1997-98 Metal Universe Basketball Cards Checklist, Team Set Lists and Details

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As far as modern sets go, 1997-98 Metal Universe Basketball has emerged as one of the biggest. Between its out-there designs, tough inserts and strong checklist, there are plenty of reasons why. But the biggest might be in the form of parallels — the landmark Precious Metal Gems.

1997-98 Metal Universe Basketball Base Set Basics

The base set isn’t a huge one, boasting just 125 cards. However, it does come at a time when Michael Jordan was back, Kobe Bryant was in the early stages of his career and several hobby-favorites were still active. And while the Rookie Cards aren’t plentiful by number, there are a couple of notable ones in Tim Duncan and Tracy McGrady.

Where 1997-98 Metal Universe really starts to stand out is with its look. Fleer brought Metal to the sport in 1995-96. And while the etched foil was there, it wasn’t quite as over-the-top as Metal Universe took it. Here, it shifts towards something more abstract or out of a comic book rather than just strictly basketball-related.




As the product’s popularity has risen, prices even for star base cards have hit levels seldom seen. The regular Michael Jordan card tops $100 raw and significantly higher for high-end graded copies. The Tim Duncan RC, which was once readily available for under $5 has soared far past that since his retirement.

1997-98 Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems

The biggest cards in the product are the Precious Metal Gems. In fact, outside of autographs, these are some of the most coveted post-war sports cards, period.

Parallels of the first 123 cards (the two checklists at the end don’t have them), PMGs have radiant solid-color backgrounds that pop like few cards ever have. It’s a bright look that might not be for everybody but historical sales show there are people out there willing to spend huge amounts on them.

Each Precious Metal Gems parallel has 100 total copies. But it’s slightly more complicated than that as they come in two different colors. The first ten are Green. The remaining 90 are Red.

1997-98 Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems Michael Jordan

Understandably, the Green PMGs garner the highest prices but all are considered holy grails on the basketball card market. In February, 2019, a PMG Green Michael Jordan sold at auction for $350,000. And while authentic, PSA noted that the card had been altered. The following month, a PMG Red Michael Jordan graded PSA 6.5 topped $63,000.

1997-98 Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems Emerald Michael Jordan

PMGs are extremely condition sensitive due to their edges, which  make some of the massive prices stand out even more. Star players beyond Jordan regularly net thousands even when they do have signs of wear. Expect to pay hundreds even for commons.

The allure of 1997-98 Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems isn’t just their appearance. They are exceptionally rare with most firmly entrenched in personal collections.

1997-98 Metal Universe Basketball Precious Metal Gems Gary Payton

Inserts

It’s not just the base cards that go the eccentric route in 1997-98 Metal Universe Basketball. The insert lineup brings plenty of that as well. Many are tough to find today as well.

One insert set that isn’t rare are the Reebok Chase cards. Landing one per pack, these highlight 16 players who wore Reebok sneakers. In many ways, these are essentially parallels with the fronts and backs looking pretty much the same. The Reebok logo is added to the reverse along with the company’s website. Every Reebok Chase insert has Bronze, Silver and Gold versions.

Silver Slams (20 cards, 1:6 packs) get their name for the color treatment given to the featured players. Backgrounds on these take a neon approach.

Landing approximately one per box, Planet Metal is where things start to get a little more tough. All 15 cards in the set, which consist of several top-tier stars, have a metallic foil backdrop that looks kind of like a storm pattern on a weather map.

Titanium (20 cards, 1:72 packs) is a hobby-exclusive that mixes acetate stock, some patterned foil highlights and die-cut shape. These rank as some of the most valuable cards in 1997-98 Metal Universe Basketball with several stars netting hundreds.

The checklist has a retail-only insert set as well with Gold Planet (ten cards, 1:120 packs). Etched-foil is the design theme here.

Finally, there’s Platinum Portraits. At 1:288 packs, these are the toughest inserts in the product. Using something called matrix etching, the players’ faces are formed through several tiny holes. This ranks as one of the highest priced Michael Jordan inserts, selling for thousands of dollars. Kobe Bryant, Scottie Pippen and Allen Iverson are among the players that can bring sales of several hundreds or more.

Autographs

Autographs can be found in Metal Universe packs. They’re part of the cross-brand Autographics (1:96 packs) that spread across all 1997-98 Fleer/SkyBox products. A checklist for all the year’s Autographics cards is available in the Beckett database.

1997-98 Metal Universe Basketball cards at a glance:

Cards per pack: Hobby – 8
Packs per box: Hobby – 24
Boxes per case: Hobby – 6, 12 and 30
Set size: 125 cards
Release date: November 5, 1997

Check 1997-98 Metal Universe Basketball values in the Beckett Price Guide.

1997-98 Metal Universe Basketball Checklist

Base

Base Set Checklist

125 cards.

Buy on:

1997-98 Metal Universe Basketball Michael Jordan

1 Charles Barkley
2 Dell Curry
3 Derek Fisher
4 Derek Harper
5 Avery Johnson
6 Steve Smith
7 Alonzo Mourning
8 Rod Strickland
9 Chris Mullin
10 Rony Seikaly
11 Vin Baker
12 Austin Croshere RC
13 Vinny Del Negro
14 Sherman Douglas
15 Priest Lauderdale
16 Cedric Ceballos
17 LaPhonso Ellis
18 Luc Longley
19 Brian Grant
20 Allen Iverson
21 Anthony Mason
22 Bryant Reeves
23 Michael Jordan
24 Dale Ellis
25 Terrell Brandon

26 Patrick Ewing
27 Allan Houston
28 Damon Stoudamire
29 Loy Vaught
30 Walt Williams
31 Shareef Abdur-Rahim
32 Mario Elie
33 Juwan Howard
34 Tom Gugliotta
35 Glen Rice
36 Isaiah Rider
37 Arvydas Sabonis
38 Derrick Coleman
39 Kevin Willis
40 Kendall Gill
41 John Wallace
42 Tracy McGrady RC
43 Travis Best
44 Malik Rose
45 Anfernee Hardaway
46 Roy Rogers
47 Kerry Kittles
48 Matt Maloney
49 Antonio McDyess
50 Shaquille O’Neal

51 George McCloud
52 Wesley Person
53 Shawn Bradley
54 Antonio Davis
55 P.J. Brown
56 Joe Dumars
57 Horace Grant
58 Steve Kerr
59 Hakeem Olajuwon
60 Tim Hardaway
61 Toni Kukoc
62 Ron Mercer RC
63 Gary Payton
64 Grant Hill
65 Detlef Schrempf
66 Tim Duncan RC
67 Shawn Kemp
68 Voshon Lenard
69 Othella Harrington
70 Hersey Hawkins
71 Lindsey Hunter
72 Antoine Walker
73 Jamal Mashburn
74 Kenny Anderson
75 Todd Day

76 Todd Fuller
77 Jermaine O’Neal
78 David Robinson
79 Erick Dampier
80 Keith Van Horn RC
81 Kobe Bryant
82 Chris Childs
83 Scottie Pippen
84 Marcus Camby
85 Danny Ferry
86 Jeff Hornacek
87 Bo Outlaw
88 Larry Johnson
89 Tony Delk
90 Stephon Marbury
91 Robert Pack
92 Chris Webber
93 Clyde Drexler
94 Eddie Jones
95 Jerry Stackhouse
96 Tyrone Hill
97 Karl Malone
98 Reggie Miller
99 Bryon Russell
100 Dale Davis

101 Steve Nash
102 Vitaly Potapenko
103 Nick Anderson
104 Ray Allen
105 Sean Elliott
106 Dikembe Mutombo
107 Dennis Rodman
108 Lorenzen Wright
109 Kevin Garnett
110 Christian Laettner
111 Mitch Richmond
112 Joe Smith
113 Jason Kidd
114 Glenn Robinson
115 Mark Price
116 Mark Jackson
117 Bobby Phills
118 John Starks
119 John Stockton
120 Mookie Blaylock
121 Dean Garrett
122 Olden Polynice
123 Latrell Sprewell
124 Checklist
125 Checklist

Precious Metal Gems

123 cards.
/100, 90 copies
All PMGs are numbered to 100. The first ten of each card are the Emerald version. The remaining 90 are the red.

Buy on:

1997-98 Metal Universe Basketball Precious Metal Gems Kobe Bryant

Parallels:

  • Emerald (/100, 10 copies)

Checklists (#124-125) do not have PMGs.

Checklist Top

Inserts

1997-98 Metal Universe Basketball Inserts Checklists

Gold Universe Checklist

10 cards.
1:120 retail packs.

Buy on:

1997-98 Metal Universe Basketball Gold Universe Charles Barkley

1 Damon Stoudamire
2 Shawn Kemp
3 John Stockton
4 Jerry Stackhouse
5 John Wallace
6 Juwan Howard
7 David Robinson
8 Gary Payton
9 Joe Smith
10 Charles Barkley

Planet Metal Checklist

15 cards.
1:24 packs.

Buy on:

1997-98 Metal Universe Basketball Planet Metal Anfernee Hardaway

1 Michael Jordan
2 Allen Iverson
3 Kobe Bryant
4 Shaquille O’Neal
5 Stephon Marbury
6 Marcus Camby
7 Anfernee Hardaway
8 Kevin Garnett
9 Shareef Abdur-Rahim
10 Dennis Rodman
11 Grant Hill
12 Hakeem Olajuwon
13 David Robinson
14 Charles Barkley
15 Gary Payton

Platinum Portraits Checklist

15 cards.
1:288 packs.

Buy on:

1997-98 Metal Universe Basketball Platinum Portraits Michael Jordan

1 Michael Jordan
2 Allen Iverson
3 Kobe Bryant
4 Shaquille O’Neal
5 Stephon Marbury
6 Marcus Camby
7 Anfernee Hardaway
8 Kevin Garnett
9 Shareef Abdur-Rahim
10 Dennis Rodman
11 Ray Allen
12 Grant Hill
13 Kerry Kittles
14 Antoine Walker
15 Scottie Pippen

Reebok Chase Bronze Checklist

16 cards.
1 per pack.

Buy on:

Parallels:

  • Silver
  • Gold

5 Avery Johnson
6 Steve Smith
13 Vinny Del Negro
16 Cedric Ceballos
20 Allen Iverson
32 Mario Elie
50 Shaquille O’Neal
67 Shawn Kemp
68 Voshon Lenard
74 Kenny Anderson
91 Robert Pack
93 Clyde Drexler
96 Tyrone Hill
114 Glenn Robinson
116 Mark Jackson

Silver Slams Checklist

20 cards.
1:6 packs.

Buy on:

1 Ray Allen
2 Kerry Kittles
3 Antoine Walker
4 Scottie Pippen
5 Damon Stoudamire
6 Shawn Kemp
7 Jerry Stackhouse
8 John Wallace
9 Juwan Howard
10 Gary Payton
11 Joe Smith
12 Terrell Brandon
13 Hakeem Olajuwon
14 Tom Gugliotta
15 Glen Rice
16 Charles Barkley
17 David Robinson
18 Patrick Ewing
19 Christian Laettner
20 Chris Webber

Titanium Checklist

20 cards.
1:72 hobby packs.

Buy on:

1997-98 Metal Universe Basketball Titanium Stephon Marbury

1 Michael Jordan
2 Allen Iverson
3 Kobe Bryant
4 Shaquille O’Neal
5 Stephon Marbury
6 Marcus Camby
7 Anfernee Hardaway
8 Kevin Garnett
9 Shareef Abdur-Rahim
10 Dennis Rodman
11 Ray Allen
12 Grant Hill
13 Kerry Kittles
14 Antoine Walker
15 Scottie Pippen
16 Damon Stoudamire
17 Shawn Kemp
18 Hakeem Olajuwon
19 Jerry Stackhouse
20 Juwan Howard

Checklist Top

Team Sets

1997-98 Metal Universe Basketball Team Set Checklists

Want to know what cards your favorite team has in 1997-98 Metal Universe Basketball? Here’s the checklist broken down by team. Scroll through or click below to go directly to that team.

Please note that parallels are not included here. Please check the main checklist in the other tab for parallel specifics and insertion rates.

1997-98 Metal Universe Basketball Atlanta Hawks Checklist

6 Steve Smith
15 Priest Lauderdale
106 Dikembe Mutombo
110 Christian Laettner
120 Mookie Blaylock

Reebok Chase Bronze
6 Steve Smith

Silver Slams
19 Christian Laettner

Checklist Top

1997-98 Metal Universe Basketball Boston Celtics Checklist

62 Ron Mercer RC
72 Antoine Walker
75 Todd Day

Platinum Portraits
14 Antoine Walker

Silver Slams
3 Antoine Walker

Titanium
14 Antoine Walker

Checklist Top

1997-98 Metal Universe Basketball Charlotte Hornets Checklist

2 Dell Curry
21 Anthony Mason
35 Glen Rice
44 Malik Rose
89 Tony Delk

Silver Slams
15 Glen Rice

Checklist Top

1997-98 Metal Universe Basketball Chicago Bulls Checklist

18 Luc Longley
23 Michael Jordan
58 Steve Kerr
61 Toni Kukoc
83 Scottie Pippen
107 Dennis Rodman

Planet Metal
1 Michael Jordan
10 Dennis Rodman

Platinum Portraits
1 Michael Jordan
10 Dennis Rodman
15 Scottie Pippen

Silver Slams
4 Scottie Pippen

Titanium
1 Michael Jordan
10 Dennis Rodman
15 Scottie Pippen

Checklist Top

1997-98 Metal Universe Basketball Cleveland Cavaliers Checklist

25 Terrell Brandon
85 Danny Ferry
96 Tyrone Hill
102 Vitaly Potapenko
117 Bobby Phills

Reebok Chase Bronze
96 Tyrone Hill

Silver Slams
12 Terrell Brandon

Checklist Top

1997-98 Metal Universe Basketball Dallas Mavericks Checklist

4 Derek Harper
53 Shawn Bradley
91 Robert Pack

Reebok Chase Bronze
91 Robert Pack

Checklist Top

1997-98 Metal Universe Basketball Denver Nuggets Checklist

17 LaPhonso Ellis
24 Dale Ellis
49 Antonio McDyess

Checklist Top

1997-98 Metal Universe Basketball Detroit Pistons Checklist

56 Joe Dumars
64 Grant Hill
71 Lindsey Hunter

Planet Metal
11 Grant Hill

Platinum Portraits
12 Grant Hill

Titanium
12 Grant Hill

Checklist Top

1997-98 Metal Universe Basketball Golden State Warriors Checklist

9 Chris Mullin
76 Todd Fuller
112 Joe Smith
115 Mark Price
123 Latrell Sprewell

Gold Universe
9 Joe Smith

Silver Slams
11 Joe Smith

Checklist Top

1997-98 Metal Universe Basketball Houston Rockets Checklist

1 Charles Barkley
32 Mario Elie
39 Kevin Willis
48 Matt Maloney
59 Hakeem Olajuwon
69 Othella Harrington
93 Clyde Drexler

Gold Universe
10 Charles Barkley

Planet Metal
12 Hakeem Olajuwon
14 Charles Barkley

Reebok Chase Bronze
32 Mario Elie
93 Clyde Drexler

Silver Slams
13 Hakeem Olajuwon
16 Charles Barkley

Titanium
18 Hakeem Olajuwon

Checklist Top

1997-98 Metal Universe Basketball Indiana Pacers Checklist

12 Austin Croshere RC
43 Travis Best
54 Antonio Davis
79 Erick Dampier
98 Reggie Miller
100 Dale Davis
116 Mark Jackson

Reebok Chase Bronze
116 Mark Jackson

Checklist Top

1997-98 Metal Universe Basketball Los Angeles Clippers Checklist

29 Loy Vaught
87 Bo Outlaw
108 Lorenzen Wright

Checklist Top

1997-98 Metal Universe Basketball Los Angeles Lakers Checklist

3 Derek Fisher
50 Shaquille O’Neal
51 George McCloud
81 Kobe Bryant
94 Eddie Jones

Planet Metal
3 Kobe Bryant
4 Shaquille O’Neal

Platinum Portraits
3 Kobe Bryant
4 Shaquille O’Neal

Reebok Chase Bronze
50 Shaquille O’Neal

Titanium
3 Kobe Bryant
4 Shaquille O’Neal

Checklist Top

1997-98 Metal Universe Basketball Miami Heat Checklist

7 Alonzo Mourning
55 P.J. Brown
60 Tim Hardaway
68 Voshon Lenard
73 Jamal Mashburn

Reebok Chase Bronze
68 Voshon Lenard

Checklist Top

1997-98 Metal Universe Basketball Milwaukee Bucks Checklist

11 Vin Baker
14 Sherman Douglas
104 Ray Allen
114 Glenn Robinson

Platinum Portraits
11 Ray Allen

Reebok Chase Bronze
114 Glenn Robinson

Silver Slams
1 Ray Allen

Titanium
11 Ray Allen

Checklist Top

1997-98 Metal Universe Basketball Minnesota Timberwolves Checklist

34 Tom Gugliotta
90 Stephon Marbury
109 Kevin Garnett
121 Dean Garrett

Planet Metal
5 Stephon Marbury
8 Kevin Garnett

Platinum Portraits
5 Stephon Marbury
8 Kevin Garnett

Silver Slams
14 Tom Gugliotta

Titanium
5 Stephon Marbury
8 Kevin Garnett

Checklist Top

New Jersey Nets Checklist

40 Kendall Gill
47 Kerry Kittles
80 Keith Van Horn RC

Platinum Portraits
13 Kerry Kittles

Silver Slams
2 Kerry Kittles

Titanium
13 Kerry Kittles

Checklist Top

New York Knicks Checklist

26 Patrick Ewing
27 Allan Houston
41 John Wallace
82 Chris Childs
88 Larry Johnson
118 John Starks

Gold Universe
5 John Wallace

Silver Slams
8 John Wallace
18 Patrick Ewing

Checklist Top

Orlando Magic Checklist

10 Rony Seikaly
45 Anfernee Hardaway
57 Horace Grant
103 Nick Anderson

Planet Metal
7 Anfernee Hardaway

Platinum Portraits
7 Anfernee Hardaway

Titanium
7 Anfernee Hardaway

Checklist Top

Philadelphia 76ers Checklist

20 Allen Iverson
38 Derrick Coleman
95 Jerry Stackhouse

Gold Universe
4 Jerry Stackhouse

Planet Metal
2 Allen Iverson

Platinum Portraits
2 Allen Iverson

Reebok Chase Bronze
20 Allen Iverson

Silver Slams
7 Jerry Stackhouse

Titanium
2 Allen Iverson
19 Jerry Stackhouse

Checklist Top

Phoenix Suns Checklist

16 Cedric Ceballos
52 Wesley Person
101 Steve Nash
113 Jason Kidd

Reebok Chase Bronze
16 Cedric Ceballos

Checklist Top

Portland Trail Blazers Checklist

36 Isaiah Rider
37 Arvydas Sabonis
74 Kenny Anderson
77 Jermaine O’Neal

Reebok Chase Bronze
74 Kenny Anderson

Checklist Top

Sacramento Kings Checklist

19 Brian Grant
111 Mitch Richmond
122 Olden Polynice

Checklist Top

San Antonio Spurs Checklist

5 Avery Johnson
13 Vinny Del Negro
66 Tim Duncan RC
78 David Robinson
105 Sean Elliott

Gold Universe
7 David Robinson

Planet Metal
13 David Robinson

Reebok Chase Bronze
5 Avery Johnson
13 Vinny Del Negro

Silver Slams
17 David Robinson

Checklist Top

Seattle Supersonics Checklist

63 Gary Payton
65 Detlef Schrempf
67 Shawn Kemp
70 Hersey Hawkins

Gold Universe
2 Shawn Kemp
8 Gary Payton

Planet Metal
15 Gary Payton

Reebok Chase Bronze
67 Shawn Kemp

Silver Slams
6 Shawn Kemp
10 Gary Payton

Titanium
17 Shawn Kemp

Checklist Top

Toronto Raptors Checklist

28 Damon Stoudamire
30 Walt Williams
42 Tracy McGrady RC
84 Marcus Camby

Gold Universe
1 Damon Stoudamire

Planet Metal
6 Marcus Camby

Platinum Portraits
6 Marcus Camby

Silver Slams
5 Damon Stoudamire

Titanium
6 Marcus Camby
16 Damon Stoudamire

Checklist Top

Utah Jazz Checklist

86 Jeff Hornacek
97 Karl Malone
99 Bryon Russell
119 John Stockton

Gold Universe
3 John Stockton

Checklist Top

1997-98 Metal Universe Basketball Vancouver Grizzlies Checklist

22 Bryant Reeves
31 Shareef Abdur-Rahim
46 Roy Rogers

Planet Metal
9 Shareef Abdur-Rahim

Platinum Portraits
9 Shareef Abdur-Rahim

Titanium
9 Shareef Abdur-Rahim

Checklist Top

1997-98 Metal Universe Basketball Washington Wizards Checklist

8 Rod Strickland
33 Juwan Howard
92 Chris Webber

Gold Universe
6 Juwan Howard

Silver Slams
9 Juwan Howard
20 Chris Webber

Titanium
20 Juwan Howard

Checklist Top

When you click on links to various merchants on this site, like eBay, and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission.
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Ryan Cracknell

A collector for much of his life, Ryan focuses primarily on building sets, Montreal Expos and interesting cards. He's also got one of the most comprehensive collections of John Jaha cards in existence (not that there are a lot of them). Got a question, story idea or want to get in touch? You can reach him by email and through Twitter @tradercracks.

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