game-worn jersey card. 

1998-1999 SkyBox Premium Karl Malone Autographics Blue Ink

Estimated PSA 10 Value – $3,750

Estimated PSA 9 Value – $1,500

1998-1999 SkyBox Premium Karl Malone Autographics Blue Ink NNO

One of the earliest autographed insert-card sets issued. The SkyBox Premium Autographics series is not only a valuable card but also a piece of memorabilia history.

The Karl Malone version is one of the most valuable versions in this set and pictures him backing down in the post in the classic purple late-90s Utah Jazz jersey.

The background of the card pictures a referee, fans, and a defender guarding Malone. All in a faded-out format meant to highlight Malone.

While both a black and blue ink version of this card were issued, the blue ink version is the rarer, more collectible card. The word “SkyBox” is listed diagonally across the center of the front of the card. While the signature is displayed nearly the bottom of the card underneath the photo of Malone.

1998-1999 SkyBox Premium Karl Malone Autographics Black Ink NNO

The rear of the card contains his career stats through the 1997-1998 season but little else.

1986-1987 Karl Malone Fleer Rookie Card #68

Estimated PSA 10 Value – $4,000

Estimated PSA 9 Value – $335

1986-1987 Karl Malone Fleer Rookie Card #68

The top Karl Malone card in the market for collectors today is the 1986-1987 #68 Fleer rookie card.

It is the only rookie card of Malone in existence, as Star Company, the only licensed company to produce NBA basketball cards in the mid-80s, did not include him in their 1985-1986 set.

The #68 rookie card displays the legendary red, white, and blue border of the 1986-1987 fleer set. A 2nd yellow border, inside of the red, white, and blue border, outlines the player photo of Malone dribbling the basketball up the court.

Malone’s name, team, and position are all listed at the bottom of the card in white font on a separate blue banner.

1986-1987 Fleer Rookie Card #68 back of card

The back of the card is very simplistic. Containing only Malone’s stats from the 1985-1986 season. Along with some very brief player information on a red and white background. 

Karl Malone Sports Memorabilia Items

Karl Malone has some good memorabilia items featuring his likeness. Many of which are available on sportsmemorabilia.com.

Dream Team signed photo

One of the best items is an 11-inch by 14-inch photo of 5 members of the 1992 Dream Team including Malone, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley, and Patrick Ewing. The photo is autographed by both Malone and Barkley and retails for $653.99.

An NBA Indoor/Outdoor basketball and a Spaulding basketball, both autographed by Malone, have purchase prices of $1,309.99.

A pair of game-used and autographed sneakers from 1990 are available for $3,956.99.

Kenner Figurine

Finally, a more oddball collectible option is a rare Kenner Starting Lineup figurine, available for $1,323.99.

Bruno Breen

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