When Michael Jordan announced that he would return to the hardwood for the Washington Wizards in 2001, it shook up the NBA and the basketball card industry.
In response, Upper Deck released a nine-card MJ Tributes autograph set and dispersed them throughout five late-season releases: Honor Roll, Playmakers, SP Authentic, Flight Team, and Inspirations. This card, #M5, was one of two cards that collectors could find in the inaugural release of 2001-02 SP Authentic Basketball. Numbered /30, it celebrates Jordan’s record-setting 63-point game in the 1986 playoffs. Featuring an embedded signature and a shot of Jordan's iconic fadeaway jumper, this card captures the skill and drive that defined Jordan's greatness.
Graded a Gem Mint BGS 9.5, this card carries True Gem status by having 9.5 subgrades in all four areas: Corners, Centering, Surface and Edges. The autograph has been assessed as a 10. No copy has a higher grade in the BGS registry.
The certification number on this card has been checked against the third-party grader's online database and is active as of 04/27/2026.
