1970-71 Topps Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) Championship Game #1 #101
Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), Dick Barnett, Dave DeBusschere · Topps · Base / In-Action / Championship Series
Player
Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), Dick Barnett, Dave DeBusschere
Set
1970-71 Topps Basketball
Year
1970
Card #
#101
Condition Grade
PSA 3 (VG) - Centering is shifted right (approx 70/30). Corners show significant softening and rounding, particularly at the bottom left and top right. Edges have visible chipping and white show-through. The surface appears to have light scratching and a possible minor thumb indentation near the top border.
Category
Base / In-Action / Championship Series
Manufacturer
Topps
Demand Level
Strong. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar remains one of the most collected NBA legends. Second-year cards and championship subset cards see frequent movement on the secondary market.
Valuation
Raw (Ungraded) Value
$40 - $75
Graded Value
PSA 2: $35-$50, PSA 3: $70-$95, PSA 4: $120-$160
Comparable Sales
Recent PSA 3 sales have settled between $65 and $90. Raw copies in similar Good/Very Good condition typically sell for $45-$60 on eBay. A PSA 5 recently sold for approximately $200.
Description
A classic piece of NBA history from the 1970-71 Topps oversized 'Tall Boys' era (though this standard size set followed). This card, #101 in the set, commemorates Game 1 of the NBA Championship between the Bucks and Knicks, featuring a youthful Lew Alcindor (later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) during his dominant MVP/Championship season. The card features the iconic red and blue text headers with the caption 'ALCINDOR SCORES 31!' at the bottom.
Key Features
Features Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (named Lew Alcindor here) in only his second year of Topps cards. This is a key subset card commemorating his first NBA Finals performance.
Authenticity Indicators
Correct blue/red ink tones for the era; appropriate 1970s recycled gray cardboard stock visible on edges; correct font typography for Topps series. Confidence: High. This card is rarely faked compared to his 1969 rookie, but checking for 'slick' modern reprints is advised.
Flaws to Note
Soft, rounded corners; right-side centering bias; edge chipping on all sides; minor surface wear and loss of gloss typical of 1970s cardboard stock; potential light staining on the white borders.
Selling Guide
Where to Sell
eBay (Auction or Fixed Price with Best Offer), COMC for a hands-off approach, or specialized vintage basketball groups on Facebook.
Selling Tips
Due to the visible wear, grading may not provide a high return on investment (ROI). Sell raw to a 'collector/filler' buyer looking for a mid-grade example. Use keywords like 'Lew Alcindor', 'Kareem Abdul-Jabbar', and 'Vintage Basketball'. Always ship in a penny sleeve and a semi-rigid loader or top loader inside a bubble mailer.