1996-97 Flair Showcase Basketball Cards
 | $49,999.99 |  |
Product Details
Although Flair made its debut a few years earlier, 1996-97 Flair Showcase Basketball took that product line to another level. The hobby-exclusive offering brought the sophistication of previous Flair releases and added low numbered parallels to a checklist that included hobby superstar, Michael Jordan, and rookie cards for Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson and Ray Allen.
When discussing 1996-97 Flair Showcase Basketball, there is nothing basic about the glossy base set. To those unfamiliar with the product, it might seem like a daunting undertaking to even collect the release. That is further apparent by a stern warning on the box that states: "WARNING! Do not buy this product unless you are a serious collector looking for a challenge."
While this is written mostly in jest, the set is more complex than other products from this time.
1996-97 Flair Showcase Basketball Base / Parallels
A total of 90 cards make up the base set, but each card has three different levels, or "Rows," as they are called. So really, there are 270 base cards, with each Row featuring different odds based on their placement in the main checklist.
Good so far? Each Row features a different front image for each player and a specific theme, noted on the card front. Row 2, the true base set, is known as "Style." The next batch of cards, rarer than Row 2, goes by Row 1 or "Grace." Row 0, the rarest cards in the base set, is called "Showcase." Since each Row features a different front image, distinguishing the different versions for each player is fairly easy. The specific odds, which are tiered within each Row, can get a little messy, but a simple breakdown can be seen below.
1996-97 Flair Showcase Basketball Row Odds Breakdown
Row 2 Odds (Style)
- Card #1-30 (Showtime) - 1:1 pack
- Card #31-60 (Showpiece) - 1:2 packs
- Card #61-90 (Show Stopper) - 1:1.5 packs
Row 1 Odds (Grace)
- Card #1-30 (Show Stopper) - 1:2.5 packs
- Card #31-60 (Showtime) - 1:2 packs
- Card #61-90 (Showpiece) - 1:3.5 packs
Row 0 Odds (Showcase)
- Card #1-30 (Showpiece) - 1:24 packs
- Card #31-60 (Show Stopper) - 1:10 packs
- Card #61-90 (Showtime) - 1:5 packs
The 90-card checklist is broken down into groups of 30, noted by another theme on the card back, which dictates their specific odds in each Row. These themes include Showtime, Show Stopper and Showpiece. For example, Kobe Bryant is card #31. That puts him in the second grouping among the Rows. However, the themes swap in each Row, so Bryant's Row 2 is Showpiece, Row 1 is Showtime and Row 0 is Show Stopper. Each Row has a distinct design and this can be seen with the three different Kobe Bryant cards in the main set.
Although the 90-card checklist makes for a smaller group of players, the quality factor is strong. In addition to the impressive rookie class, a deep roster of Hall of Fame talent is found, including Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Scottie Pippen, Hakeem Olajuwon, and others. Stat geeks will especially enjoy the card backs because they include full listings for both pro and college seasons.
On top of all that, a limited Legacy Collection parallel, numbered to 150, is available for each Row version. Teal foil text and a black-and-white image on the back are the main differences from the base cards. These limited cards also have the distinction of being the very first serial numbered NBA cards. Since the parallels all feature the same print run, regardless of the Row, each card is available at the same odds. On average, the Legacy Collection cards fall 1:30 packs.
1996-97 Flair Showcase Basketball Inserts
Considering all that is involved in the base set, it is not that surprising that there are only two inserts. Class of Ninety-six showcases the current crop of rookies in a 20-card set. These embossed inserts drop 1:5 packs, on average.
With much steeper odds, Hot Shots is a die-cut card that has the look of a flaming basketball. They have seen considerable interest and value in recent years, especially since Michael Jordan is on the checklist. These are a tough pull at 1:90 packs.
1996-97 Flair Showcase Basketball boxes come with 24 packs and five cards per pack. Sealed box prices have skyrocketed and they are not the easiest to locate.
Set Checklist
1996-97 Flair Showcase Basketball Checklist
Base Set Checklist
1 Anfernee Hardaway - Orlando Magic
2 Mitch Richmond - Sacramento Kings
3 Allen Iverson - Philadelphia 76ers RC
4 Charles Barkley - Houston Rockets
5 Juwan Howard - Washington Bullets
6 David Robinson - San Antonio Spurs
7 Gary Payton - Seattle SuperSonics
8 Kerry Kittles - New Jersey Nets RC
9 Dennis Rodman - Chicago Bulls
10 Shaquille O'Neal - Los Angeles Lakers
11 Stephon Marbury - Minnesota Timberwolves RC
12 John Stockton - Utah Jazz
13 Glenn Robinson - Milwaukee Bucks
14 Hakeem Olajuwon - Houston Rockets
15 Jason Kidd - Phoenix Suns
16 Jerry Stackhouse - Philadelphia 76ers
17 Joe Smith - Golden State Warriors
18 Reggie Miller - Indiana Pacers
19 Grant Hill - Detroit Pistons
20 Damon Stoudamire - Toronto Raptors
21 Kevin Garnett - Minnesota Timberwolves
22 Clyde Drexler - Houston Rockets
23 Michael Jordan - Chicago Bulls
24 Antonio McDyess - Denver Nuggets
25 Chris Webber - Washington Bullets
26 Antoine Walker - Boston Celtics RC
27 Scottie Pippen - Chicago Bulls
28 Karl Malone - Utah Jazz
29 Shareef Abdur-Rahim - Vancouver Grizzlies RC
30 Shawn Kemp - Seattle SuperSonics
31 Kobe Bryant - Los Angeles Lakers RC
32 Derrick Coleman - Philadelphia 76ers
33 Alonzo Mourning - Miami Heat
34 Anthony Mason - Charlotte Hornets
35 Ray Allen - Milwaukee Bucks RC
36 Arvydas Sabonis - Portland Trail Blazers
37 Brian Grant - Sacramento Kings
38 Bryant Reeves - Vancouver Grizzlies
39 Christian Laettner - Atlanta Hawks
40 Tom Gugliotta - Minnesota Timberwolves
41 Latrell Sprewell - Golden State Warriors
42 Erick Dampier - Indiana Pacers RC
43 Gheorghe Muresan - Washington Bullets
44 Glen Rice - Charlotte Hornets
45 Patrick Ewing - New York Knicks
46 Jim Jackson - New Jersey Nets
47 Michael Finley - Dallas Mavericks
48 Toni Kukoc - Chicago Bulls
49 Marcus Camby - Toronto Raptors RC
50 Kenny Anderson - Portland Trail Blazers
51 Mark Price - Golden State Warriors
52 Tim Hardaway - Miami Heat
53 Mookie Blaylock - Atlanta Hawks
54 Steve Smith - Atlanta Hawks
55 Terrell Brandon - Cleveland Cavaliers
56 Lorenzen Wright - Los Angeles Clippers RC
57 Sasha Danilovic - Dallas Mavericks
58 Jeff Hornacek - Utah Jazz
59 Eddie Jones - Los Angeles Lakers
60 Vin Baker - Milwaukee Bucks
61 Chris Childs - New York Knicks
62 Clifford Robinson - Portland Trail Blazers
63 Anthony Peeler - Vancouver Grizzlies
64 Dino Radja - Boston Celtics
65 Joe Dumars - Detroit Pistons
66 Loy Vaught - Los Angeles Clippers
67 Rony Seikaly - Orlando Magic
68 Vitaly Potapenko - Cleveland Cavaliers RC
69 Chris Gatling - New Jersey Nets
70 Dale Ellis - Denver Nuggets
71 Allan Houston - New York Knicks
72 Doug Christie - Toronto Raptors
73 LaPhonso Ellis - Denver Nuggets
74 Kendall Gill - New Jersey Nets
75 Rik Smits - Indiana Pacers
76 Bobby Phills - Cleveland Cavaliers
77 Malik Sealy - Los Angeles Clippers
78 Sean Elliott - San Antonio Spurs
79 Vlade Divac - Charlotte Hornets
80 David Wesley - Boston Celtics
81 Dominique Wilkins - San Antonio Spurs
82 Danny Manning - Phoenix Suns
83 Detlef Schrempf - Seattle SuperSonics
84 Hersey Hawkins - Seattle SuperSonics
85 Lindsey Hunter - Detroit Pistons
86 Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf - Sacramento Kings
87 Shawn Bradley - Dallas Mavericks
88 Horace Grant - Orlando Magic
89 Cedric Ceballos - Phoenix Suns
90 Jamal Mashburn - Miami Heat
Row 1 - Grace
1 Anfernee Hardaway - Orlando Magic
2 Mitch Richmond - Sacramento Kings
3 Allen Iverson - Philadelphia 76ers RC
4 Charles Barkley - Houston Rockets
5 Juwan Howard - Washington Bullets
6 David Robinson - San Antonio Spurs
7 Gary Payton - Seattle SuperSonics
8 Kerry Kittles - New Jersey Nets RC
9 Dennis Rodman - Chicago Bulls
10 Shaquille O'Neal - Los Angeles Lakers
11 Stephon Marbury - Minnesota Timberwolves RC
12 John Stockton - Utah Jazz
13 Glenn Robinson - Milwaukee Bucks
14 Hakeem Olajuwon - Houston Rockets
15 Jason Kidd - Phoenix Suns
16 Jerry Stackhouse - Philadelphia 76ers
17 Joe Smith - Golden State Warriors
18 Reggie Miller - Indiana Pacers
19 Grant Hill - Detroit Pistons
20 Damon Stoudamire - Toronto Raptors
21 Kevin Garnett - Minnesota Timberwolves
22 Clyde Drexler - Houston Rockets
23 Michael Jordan - Chicago Bulls
24 Antonio McDyess - Denver Nuggets
25 Chris Webber - Washington Bullets
26 Antoine Walker - Boston Celtics RC
27 Scottie Pippen - Chicago Bulls
28 Karl Malone - Utah Jazz
29 Shareef Abdur-Rahim - Vancouver Grizzlies RC
30 Shawn Kemp - Seattle SuperSonics
31 Kobe Bryant - Los Angeles Lakers RC
32 Derrick Coleman - Philadelphia 76ers
33 Alonzo Mourning - Miami Heat
34 Anthony Mason - Charlotte Hornets
35 Ray Allen - Milwaukee Bucks RC
36 Arvydas Sabonis - Portland Trail Blazers
37 Brian Grant - Sacramento Kings
38 Bryant Reeves - Vancouver Grizzlies
39 Christian Laettner - Atlanta Hawks
40 Tom Gugliotta - Minnesota Timberwolves
41 Latrell Sprewell - Golden State Warriors
42 Erick Dampier - Indiana Pacers RC
43 Gheorghe Muresan - Washington Bullets
44 Glen Rice - Charlotte Hornets
45 Patrick Ewing - New York Knicks
47 Michael Finley - Dallas Mavericks
48 Toni Kukoc - Chicago Bulls
49 Marcus Camby - Toronto Raptors RC
50 Kenny Anderson - Portland Trail Blazers
51 Mark Price - Golden State Warriors
52 Tim Hardaway - Miami Heat
53 Mookie Blaylock - Atlanta Hawks
54 Steve Smith - Atlanta Hawks
55 Terrell Brandon - Cleveland Cavaliers
56 Lorenzen Wright - Los Angeles Clippers RC
57 Sasha Danilovic - Dallas Mavericks
58 Jeff Hornacek - Utah Jazz
59 Eddie Jones - Los Angeles Lakers
60 Vin Baker - Milwaukee Bucks
61 Chris Childs - New York Knicks
62 Clifford Robinson - Portland Trail Blazers
63 Anthony Peeler - Vancouver Grizzlies
64 Dino Radja - Boston Celtics
65 Joe Dumars - Detroit Pistons
66 Loy Vaught - Los Angeles Clippers
67 Rony Seikaly - Orlando Magic
68 Vitaly Potapenko - Cleveland Cavaliers RC
69 Chris Gatling - New Jersey Nets
70 Dale Ellis - Denver Nuggets
71 Allan Houston - New York Knicks
72 Doug Christie - Toronto Raptors
73 LaPhonso Ellis - Denver Nuggets
74 Kendall Gill - New Jersey Nets
75 Rik Smits - Indiana Pacers
76 Bobby Phills - Cleveland Cavaliers
77 Malik Sealy - Los Angeles Clippers
78 Sean Elliott - San Antonio Spurs
79 Vlade Divac - Charlotte Hornets
80 David Wesley - Boston Celtics
81 Dominique Wilkins - San Antonio Spurs
82 Danny Manning - Phoenix Suns
83 Detlef Schrempf - Seattle SuperSonics
84 Hersey Hawkins - Seattle SuperSonics
85 Lindsey Hunter - Detroit Pistons
86 Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf - Sacramento Kings
87 Shawn Bradley - Dallas Mavericks
88 Horace Grant - Orlando Magic
89 Cedric Ceballos - Phoenix Suns
90 Jamal Mashburn - Miami Heat
Row 3 - Showcase
1 Anfernee Hardaway - Orlando Magic
2 Mitch Richmond - Sacramento Kings
3 Allen Iverson - Philadelphia 76ers RC
4 Charles Barkley - Houston Rockets
5 Juwan Howard - Washington Bullets
6 David Robinson - San Antonio Spurs
7 Gary Payton - Seattle SuperSonics
8 Kerry Kittles - New Jersey Nets RC
9 Dennis Rodman - Chicago Bulls
10 Shaquille O'Neal - Los Angeles Lakers
11 Stephon Marbury - Minnesota Timberwolves RC
12 John Stockton - Utah Jazz
13 Glenn Robinson - Milwaukee Bucks
14 Hakeem Olajuwon - Houston Rockets
15 Jason Kidd - Phoenix Suns
16 Jerry Stackhouse - Philadelphia 76ers
17 Joe Smith - Golden State Warriors
18 Reggie Miller - Indiana Pacers
19 Grant Hill - Detroit Pistons
20 Damon Stoudamire - Toronto Raptors
21 Kevin Garnett - Minnesota Timberwolves
22 Clyde Drexler - Houston Rockets
23 Michael Jordan - Chicago Bulls
24 Antonio McDyess - Denver Nuggets
25 Chris Webber - Washington Bullets
26 Antoine Walker - Boston Celtics RC
27 Scottie Pippen - Chicago Bulls
28 Karl Malone - Utah Jazz
29 Shareef Abdur-Rahim - Vancouver Grizzlies RC
30 Shawn Kemp - Seattle SuperSonics
31 Kobe Bryant - Los Angeles Lakers RC
32 Derrick Coleman - Philadelphia 76ers
33 Alonzo Mourning - Miami Heat
34 Anthony Mason - Charlotte Hornets
35 Ray Allen - Milwaukee Bucks RC
36 Arvydas Sabonis - Portland Trail Blazers
37 Brian Grant - Sacramento Kings
38 Bryant Reeves - Vancouver Grizzlies
39 Christian Laettner - Atlanta Hawks
40 Tom Gugliotta - Minnesota Timberwolves
41 Latrell Sprewell - Golden State Warriors
42 Erick Dampier - Indiana Pacers RC
43 Gheorghe Muresan - Washington Bullets
44 Glen Rice - Charlotte Hornets
45 Patrick Ewing - New York Knicks
46 Jim Jackson - New Jersey Nets
47 Michael Finley - Dallas Mavericks
48 Toni Kukoc - Chicago Bulls
49 Marcus Camby - Toronto Raptors RC
50 Kenny Anderson - Portland Trail Blazers
51 Mark Price - Golden State Warriors
52 Tim Hardaway - Miami Heat
53 Mookie Blaylock - Atlanta Hawks
54 Steve Smith - Atlanta Hawks
55 Terrell Brandon - Cleveland Cavaliers
56 Lorenzen Wright - Los Angeles Clippers RC
57 Sasha Danilovic - Dallas Mavericks
58 Jeff Hornacek - Utah Jazz
59 Eddie Jones - Los Angeles Lakers
60 Vin Baker - Milwaukee Bucks
61 Chris Childs - New York Knicks
62 Clifford Robinson - Portland Trail Blazers
63 Anthony Peeler - Vancouver Grizzlies
64 Dino Radja - Boston Celtics
65 Joe Dumars - Detroit Pistons
66 Loy Vaught - Los Angeles Clippers
67 Rony Seikaly - Orlando Magic
68 Vitaly Potapenko - Cleveland Cavaliers RC
69 Chris Gatling - New Jersey Nets
70 Dale Ellis - Denver Nuggets
71 Allan Houston - New York Knicks
72 Doug Christie - Toronto Raptors
73 LaPhonso Ellis - Denver Nuggets
74 Kendall Gill - New Jersey Nets
75 Rik Smits - Indiana Pacers
76 Bobby Phills - Cleveland Cavaliers
77 Malik Sealy - Los Angeles Clippers
78 Sean Elliott - San Antonio Spurs
79 Vlade Divac - Charlotte Hornets
80 David Wesley - Boston Celtics
81 Dominique Wilkins - San Antonio Spurs
82 Danny Manning - Phoenix Suns
83 Detlef Schrempf - Seattle SuperSonics
84 Hersey Hawkins - Seattle SuperSonics
85 Lindsey Hunter - Detroit Pistons
86 Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf - Sacramento Kings
87 Shawn Bradley - Dallas Mavericks
88 Horace Grant - Orlando Magic
89 Cedric Ceballos - Phoenix Suns
90 Jamal Mashburn - Miami Heat
Class of Ninety-six '96 Set Checklist
2 Ray Allen - Milwaukee Bucks
3 Shandon Anderson - Utah Jazz
4 Kobe Bryant - Los Angeles Lakers
5 Marcus Camby - Toronto Raptors
6 Erick Dampier - Indiana Pacers
7 Derek Fisher - Los Angeles Lakers
8 Todd Fuller - Golden State Warriors
9 Othella Harrington - Houston Rockets
10 Allen Iverson - Philadelphia 76ers
12 Travis Knight - Los Angeles Lakers
13 Matt Maloney - Houston Rockets
14 Stephon Marbury - Minnesota Timberwolves
15 Steve Nash - Phoenix Suns
16 Jermaine O'Neal - Portland Trail Blazers
17 Vitaly Potapenko - Cleveland Cavaliers
18 Roy Rogers - Vancouver Grizzlies
19 Antoine Walker - Boston Celtics
20 Lorenzen Wright - Los Angeles Clippers
Hot Shots Set Checklist
2 Kevin Garnett - Minnesota Timberwolves
3 Damon Stoudamire - Toronto Raptors
4 Anfernee Hardaway - Orlando Magic
5 Shaquille O'Neal - Los Angeles Lakers
6 Grant Hill - Detroit Pistons
7 Dennis Rodman - Chicago Bulls
8 Shawn Kemp - Seattle SuperSonics
9 Scottie Pippen - Chicago Bulls
10 Juwan Howard - Washington Bullets
12 Hakeem Olajuwon - Houston Rockets
13 Karl Malone - Utah Jazz
14 Joe Smith - Golden State Warriors
15 David Robinson - San Antonio Spurs
16 Jerry Stackhouse - Philadelphia 76ers
17 Antonio McDyess - Denver Nuggets
18 Clyde Drexler - Houston Rockets
19 Gary Payton - Seattle SuperSonics
20 Eddie Jones - Los Angeles Lakers
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| 1996 97 Flair Showcase Factory Sealed Basketball Box Hobby Mint! | $49,999.99 | |
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