The Most Valuable 1981 Topps Basketball Cards

Ranked by real closed-sale prices across 201 tracked 1981 Topps Basketball items — not guesses, not asking prices. Updated August 2026; the order shifts as the market does. Right now the crown belongs to Larry Bird #4 1981 Topps Basketball at $61.5.

On a budget: under $20 · under $50 · under $100

1. 1
   
   Larry Bird #4 1981 Topps Basketball

   $61.5· $15,700 new/sealed
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2. 2
   
   Magic Johnson #21 1981 Topps Basketball

   $17· $8,140 new/sealed
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3. 3
   
   Larry Bird #E101 1981 Topps Basketball

   $15.2· $13,300 new/sealed
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4. 4
   
   Kevin McHale #E75 1981 Topps Basketball

   $13.99· $2,689 new/sealed
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5. 5
   
   Magic Johnson [West] #W109 1981 Topps Basketball

   $13.5· $3,155 new/sealed
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6. 6
   
   Magic Johnson #109 1981 Topps Basketball

   $10.98· $3,000 new/sealed
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7. 7
   
   Julius Erving #30 1981 Topps Basketball

   $6.81· $2,050 new/sealed
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8. 8
   
   Kareem Abdul-Jabbar #20 1981 Topps Basketball

   $6.46· $1,639 new/sealed
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9. 9
   
   Bill Laimbeer [Mid-West] #MW74 1981 Topps Basketball

   $5.95· $881.69 new/sealed
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10. 10
    
    Kareem Abdul-Jabbar [West] #W106 1981 Topps Basketball

    $5.61· $1,826 new/sealed
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11. 11
    
    Larry Bird / Nate Archibald #45 1981 Topps Basketball

    $4.99· $925 new/sealed
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12. 12
    
    Vinnie Johnson [West] #W99 1981 Topps Basketball

    $4.97· $415.96 new/sealed
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13. 13
    
    Julius Erving [East] #E104 1981 Topps Basketball

    $4.76· $561.55 new/sealed
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14. 14
    
    Darryl Dawkins [East] #E103 1981 Topps Basketball

    $3.29· $99.99 new/sealed
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15. 15
    
    Kyle Macy [West] #W82 1981 Topps Basketball

    $3.13· $39.99 new/sealed
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16. 16
    
    Robert Parish #6 1981 Topps Basketball

    $3· $257.8 new/sealed
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17. 17
    
    Marques Johnson / Mickey Johnson / Quinn Buckner #56 1981 Topps Basketball

    $3· $23.24 new/sealed
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18. 18
    
    Michael Cooper [West] #W77 1981 Topps Basketball

    $3· $132.53 new/sealed
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19. 19
    
    T.R. Dunn [West] #W67 1981 Topps Basketball

    $2.75· $322.32 new/sealed
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20. 20
    
    Rick Mahorn [East] #E98 1981 Topps Basketball

    $2.75· $84.53 new/sealed
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21. 21
    
    Sidney Moncrief [Mid-West] #MW99 1981 Topps Basketball

    $2.75· $299.99 new/sealed
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22. 22
    
    Robert Parish [East] #E108 1981 Topps Basketball

    $2.75· $397.51 new/sealed
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23. 23
    
    Micheal Ray Richardson [East] #E109 1981 Topps Basketball

    $2.74· $36 new/sealed
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24. 24
    
    Moses Malone [Mid-West] #MW110 1981 Topps Basketball

    $2.55· $551.04 new/sealed
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25. 25
    
    Bernard King [West] #W72 1981 Topps Basketball

    $2.51· $600 new/sealed
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26. 26
    
    Brian Winters [Mid-West] #MW100 1981 Topps Basketball

    $2.49· $27.14 new/sealed
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27. 27
    
    George Gervin #37 1981 Topps Basketball

    $2.48· $578.01 new/sealed
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28. 28
    
    Mike Newlin / Maurice Lucas #57 1981 Topps Basketball

    $2.34· $19.67 new/sealed
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29. 29
    
    Julius Erving / Caldwell Jones / Maurice Cheeks #59 1981 Topps Basketball

    $2.32· $150.04 new/sealed
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30. 30
    
    Jim Chones [West] #W76 1981 Topps Basketball

    $2.25· $122.51 new/sealed
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31. 31
    
    Bill Cartwright / Micheal Ray Richardson #58 1981 Topps Basketball

    $2.25· $189.56 new/sealed
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32. 32
    
    Nate Archibald [East] #E100 1981 Topps Basketball

    $2.25· $53.95 new/sealed
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33. 33
    
    Maurice Lucas [East] #E79 1981 Topps Basketball

    $2.25· $49.99 new/sealed
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34. 34
    
    Chris Ford [East] #E73 1981 Topps Basketball

    $2.13· $34.99 new/sealed
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35. 35
    
    Kevin Porter [East] #E105 1981 Topps Basketball

    $2.13· $106.15 new/sealed
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36. 36
    
    Wally Walker [West] #W100 1981 Topps Basketball

    $2.12· $107.55 new/sealed
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37. 37
    
    Joe Bryant [West] #W92 1981 Topps Basketball

    $2.01· $62.32 new/sealed
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38. 38
    
    Checklist 1-110 [East] #E93 1981 Topps Basketball

    $2· $86.59 new/sealed
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39. 39
    
    Maurice Cheeks #90 1981 Topps Basketball

    $2· $242.75 new/sealed
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40. 40
    
    Artis Gilmore #7 1981 Topps Basketball

    $2· $228.69 new/sealed
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41. 41
    
    Jack Sikma [West] #W110 1981 Topps Basketball

    $2· $40.5 new/sealed
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42. 42
    
    Nate Archibald #3 1981 Topps Basketball

    $1.99· $184.4 new/sealed
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43. 43
    
    Billy Ray Bates [West] #W83 1981 Topps Basketball

    $1.99· $279.18 new/sealed
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44. 44
    
    Ernie Grunfeld [Mid-West] #MW94 1981 Topps Basketball

    $1.99· $406 new/sealed
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45. 45
    
    M.L. Carr [East] #E72 1981 Topps Basketball

    $1.99· $358.92 new/sealed
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46. 46
    
    Kareem Abdul-Jabbar / Norm Nixon #55 1981 Topps Basketball

    $1.99· $350 new/sealed
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47. 47
    
    David Thompson #12 1981 Topps Basketball

    $1.99· $448.75 new/sealed
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48. 48
    
    George McGinnis [Mid-West] #MW92 1981 Topps Basketball

    $1.97· $39.99 new/sealed
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49. 49
    
    Dan Roundfield [East] #E110 1981 Topps Basketball

    $1.97· $462 new/sealed
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50. 50
    
    Mark Landsberger [West] #W78 1981 Topps Basketball

    $1.95· $54 new/sealed
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Values are informational estimates from real sales data. JunkPal may earn a commission when you buy through eBay links, at no extra cost to you.