Scottie Pippen Rookie Card Market Guide

Widely regarded as one of the greatest small forwards and defenders in pro basketball history, Scottie Pippen became one of the most-recognized faces of the sport during the 1990s. He won six NBA championships and, along with Michael Jordan, is famous for transforming the Chicago Bulls into one of the winningest teams in NBA history. As part of the US Olympic Dream Team, Pippen is also the only player in NBA history to win an Olympic gold medal and an NBA title in the same year twice (1992 and 1996).

From Rookie to All-Star

Pippen was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 1987 and made his NBA debut in the season opener, where he recorded 10 points, 2 steals, 4 assists and 1 rebound in a 104-94 victory against the Philadelphia 76ers. By 1990, he became one of the NBA's best young forwards, averaging 16.5 points and 6.7 rebounds per game and ranking third in the NBA in steals (211). That year, he was also named to the first of seven NBA All-Star teams.

Pippen had a breakout season in 1990-91, recording triple-doubles in three separate games. Along with Michael Jordan, Pippen led the Bulls to an NBA Championship win against the Los Angeles Lakers and was named to his first of 10 NBA All-Defensive Teams.

Pippen helped lead the Bulls to two more successive NBA Championships, in 1992 (against the Portland Trail Blazers) and 1993 (against the Phoenix Suns). After Michael Jordan's retirement in 1994, Pippen emerged as the team leader, averaging 22 points, 8.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 2.9 steals per game. During Game 6 of the 1994 Eastern Conference playoffs, Pippen made what many consider the most iconic play of his career and one of the greatest dunks in NBA history. When New York Knicks center Patrick Ewing tried to defend the basket, putting his hand in Pippen's face, Pippen was able to extend the ball and dunk over Ewing, slamming the ball through the hoop and then landing several feet away.

A Second Three-Peat

Jordan returned to the team in 1995 after spending 21 months away while playing professional baseball. Together, Jordan and Pippen led the Bulls to their second three-peat, with NBA Championships in 1996 (against the Seattle SuperSonics), 1997 (against the Utah Jazz) and 1998 (against the Utah Jazz). During the 1996-97 season, Pippen was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. He retired from the NBA in 2004 but returned to basketball to play for several Scandinavian teams before retiring in 2008.

In his 17 NBA seasons, Pippen made the postseason 16 times in a row. He remains one of only three players (the others are Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon) to record 200 steals and 100 blocks in a single season.

In 2010, Pippen was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame twice — once for his NBA career and once as a member of the US Olympic Dream Team. In 2005, the Bulls retired his number 33 jersey, making him only one of four Bulls (along with Michael Jordan, Jerry Sloan and Bob Love) to receive this honor. In 2021, Pippen was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

Are Scottie Pippen Rookie Cards Valuable?

Scottie Pippen played during an era when even the most promising players only had one or two rookie cards issued. Because of this, there's only one "official" rookie card for Pippen, issued by Fleer in 1988 during his second season.

Fortunately for collectors, there are also several so-called "oddball" rookie cards, including two from Entenmann's bakery, a sticker card from Panini and an early card issued by toy company Kenner.

While major sports card manufacturers didn't release oddball cards, many of them can nevertheless become quite valuable, especially if they feature an attractive, high-quality image or have historical significance in a player's career timeline. Interestingly, Pippen's very first sports card is one of these oddball issues — the 1987 Entenmann's card, which was released during his actual rookie season, a year before the release of his Fleer card.

Because of this dearth of rookie cards, Pippen's official Fleer rookie release can trend for as much as five figures, while oddball releases like the Kenner and Entenmann cards can trend for healthy prices as well.

Investment Potential for Scottie Pippen Rookie Cards

Thanks to his status as a basketball legend, Hall of Famer and member of both the iconic Bulls and Dream Teams of the 1990s, Pippen continues to be popular among basketball fans. Because of his popularity and importance in the sport, investment potential for Pippen rookie cards remains high, especially for cards in top-grade condition.

Top Scottie Pippen Rookie Cards

These are the five available Scottie Pippen rookie cards:

1988 Fleer #20 ($10,550)

As one of the great basketball cards of the 1980s, this iconic piece of history was included in a stellar 132-card Fleer set that also featured rookie cards for Dennis Rodman, Reggie Miller, Mark Price, Horace Grant and John Stockton.

This distinctive card shows a fantastic in-game shot of Pippin driving to the basket, framed by red, black and white graphics. The card also features a noticeable error. While Pippen's name is spelled correctly on the front of the card, it's misspelled on the reverse. However, since this was never corrected on any of the cards, it's not regarded as an "error card," so the spelling mistake doesn't add anything to the card's value.

This Pippen rookie issue is extremely popular among collectors, not just for its historic value, but also for its beauty. However, some copies have poor centering, and it's also prone to chipping along the darker parts of the border.

At PriceGuide.Cards, Ungraded trends at an average price of $28 and a top price of $9,211. Graded trends at an average price of $193 and a top price of $10,550 (grades unspecified).

SportsCardsPro shows Ungraded trending at $19, Grade 7 at $29, Grade 8 at $42 and Grade 9 at $132. Grade 9.5 trends for $1,200, and Gem Mint for $2,048.

1988 Kenner Starting Lineup #60 ($1,800)

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Kenner Starting Lineup sports action figures were immensely popular with collectors. Each figure was packaged with an attractive free sports card, including this popular Scottie Pippen card from 1988.

This fan favorite shows an in-game shot of Pippen with the ball, framed by an attractive blue border with red stripes at the top. There's a "Starting Lineup" logo above and a Chicago Bulls logo at the lower right.

At PriceGuide.Cards, Ungraded trends at an average price of $35 and a top price of $110. Graded trends at an average price of $156 and a top price of $1,800 (grades unspecified).

1987 Entenmann's Bulls #33 – One Arm Up Blank Back ($707)

Amazingly, Scottie Pippen only had an official rookie card issued by a sports card manufacturer in his second season, so this card is important because it's the first pro basketball card to feature his photo. As part of an 11-card set that included various players (including Michael Jordan), this historic beauty was given away at Bulls home games.

It features a great action shot of Pippen reaching for the basket, framed in a simple white border. The purple "Entenmann's" logo is printed at the bottom.

SportsCardsPro shows Grade 9 trending at $181, Grade 9.5 at $199 and Gem Mint trending at $707.

1988 Panini Spanish Sticker #77 ($578)

In 1988, Panini issued a series of 292 sticker cards depicting greats like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Hakeem Olajuwon, Larry Bird, Karl Malone, Dennis Rodman and Patrick Ewing.

The Scottie Pippen card features an appealing close-up portrait shot of Pippen smiling at the camera, set against a brilliant blue background. Graphics include a simple white border with blue and white stripes at the bottom.

SportsCardsPro shows Ungraded trending at $478, Grade 9 at $525 and Grade 9.5 trending at $578.

1988 Entenmann's #33 – In Basket Blank Back ($361)

As a promotional follow-up to the 1987 Entenmann's release, this card shows an image of Pippen slamming a huge dunk into the basket, with Michael Jordan watching from behind. Otherwise, the print graphics and design are identical to the 1987 Entenmann's card.

SportsCardsPro shows Ungraded cards trending at $50, Grade 9 at $328 and Grade 9.5 at $361.

Where Can I Find Scottie Pippen Rookie Cards?

You can find Scottie Pippen rookie cards at sports card and memorabilia shows, collectibles retailers and auction sites. These are some of the most popular auction sites for sports cards:

• Goldin
• eBay
• Sotheby's
• Robert Edward Auctions
• Heritage Auctions
• EBTH
• SCP Auctions
• Invaluable
• Christie's
• Memory Lane
• Lelands
• PWCC

You can also find Scottie Pippen rookie cards at sports memorabilia shows, which are held year-round across the country. To find out about shows coming to your area, you can check local newspaper listings, online collector forums and social media sites like Facebook and Instagram.

How Are Scottie Pippen Rookie Cards Graded?

Sports card appraisers use a universally recognized grading system to assess condition, with scores ranging from Ungraded to Pristine 10. Here's how these scores are calculated:

Pristine 10: These cards are flawless, with no visible faults, even at 10x magnification. They rate Perfect 10 scores across the four prime grading criteria: centering, surfaces, corners and edges.

Gem Mint 10: With Perfect 10 scores in three out of the four criteria, these cards miss being flawless only by an almost-imperceptible condition or manufacturing flaw.

Grade 9.5: Almost Gem Mint, with only a tiny production flaw or condition issue.

Grade 9: Almost Mint, with a minor production or condition issue.

Grades 8 and below: Cards with these lower grades have multiple manufacturing flaws or condition issues and are graded accordingly. These cards can still sell for healthy prices, however, depending upon rarity and collector demand.

Raw: Newly removed from its original package.

Ungraded: Never been graded.

Rarity, condition and collector demand are the three primary factors that determine sports card values. But while rarity and condition can be assessed by a professional appraiser, collector demand is unpredictable and can change at a moment's notice.

If once-promising players don't live up to their rookie potential, get cut from their teams or retire, their cards may plummet in value. Even with Hall of Famers, collector interest may fuel higher prices for some players' cards, while others may stagnate on the market, even if they're in Gem Mint condition.

Auction bidding wars and highly publicized record-breaking auction prices can also cause a player's cards to catapult in value. Likewise, if a player leaves the limelight but returns later as a broadcaster or in another venue, this may bring a legion of new fans to that player's fanbase. And if that player's popularity climbs, their sports cards may climb as well.

Ultimately, if you're collecting for pleasure, it's always advisable to collect what you want and aim to get cards in the best condition you can afford. Likewise, if you're collecting for investment, it's a good idea to keep in touch with dealers and monitor current prices, as well as collector trends, on a regular basis.

Should I Get My Cards Graded?

Professional grading can certify the authenticity of your sports cards while providing them with a universally recognized quality grade. During grading, expert appraisers examine and assess each card's originality and condition, then grade it according to industry standards. This information is recorded and stored in an international database and kept as a permanent record of your card.

In many cases, cards that are graded are easier to sell or trade and may sell for higher prices. Regardless of whether you decide to sell or keep your cards, once they're graded, you can take pride in a certified authentic collection with an established quality rating recognized throughout the industry. For further information on CGC Cards 10-point Grading Scale and to find out more about our industry-leading services, visit CGCcards.com.

*Any mention of "investment potential" is for entertainment only and should not be construed as investment advice. The Certified Collectibles Group does not provide investment advice and is not liable for any buy, sell or trade decisions made by any parties.