1998 Skybox E-X Essential Credentials Now Dirk Nowitzki ROOKIE /68 #68 PSA 10

In 1997, Charles Barkley led a contingent of NBA players on a tour through Europe, and while in Germany, those players got a shocking surprise. A lanky teenager bounded onto the court, excited at the prospect of playing against his American heroes. And after a blistering performance, Barkley had to find out more about him. “He was too big for Scottie Pippen,” Barkley said. “I walked up to him after the game, and I said, ‘My man, who are you?’ And he was telling me he was like 18, 19 years old, and I said, ‘Well, whatever money it’ll cost you to go to Auburn, I’ll pay your way for you to go there.’” And while Dirk Nowitzki never suited up for Barkley’s alma mater, that performance against NBA stars served as the first step in one of the longest NBA careers in history. The Mavericks worked out a draft-day trade to acquire Dirk in the first round of the 1998 NBA Draft, and he quickly became an impact player, leading Dallas into the postseason in his third season. By the end of a 21-year career, he had won a championship, an MVP, and earned a spot on the NBA’s all-time 75th Anniversary Team. These days, bigs who can score at all three levels aren’t necessarily uncommon. But when Dirk began his career in 1998, that wasn’t the case. So it’s only fitting that a revolutionary player whose game made an indelible impact on the NBA should be immortalized in one of the most iconic parallels ever produced. Fleer/SkyBox’s Essential Credentials Future and Now cards remain some of the most coveted creations of the late ‘90s and early 2000s. With the Now version’s print run serial numbered to correspond with a player’s spot on the checklist, Dirk’s card #68 in the 90-card set also had a print run /68. The famous multi-material, multi-layer design shines through on this Nowitzki classic, standing as a testament to the groundbreaking impact of both the player and the product. This is one of only six PSA 10 examples of this card, with none graded higher. The certification number on this card has been checked against the third-party grader's online database and is active as of 06/04/2025.