1984-85 #288 Michael Jordan Rookie-Of-The-Year Card

BGS Certificate Number: 0007967362

Subgrades: Centering 8.5, Corners 9.5, Edges 9, Surface 9.5

As of March 25, 2026, a total of 750 examples of this card have been graded by Beckett Grading Service (BGS). Of those, only 6 have achieved a grade of 9, with none graded higher.

Graded a BGS 9 (Mint), this Michael Jordan Star #288 Rookie of the Year card represents an exceptionally rare and high-quality example of one of Jordan’s most significant early issues. The card features strong subgrades across all categories—Centering 8.5, Corners 9.5, Edges 9, and Surface 9.5—highlighting its superior overall condition and eye appeal. Achieving a Mint 9 on this condition-sensitive issue is extraordinarily difficult, particularly given the blue borders and thin card stock, which are prone to showing wear. This example stands out as a truly remarkable specimen.

The 1984–85 Star #288 commemorates Michael Jordan’s Rookie of the Year season and was issued during his inaugural NBA campaign. It predates the iconic 1986–87 Fleer release by two years and is considerably rarer, enhancing its desirability among serious collectors.

The card features Michael Jordan poised to pass while being defended by New Jersey Nets guard Michael Ray Richardson. He is pictured wearing the Chicago Bulls jersey with the cursive “Chicago” script— a style he wore exclusively during the 1984–85 season, his rookie year. Notably, Jordan is also wearing a pair of white and red Nike Air Ships, the first model of shoes he wore in the NBA, predating the iconic Air Jordan line.

During the 1984–85 season, Jordan won the Rookie of the Year award, averaging an extraordinary 28.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 2.4 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game. Only 12 players in NBA history have averaged at least 25 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals per game over a full season. Michael Jordan is the only rookie to ever achieve this—and he went on to accomplish it more times than any other player, doing so seven times.

The Star Company produced NBA-licensed basketball cards during the 1983–84, 1984–85, and 1985–86 seasons, serving as the sole licensed manufacturer during that period. Prior to Star’s involvement, Topps produced basketball cards but ceased production after the 1981–82 season, resulting in no basketball cards being issued for 1982–83. Star subsequently filled that gap, creating cards for the following three seasons before production transitioned to Fleer in 1986–87.

Star cards are notably rare and were distributed in a unique format. Rather than traditional wax packs, they were issued in team bags and distributed primarily to dealers, who then shipped them to customers nationwide. This method of packaging and distribution made the cards particularly condition-sensitive, contributing to their rarity in high grade today.