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1971-72 Topps Basketball Cards

1971-72 Topps Basketball Cards

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Showcasing classic '70s style, the bright and bold 1971-72 Topps Basketball remains a distinct set for vintage NBA and ABA collectors.

After two years of using a tallboy design (1969-70 and 1970-71), Topps reverted to the standard size for '71-72. As they expanded the series, it probably made more sense for the company to make that switch in order to better fit the printing sheets.

1971-72 Topps Basketball Set Details

Card fronts showed a player photo against a solid-colored background. The placement of the player's head is intended to peek out of the color section. At the top, the team city is listed in a font that just screams 1971. At the bottom, the player's name features his initials in red, and then his team's nickname appears in black, with his position in red.

1971-72 Topps Basketball Cards 1

The 1971-72 Topps Basketball backs feature a card number, player name and position, with the blue box on the right side containing vital stats and a cartoon trivia question. A yellow box to the left contains a write-up and career statistics.

1971-72 Topps Basketball Cards 2

The set was broken into two series. Cards #1-144 feature NBA players and #145-233 has ABA players. Two printing sheets were used to print the set, with 31 of the NBA players being double printed to fill out the second sheet. Again, a checklist card (#144) features two subtle design variations that deal with the location of the copyright info on the back.

Subsets include a review of the NBA playoffs on cards #133-137, the NBA statistical leaders on cards #138-143 and the ABA statistical leaders on cards #146-151. There are also 26 different sticker inserts that fall one per pack.

Bob Lanier, Rick Barry, Nate Archibald, Larry Brown, Dan Issel and Rudy Tomjanovich are the most prominent rookies to collect.

Key 1971-72 Topps Basketball Cards:

1971-72 Topps Basketball Cards 3

Set Checklist

1971-72 Topps Basketball Checklist

Base Set Checklist

233 cards.
Key: LL=League Leaders; DP=Double Print.
1971-72 Topps Basketball Cards 4

1 Oscar Robertson - Milwaukee Bucks
2 Bill Bradley - New York Knicks
3 Jim Fox - Chicago Bulls
4 John Johnson - Cleveland Cavaliers RC
5 Luke Jackson - Philadelphia 76ers
6 Don May - Atlanta Hawks DP
7 Kevin Loughery - Baltimore Bullets
8 Terry Dischinger - Detroit Pistons
9 Neal Walk - Phoenix Suns
10 Elgin Baylor - Los Angeles Lakers
11 Rick Adelman - Portland Trail Blazers
12 Clyde Lee - San Francisco Warriors
13 Jerry Chambers - Buffalo Braves
14 Fred Carter - Baltimore Bullets
15 Tom Boerwinkle - Chicago Bulls DP
16 John Block - Houston Rockets
17 Dick Barnett - New York Knicks
18 Henry Finkel - Boston Celtics
19 Norm Van Lier - Cincinnati Royals
20 Spencer Haywood - Seattle SuperSonics RC
21 George E. Johnson - Baltimore Bullets
22 Bobby Lewis - Cleveland Cavaliers
23 Bill Hewitt - Detroit Pistons
24 Walt Hazzard - Buffalo Braves
25 Happy Hairston - Los Angeles Lakers
26 George Wilson - Buffalo Braves
27 Lucius Allen - Milwaukee Bucks
28 Jim Washington - Philadelphia 76ers
29 Nate Archibald - Cincinnati Royals RC
30 Willis Reed - New York Knicks
31 Erwin Mueller - Detroit Pistons
32 Art Harris - Phoenix Suns
33 Pete Cross - Seattle SuperSonics
34 Geoff Petrie - Portland Trail Blazers RC
35 John Havlicek - Boston Celtics
36 Larry Siegfried - Houston Rockets
37 John Tresvant - Baltimore Bullets DP
38 Ron Williams - San Francisco Warriors
39 Lamar Green - Phoenix Suns DP
40 Bob Rule - Seattle SuperSonics DP
41 Jim McMillian - Los Angeles Lakers RC
42 Wally Jones - Philadelphia 76ers
43 Bob Boozer - Milwaukee Bucks
44 Eddie Miles - Baltimore Bullets
45 Bob Love - Chicago Bulls DP
46 Claude English - Portland Trail Blazers
47 Dave Cowens - Boston Celtics RC
48 Emmette Bryant - Buffalo Braves
49 Dave Stallworth - New York Knicks
50 Jerry West - Los Angeles Lakers
51 Joe Ellis - San Francisco Warriors
52 Walt Wesley - Cleveland Cavaliers DP
53 Howie Komives - Detroit Pistons
54 Paul Silas - Phoenix Suns
55 Pete Maravich - Atlanta Hawks DP
56 Gary Gregor - Portland Trail Blazers
57 Sam Lacey - Cincinnati Royals RC
58 Calvin Murphy - Houston Rockets DP
59 Bob Dandridge - Milwaukee Bucks
60 Hal Greer - Philadelphia 76ers
61 Keith Erickson - Los Angeles Lakers
62 Joe Cooke - Cleveland Cavaliers
63 Bob Lanier - Detroit Pistons RC
64 Don Kojis - Seattle SuperSonics
65 Walt Frazier - New York Knicks
66 Chet Walker - Chicago Bulls DP
67 Dick Garrett - Buffalo Braves
68 John Trapp - Houston Rockets
69 Jo Jo White - Boston Celtics
70 Wilt Chamberlain - Los Angeles Lakers
71 Dave Sorenson - Cleveland Cavaliers
72 Jim King - Chicago Bulls
73 Cazzie Russell - San Francisco Warriors
74 Jon McGlocklin - Milwaukee Bucks
75 Tom Van Arsdale - Cincinnati Royals
76 Dale Schlueter - Portland Trail Blazers
77 Gus Johnson - Baltimore Bullets DP
78 Dave Bing - Detroit Pistons
79 Billy Cunningham - Philadelphia 76ers
80 Lenny Wilkens - Seattle SuperSonics
81 Jerry Lucas - New York Knicks DP
82 Don Chaney - Boston Celtics
83 McCoy McLemore - Milwaukee Bucks
84 Bob Kauffman - Buffalo Braves DP
85 Dick Van Arsdale - Phoenix Suns
86 Johnny Green - Cincinnati Royals
87 Jerry Sloan - Chicago Bulls
88 Luther Rackley - Cleveland Cavaliers DP
89 Shaler Halimon - Portland Trail Blazers
90 Jimmy Walker - Detroit Pistons
91 Rudy Tomjanovich - Houston Rockets RC
92 Levi Fontaine - San Francisco Warriors
93 Bobby Smith - Cleveland Cavaliers
94 Bob Arnzen - Cincinnati Royals
95 Wes Unseld - Baltimore Bullets DP
96 Clem Haskins - Phoenix Suns DP
97 Jim Davis - Atlanta Hawks
98 Steve Kuberski - Boston Celtics
99 Mike Davis - Buffalo Braves DP
100 Lew Alcindor - Milwaukee Bucks
101 Willie McCarter - Los Angeles Lakers
102 Charlie Paulk - Chicago Bulls
103 Lee Winfield - Seattle SuperSonics
104 Jim Barnett - San Francisco Warriors
105 Connie Hawkins - Phoenix Suns DP
106 Archie Clark - Philadelphia 76ers DP
107 Dave DeBusschere - New York Knicks
108 Stu Lantz - Houston Rockets DP
109 Don Smith - Seattle SuperSonics
110 Lou Hudson - Atlanta Hawks
111 Leroy Ellis - Portland Trail Blazers
112 Jack Marin - Baltimore Bullets
113 Matt Guokas - Cincinnati Royals
114 Don Nelson - Boston Celtics
115 Jeff Mullins - San Francisco Warriors DP
116 Walt Bellamy - Atlanta Hawks
117 Bob Quick - Detroit Pistons
118 John Warren - Cleveland Cavaliers
119 Barry Clemens - Seattle SuperSonics
120 Elvin Hayes - Houston Rockets DP
121 Gail Goodrich - Los Angeles Lakers
122 Ed Manning - Portland Trail Blazers
123 Herm Gilliam - Atlanta Hawks DP
124 Dennis Awtrey - Philadelphia 76ers RC
125 John Hummer - Buffalo Braves DP
126 Mike Riordan - New York Knicks
127 Mel Counts - Phoenix Suns
128 Bob Weiss - Chicago Bulls DP
129 Greg Smith - Milwaukee Bucks DP
130 Earl Monroe - Baltimore Bullets
131 Nate Thurmond - San Francisco Warriors DP
132 Bill Bridges - Atlanta Hawks DP
133 70-71 NBA Championship Game 1 - Bullets vs. Bucks
134 70-71 NBA Championship Game 2 - Bullets vs. Bucks
135 70-71 NBA Championship Game 3 - Bullets vs. Bucks
136 70-71 NBA Championship Game 4 - Bullets vs. Bucks
137 1970-71 NBA Champions - Bucks
138 Lew Alcindor / Elvin Hayes / John Havlicek LL
139 Lew Alcindor / John Havlicek / Elvin Hayes LL
140 Johnny Green / Lew Alcindor / Wilt Chamberlain LL
141 Chet Walker / Oscar Robertson / Ron Williams LL
142 Wilt Chamberlain / Elvin Hayes / Lew Alcindor LL
143 Norm Van Lier / Oscar Robertson / Jerry West LL
144 NBA Checklist (#1-144)
145 ABA Checklist (#145-233)
146 Dan Issel / John Brisker / Charlie Scott LL
147 Dan Issel / Rick Barry / John Brisker LL
148 Zelmo Beaty / Billy Paultz / Roger Brown LL
149 Rick Barry / Darel Carrier / Billy Keller LL
150 Mel Daniels / Julius Keye / Mike Lewis LL
151 Bill Melchionni / Mack Calvin / Charlie Scott LL
152 Larry Brown - Denver Rockets RC
153 Bob Bedell - Texas Chaparrals
154 Merv Jackson - Utah Stars
155 Joe Caldwell - Carolina Cougars
156 Billy Paultz - New York Nets RC
157 Les Hunter - Kentucky Colonels
158 Charlie Williams - Memphis Pros
159 Stew Johnson - Pittsburgh Condors
160 Mack Calvin - Florida Floridians RC
161 Don Sidle - Indiana Pacers
162 Mike Barrett - Virginia Squires
163 Tom Workman - Denver Rockets
164 Joe Hamilton - Texas Chaparrals
165 Zelmo Beaty - Utah Stars RC
166 Dan Hester - Kentucky Colonels
167 Bob Verga - Carolina Cougars
168 Wilbert Jones - Memphis Pros
169 Skeeter Swift - Pittsburgh Condors
170 Rick Barry - New York Nets RC
171 Billy Keller - Indiana Pacers RC
172 Ron Franz - Florida Floridians
173 Roland Taylor - Virginia Squires RC
174 Julian Hammond - Denver Rockets
175 Steve Jones - Texas Chaparrals RC
176 Gerald Govan - Memphis Pros
177 Darel Carrier - Kentucky Colonels RC
178 Ron Boone - Utah Stars RC
179 George Peeples - Carolina Cougars
180 John Brisker - Pittsburgh Condors
181 Doug Moe - Virginia Squires RC
182 Ollie Taylor - New York Nets
183 Bob Netolicky - Indiana Pacers RC
184 Sam Robinson - Florida Floridians
185 James Jones - Memphis Pros
186 Julius Keye - Denver Rockets
187 Wayne Hightower - Texas Chaparrals
188 Warren Armstrong - Indiana Pacers RC
189 Mike Lewis - Pittsburgh Condors
190 Charlie Scott - Virginia Squires RC
191 Jim Ard - New York Nets
192 George Lehmann - Carolina Cougars
193 Ira Harge - Florida Floridians
194 Willie Wise - Utah Stars RC
195 Mel Daniels - Indiana Pacers RC
196 Larry Cannon - Denver Rockets
197 Jim Eakins - Virginia Squires
198 Rich Jones - Texas Chaparrals
199 Bill Melchionni - New York Nets RC
200 Dan Issel - Kentucky Colonels RC
201 George Stone - Utah Stars
202 George Thompson - Pittsburgh Condors
203 Craig Raymond - Memphis Pros
204 Freddie Lewis - Indiana Pacers RC
205 George Carter - Virginia Squires
206 Lonnie Wright - Florida Floridians
207 Cincy Powell - Kentucky Colonels
208 Larry Miller - Carolina Cougars
209 Sonny Dove - New York Nets
210 Byron Beck - Denver Rockets RC
211 John Beasley - Texas Chaparrals
212 Lee Davis - Memphis Pros
213 Rick Mount - Indiana Pacers RC
214 Walt Simon - Kentucky Colonels
215 Glen Combs - Utah Stars
216 Neil Johnson - Virginia Squires
217 Manny Leaks - New York Nets
218 Chuck Williams - Pittsburgh Condors
219 Warren Davis - Florida Floridians
220 Donnie Freeman - Texas Chaparrals RC
221 Randy Mahaffey - Carolina Cougars
222 John Barnhill - Denver Rockets
223 Al Cueto - Memphis Pros
224 Louie Dampier - Kentucky Colonels RC
225 Roger Brown - Indiana Pacers RC
226 Joe DePre - New York Nets
227 Ray Scott - Virginia Squires
228 Arvesta Kelly - Pittsburgh Condors
229 Vann Williford - Carolina Cougars
230 Larry Jones - Florida Floridians
231 Gene Moore - Texas Chaparrals
232 Ralph Simpson - Denver Rockets RC
233 Red Robbins - Utah Stars RC

 

Stickers Set Checklist

26 cards. 1 per pack.

1/2/3 - Lou Hudson / Bob Rule / Calvin Murphy
1A/2A/3A - James Jones / Willie Wise / Dan Issel
4/5/6 - Walt Wesley / Jo Jo White / Bob Dandridge
4A/5A/6A - Mack Calvin / Roger Brown / Bob Verga
7/8/9 - Nate Thurmond / Earl Monroe / Spencer Haywood
7A/8A/9A - Bill Melchionni / Mel Daniels / Donnie Freeman
10/11/12 - Dave DeBusschere / Bob Lanier / Tom Van Arsdale
10A/11A/12A - Joe Caldwell / Louie Dampier / Mike Lewis
13/14/15 - Hal Greer / Johnny Green / Elvin Hayes
13A/14A/15A - Rick Barry / Larry Jones / Julius Keye
16/17/18 - Jimmy Walker / Don May / Archie Clark
16A/17A/18A - Larry Cannon / Zelmo Beaty / Charlie Scott
19/20/21 - Happy Hairston / Leroy Ellis / Jerry Sloan
19A/20A/21A - Steve Jones / George Carter / John Brisker
22/23/24 - Pete Maravich / Bob Kauffman / John Havlicek
22a ABA Team Logos
23a ABA Team Logos
24a ABA Team Logos
25/26/27 - Walt Frazier / Dick Van Arsdale / Dave Bing
28/29/30 - Bob Love / Ron Williams / Dave Cowens
31/32/33 - Jerry West / Willis Reed / Chet Walker
34/35/36 - Oscar Robertson / Wes Unseld / Bobby Smith
37/38/39 - Connie Hawkins / Jeff Mullins / Lew Alcindor
40/41/42 - Billy Cunningham / Walt Bellamy / Geoff Petrie
43/44/45 - Wilt Chamberlain / Gus Johnson / Norm Van Lier
46 NBA Team Logos

 

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Chris is an avid vintage sports card collector who is The Cardboard Connection's resident expert of all things vintage.

User Reviews

Phil Chmiel
Phil Chmiel

Nice colorful design is very eye appealing. The rookies are Barry, Lanier, and Cowens which isn’t too shabby of a group. ABA and NBA cards are separated from each other in the set order. I might build this one!!

James Cook
James Cook

Great representation of the genre…I love the cartoonish script and pics of players with the short shorts bring back the glory of that era. The Lakers and Knicks of that time were teams in the truest sense of the word. The Bucks were great champions the previous year, and the ABA series of the Rick Barry led Nets make for a timeless issue by Topps. I recommend this set as a trip down memory lane for people of a certain age or a challenging set to build for the collector of any age.

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