Kevin Garnett Star Rubies Parallel Certified by CGC Cards Realizes More than $15,000 in Goldin Auction
Posted on 9/12/2024
A rare and exciting parallel certified by CGC Cards™ from the earliest years of NBA icon Kevin Garnett's pro career was offered in a recent sale presented by Goldin Auctions. The seldom-seen 1990s rarity is a 1997-98 SkyBox Premium Star Rubies #111SR Kevin Garnett graded CGC 8.5 (lot 343) that realized $15,860 on September 2, 2024.
SkyBox was one of the most popular sports card brands during the 1990s, especially for basketball cards. Colorful, vibrant designs became a staple of the brand, beginning with its debut set for the 1990-91 NBA season. A few years later, the company released the SkyBox Premium series, which was a step up in quality, eventually featuring foil cardstock similar to many modern sports cards.
Inserts and parallels for collectors to chase became commonplace in SkyBox's sets, with the Star Rubies parallels being one of the most sought-after issues of the decade. Star Rubies were parallels made of every base set card, making the debut 1997-98 version a 248-card Star Rubies set. They featured a shimmering wave-patterned foil background and red-foil SkyBox Premium logo, player name and team name. Most importantly, only 50 copies of each Star Rubies parallel were produced, with each card being serial numbered on the back, making them one of the rarer parallels of the 1990s.
While even less heralded players' Star Rubies parallels were still desirable, NBA stars like Kevin Garnett were especially coveted. Because it is from the first year that Star Rubies cards were released and only the third year of the future Hall of Famer's pro career, the Star Rubies #111SR is one of the most valuable Garnett cards ever that doesn't include his memorabilia or signature. That's why it was no surprise that the Goldin Auctions sale saw spirited bidding for the card, garnering 31 bids and realizing $15,860 for a Near Mint/Mint+ example.
Drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the fifth overall pick of the 1995 NBA Draft, Garnett was the first player to forgo college and make the jump to the NBA since 1975. Joining a new franchise in Minnesota that had only been around since 1989, the young power forward would help lead the Timberwolves to their first playoff appearance in just his second season.
After several successful seasons in Minnesota, Garnett was traded to the Boston Celtics, where he, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo would lead the historic franchise to their 17th NBA championship in 2008. After 21 seasons in the league, he retired in 2016 as one of the most decorated power forwards in basketball history.
Garnett is one of only five players to ever win the NBA MVP Award (2004) and the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award (2008). He is a 15-time All-Star, NBA All-Star Game MVP, four-time All-NBA First Team selection, nine-time NBA All-Defensive First Team selection and four-time rebounding champion. In 2020, Garnett was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, and in 2021, he was honored as part of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. In 2022, his No. 5 jersey number was retired by the Boston Celtics.
Related Link: Kevin Garnett Rookie Card Market Guide
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