1986-87 Fleer #1 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
1986-87 Fleer #1 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Card #1 and a sheet-corner "bookend" - one of the set's tougher cards to find well-centered and clean. Kareem retired as the NBA's all-time leading scorer.
About Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr., the 7'2" center starred at UCLA before the Milwaukee Bucks made him the No. 1 overall pick in the 1969 NBA Draft; he adopted the name Kareem Abdul-Jabbar after converting to Islam, using it publicly from 1971. Over 20 NBA seasons with the Bucks (1969-1975) and Los Angeles Lakers (1975-1989) he was named Rookie of the Year (1969-70), won six championships (1971 with Milwaukee; 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988 with the Lakers), earned two Finals MVPs, and captured a record six league MVP awards. A 19-time All-Star and 15-time All-NBA selection, he retired as the NBA's all-time leading scorer with 38,387 points (24.6 ppg), a record he held until LeBron James passed him in 2023. His signature "skyhook" was nearly unblockable. Abdul-Jabbar was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1995. As card #1, this Lakers-era issue is a sheet-corner "bookend" that is notably tough to find well-centered and clean.
Sources: Wikipedia · Basketball-Reference
About this card
The 1986-87 Fleer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is card #1 in Fleer's landmark 'Premier' issue - the first nationally-distributed NBA set since 1981-82 Topps and, for many collectors, the start of the modern era of basketball cards. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was already an established star by 1986; this is not his rookie card, but he is one of the names that make the set a who's-who of the era. He is pictured with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 1-6 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 6,339 | 98 | 997 | 2,414 | 1,383 | 1,442 | 5 |
| SGC | 819 | 3 | 64 | 240 | 216 | 232 | 64 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-06-26. Half-grades fold down (8.5→8).
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1986-87 Fleer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar card?
It is card #1 of 132 in the 1986-87 Fleer Basketball set - Fleer's 'Premier' issue and the first nationally-distributed NBA set since 1981-82 Topps. It pictures the Los Angeles Lakers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
How do I spot a fake Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1986-87 Fleer card?
1986-87 Fleer is the most counterfeited basketball set. Genuine cards are crisp and dark with an intact micro-dot print pattern; fakes look fuzzy or flat. Check the Fleer 'Premier' logo (the arrow is a darker gold than the yellow box) and, on the back, the NBA Players Association basketball, whose seam lines are visible on a real card and filled solid on a fake. For high-value copies, buy professionally graded (PSA/BGS/SGC) and verify the cert.
Why is the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar hard to find in high grade?
It is one of the set's condition-sensitive cards. The flush red/white/blue borders chip to reveal the white core at the slightest touch, and centering is tough - so high grades are far scarcer than the player's profile suggests.
Is the 1986-87 Fleer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar valuable?
Value depends heavily on grade and centering. Use the links above to check current T206 Cards inventory and live eBay listings.
Sources: the Trading Card Database, Basketball-Reference, and PSA & SGC population reports. Card data & population compiled and maintained by T206Cards.com. Page last updated 2026-07-01.