This 1996-97 Topps Finest Gold Refractor emerged when Michael Jordan returned to the hardwood after a two-year absence. The challenge of locating this card in the first place is not easy. 1996-97 Finest Basketball used three levels of rarity within its checklist. It started with common Bronze then uncommon Silver. Gold cards, such as this Jordan that was found in Series 2 packs, represent the rare tier in the set with Refractors landing 1:288 packs. The rare Gold Refractors are further differentiated by their tiled background rather than the more traditional rainbow approach of the common and uncommon Refractors.
1996-97 Topps Finest Basketball is considered to be one of the greatest the brand ever produced, thanks in large part to the loaded rookie class. However, it's bolstered by Jordan's presence as well.
Just one copy in the BGS registry has a higher grade than this Gem Mint 9.5. Subgrades include 9.5s for Centering, Surface and Edges.
The certification number on this card has been checked against the third-party grader's online database and is active as of 03/04/2026.
This item was flash inserted on Mar 4, 2026.
