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Hello! If you’re looking for a list of the best Shaquille O'Neal rookie basketball cards, then you’ve come to the right place.
Shaquille O'Neal is one of the most dominant players in NBA history, and his rookie cards are some of the most coveted items among collectors.
Shaq was drafted by the Orlando Magic with the first overall pick in the 1992 NBA Draft, and he quickly made an impact with his size and strength.
He was named Rookie of the Year after averaging 23.4 points, 13.9 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks per game, and he helped lead the Magic to the NBA Finals in 1995.
Shaq's career accomplishments include four NBA Championships, three Finals MVPs, one regular season MVP, and 15 All-Star selections.
Considering that Shaq is one of the greatest basketball players of all-time, his rookie cards are a safe investment for collectors, and they are sure to continue to maintain and/or increase in value as time goes on.
The experts here at Sports Card Sharks have spent countless hours sifting through each and every Shaq rookie card on the market and have compiled a list of the ones we feel are the best of the best.
FAQs
The rookie cards we select for our lists are judged based on 3 criteria:
- Design / Aesthetics
- Price
- Rarity
At Sports Card Sharks, we tend to go against the grain. We typically aren’t buying what everyone else is buying when everyone else is buying it, so if you’re moving with the masses this may not be the right list for you. Adios!
Our Founder is an 80's baby that grew up in the 90's collecting sports cards during the junk wax era.
While card collecting when on hiatus for a couple of decades, that passion was re-sparked in 2020 and we haven't looked back since.
We spend countless hours researching each player and constructing these posts to help you save time and energy so that you can focus on the fun part which is collecting!
Why We Love Shaq
- Arguably the most dominant center of all time
- 4x NBA Champion
- NBA, All-Star Game, and Finals MVP in 2000
Our List of the Top Shaquille O'Neal Rookie Cards
1. 1992-93 Shaquille O'Neal Stadium Club Beam Team Members Only #21
Just look at how high that big man could get up. We love the retro squiggles on the outer edges of the card. They go well with the black and white pinstripes of the Orlando Magic uniforms. Many would argue that this is the most sought after card in the Shaq rookie card set.
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2. 1992-93 Shaquille O'Neal Upper Deck Trade Card #1B
Shaq could absolutely throw down and with this card you get a sick montage of him doing just that. The "Trade Card" variation is slightly more rare than the original. You should scoop one up today.
Also Check Out: Kobe Bryant
3. 1992-93 Shaquille O'Neal Topps Gold Rookie Card #362
Just look at that Timberwolves defender fearing for his life. Poor guy. No one had ever seen someone as big and strong and yet so nimble as Shaq before. Everyone who faced him, feared him.
Also Check Out: Michael Jordan
4. 1992-93 Shaquille O'Neal Topps Archives Gold Rookie Card #150
Ah yes. More defenders just staring in awe. The gold variation of this Shaq rookie card is a short print as well and a tough one to find at that.
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5. 1992-93 Shaquille O'Neal NBA Hoops Draft Redemption Rookie Card #A
In case you didn't know, Shaquille O'Neal was the #1 overall pick in the 1992 NBA Draft and with this rookie card you get a great shot of that moment being captured.
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6. 1992-93 Shaquille O'Neal NBA Hoops Rookie Card #442
Man I sure loved those Orlando Magic uniforms in the 90's. There was just something about those pinstripes that made them so sick and unique. Not to mention, you get dominating forces like Shaq and Penny Hardaway sporting them and of course they're going to look cool.
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7. 1992-93 Shaquille O'Neal Topps Stadium Club Members Only #201
Another "Members Only" Shaq rookie gets featured on our list. I'm sure Shaquille is coming off one of his patented spin moves and laying it in against a mostly useless defender.
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8. 1992-93 Shaquille O'Neal Fleer Ultra All Rookies #7
Sometimes I forget that Shaq with hair was thing but this rookie card is a great reminder that it did, in fact, exist.
Also Check Out: Stephen Curry
9. 1992-93 Shaquille O'Neal Fleer Rookie Card #401
Just look at that position he has. I'm pretty sure that I could make that pass. Shaq was just so dominant that you could put the ball just about anywhere and he'd be able to go get it.
Also Check Out: Kevin Durant
10. 1992-93 Shaquille O'Neal Fleer Ultra Rejectors Rookie Card #4
Is it just me or are the majority of Shaq's rookie card against the Timberwolves??? I'm a Timberwolves fans so I'm naturally sensitive about them being featured LOL.
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About the Author:
Trevor Weitzel is the founder of Sports Card Sharks. His pro sports teams are the Timberwolves, Vikings and Twins (which is rough). If we’re talking college then we’re only talking the University of Arizona Wildcats – BEAR DOWN! He is also an avid reseller, crypto enthusiast, and digital marketer.
How do I go about to try and sell my cards cause I got slot of good ones
eBay continues to be the top marketplace for buying and selling sports cards. If you have graded cards, then MySlabs and StockX are up-and-coming marketplaces as well. You could also consider bringing them to your local card shop and seeing if they’ll make an offer.