Magic Johnson & Larry Bird 2006-07 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual Logoman Autographs #ADL-JB PSA Authentic | 1-of-1 | Game-Used Patches | On-Card Autographs

On June 4, 2004, the world of sports cards changed forever. On this date, Upper Deck released the first year of Exquisite Collection Basketball. Released at what was then the jaw-dropping price of $500 for five cards, 20-years on this product line continues to be a byword for excellence in high-end trading cards.

The crossover between what would become perhaps the single most premier product in the hobby and the entry of one of its most transformational stars into the NBA was no coincidence. The creator of Exquisite Collection, Karvin Cheung, had been looking for the right player to serve as the centerpiece for a new high-end set that would feature highly-limited rookie patch autographs. Cheung has cited the moment he saw LeBron James on the cover of Sports Illustrated in February 2002, under the headline “Chosen One”, as the moment that he knew he had his player. What followed was history: in its time, Exquisite Collection Basketball has seen records tumble and captured worldwide fascination, becoming the cornerstone of many of the most important trading card collections and earning a place on the Mount Rushmore of trading card sets for many enthusiasts.

The 2004-05 product introduced dual logoman autographs and triple logoman cards in Exquisite. Collectors understood that many of the best cards available each season for their favorite NBA rookies, stars, and legends would be found in Exquisite. In the decades since, NBA fans have come to expect just as much excellence from the product as they would from its standard-bearer.

Exquisite Collection represents the beginning of a new era in trading cards, specifically basketball cards. The offered card commemorates a trailblazing pair whose rivalry was one of the most significant of the 20th Century and would forever change the game. Combining for 24 All-Star appearances, 20 All-NBA nominations, 6 MVPs, and 8 NBA titles, Larry and Magic defined basketball throughout the 1980’s and helped revive a sport in desperate need of captivating heroes. From college rivals to Finals foes to Hall of Fame friends, their rivalry and kinship, which have defined the backdrop of basketball for the past half-century, are perfectly encapsulated in this rare offering.

This card has been authenticated by Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA). The front of the card features two on-card autographs and two game-worn NBA logoman patches. The script "1 of 1" stamp emphasizes its unduplicated nature.

The PSA certificate number for this card is: 100217655

Going Deeper - Larry & Magic

The Face-Off

The 1980 NBA Finals marked the first of 10 straight title matchups that would see at least one of the two players featured on this card, and together they won eight of them. The pair first collided in the NBA Finals in 1984 and instantly rekindled their famous rivalry. Of course, by this point Larry and Magic had half a decade of animosity going back to the 1979 NCAA Championship game and their brawl over the 1980 Rookie of the Year award, but the NBA Finals were a different beast.

At the time, Bird was in the midst of one of his best seasons as a pro, averaging a double-double with 24.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game and had just won MVP for the first of three consecutive years while leading the Boston Celtics to the best record in the NBA. Magic meanwhile had pushed his Lakers to the second best record in the NBA and the best record in the Western Conference while also averaging an impressive double-double with 17.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 13.1 assists per game. The stage had been set for an epic rematch of the most storied team rivalry in basketball complete with a rematch of the most famous one-on-one rivalry of the era, and the series did not disappoint. It was an intense 7-game battle, and the final contest came down to the wire, with the Lakers whittling what had been a 13-point Boston lead at the end of the 3rd to just three with 1:14 left. That was as close as they got. After Dennis Johnson stole the ball from Magic Johnson and hit two free throws to put the Celtics up 5, Bird iced the game with four more clutch free throws to put the final score at 111-102. Bird had avenged his NCAA tournament loss and earned Finals MVP honors as the Boston Garden erupted at the sound of the final buzzer and fans stormed the court.

The following season saw a rematch of the rivalry again, this time with Magic and the Lakers coming out on top, delivering justice for their loss the prior year. Although Kareem won Finals MVP, Magic lived up to his name with a blistering stat line of 18.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 14 assists, and 2.2 steals per game. The Lakers had Showtime on full display, especially in Game 3 as they turned a 10-point first half deficit into a 25-point rout. After six straight Finals featuring at least one side of the rivalry and the second straight year where they matched up directly, it was clear that the Celtics and Lakers were making the NBA a true box office event.

The pair staged a third title fight in the 1987 NBA Finals, the ultimate rubber match. This time, Magic would not be denied. Johnson had snatched Bird’s crown as league MVP, finishing the season with a career-best scoring average of 23.9 points and a league-leading 12.2 assists per game while driving Los Angeles to a league-best 65 win campaign. The season and the playoffs showed Magic at his absolute best, and his role as the face of the “Showtime” Lakers was on clear display, with Magic giving fans ample opportunity to revel in his passing and handling abilities as he pushed the tempo of the Laker offense. The 1987 Finals also gave us one of Magic’s most lasting images, as with five seconds to go in Game 4 and a chance to take a 3-1 series lead, Magic got the ball down one and ran across the lane, shooting his legendary baby hook to give the Lakers the lead in Boston Garden. Magic picked up his third Finals MVP trophy and fourth NBA title, and the Lakers once again sat atop the basketball world. 

At the apex of this rivalry and at the height of the NBA's boom era, things would begin to unravel for the pair. A chronically bad back began to seriously impact Bird’s play, and while Magic would go back to the Finals three more times and win once more, a diagnosis of HIV brought an abrupt and painful end to Magic’s effective Lakers career. In this moment of crisis, Larry was one of the first on the phone to Magic, offering support to his friend. Magic had the support of the fans too. Despite retiring from the game before the start of the 91-92 season, Magic was voted into the 1992 All Star Game by the fans as a starter. He suited up and gave the NBA fans who had loved his game for so long a last look at the Magic they had known on an NBA floor (Magic would briefly come back in the 95-96 season but was not the player he had once been), scoring 25 points and walking away with All Star MVP honors. Just over a week later, the Lakers retired Magic’s number and his friend Larry Bird joined him at The Forum to present him with a piece of the Boston Garden parquet, where he said it represented the place that Magic had in the hearts of Celtics fans everywhere.