1961-62 Fleer Basketball #38 Bill Russell
About this card
The 1961-62 Fleer Basketball Bill Russell is card #38 of 66, in the set's Portrait subset (#1-44, the numbered portraits). It is not a rookie card - Bill Russell's rookie is the 1957-58 Topps - but it is the set's premier veteran key. It ranks among the five grail cards of the set (Chamberlain, Robertson, West, Baylor and Russell). 1961-62 Fleer was Fleer's only major NBA issue between the 1957-58 Topps set and the 1969-70 Topps era - 66 cards split into 44 Portrait cards (#1-44) and 22 In Action cards (#45-66), every one single-printed with no short prints.
About Bill Russell
Bill Russell, the 6-foot-10 defensive revolutionary, won two NCAA titles at the University of San Francisco and Olympic gold in 1956 before the St. Louis Hawks drafted him second overall and traded his rights to the Boston Celtics. Anchoring the Celtics from 1956 to 1969, Russell won an unmatched 11 NBA championships in 13 seasons — including eight in a row from 1959 to 1966. A five-time MVP and 12-time All-Star, he built his game on rebounding, shot-blocking, and defense rather than scoring (15.1 points and 22.5 rebounds per game). As player-coach from 1966 to 1969, he became the first Black head coach to win an NBA championship. Russell entered the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1975 and again as a coach in 2021. Notably, this is not a rookie card — Russell's rookie is the 1957-58 Topps — which makes his 1961-62 Fleer the set's premier veteran key.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 1,391 | 0 | 29 | 176 | 216 | 243 | 238 | 464 | 25 |
| SGC | 627 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 45 | 48 | 120 | 347 | 47 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-07-09. Half grades fold down for both graders (8.5→8); PSA qualified slabs (OC, ST, PD, MC and the like) are not counted.
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Frequently asked questions
Is the 1961-62 Fleer Bill Russell a rookie card?
No. Bill Russell's rookie card is the 1957-58 Topps. His 1961-62 Fleer #38 is a key veteran card - and, as the greatest winner in team-sports history, one of the set's most in-demand cards.
How rare is the 1961-62 Fleer Bill Russell in high grade?
Condition-scarce. PSA has graded about 1,391 copies and SGC about 627, yet only 0 have reached PSA 10 and 29 are PSA 9. Every card in the set was single-printed - there are no short prints - so all of its scarcity is condition scarcity, and clean, well-centered copies sit far above the raw totals. Population snapshot 2026-07-09.
What makes the 1961-62 Fleer Bill Russell a key card?
It is one of the five grail cards of the set, from the only major NBA card set issued between 1957-58 Topps and 1969-70 Topps - the defining basketball issue of the 1960s. Value depends heavily on grade and centering; use the links above to check current T206 Cards inventory and live eBay listings.
Sources: Basketball-Reference · hoophall.com · Wikipedia. Bio and card data compiled & maintained by T206Cards.com. Page last updated 2026-10-05.
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