Ultimate Kevin Garnett Rookie Cards Checklist and Gallery
A force on both ends of the court, Kevin Garnett is one of the most intimidating players of his era. The Kevin Garnett rookie cards, however, aren't likely to send anyone running.
Arriving just before the late-'90s boom, Kevin Garnett's rookies for the Minnesota Timberwolves remain affordable and fairly easy to locate. Nevertheless, "the Big Ticket" has long been a hobby favorite thanks to his winning ways and intense play.
Garnett has 15 official rookie cards in 1995-96 NBA sets. Although high-grade editions command a premium, most cards can be obtained for reasonable amounts.
The guide below provides a rundown for all the Kevin Garnett rookie cards as well as some of the key parallels and inserts.
Ultimate Kevin Garnett Rookie Cards Guide
Checklist
1995-96 Kevin Garnett Rookie Card Checklist
Kevin Garnett Rookie Cards Set Checklist
- 1995-96 Flair Kevin Garnett RC #206
- 1995-96 Fleer Kevin Garnett RC #293
- 1995-96 Fleer Metal Kevin Garnett RC #167
- 1995-96 Fleer Ultra Kevin Garnett RC #274
- 1995-96 NBA Hoops Kevin Garnett RC #272
- 1995-96 Skybox E-XL Kevin Garnett RC #49
- 1995-96 SkyBox Premium Kevin Garnett RC #233
- 1995-96 SP Premier Prospects Kevin Garnett RC #159
- 1995-96 SP Championship Series Kevin Garnett RC #62
- 1995-96 Topps Kevin Garnett RC #237
- 1995-96 Topps Finest Kevin Garnett RC #115
- 1995-96 Topps Gallery Kevin Garnett RC #41
- 1995-96 Topps Stadium Club Kevin Garnett RC #343
- 1995-96 Upper Deck Kevin Garnett RC #273
- 1995-96 Upper Deck Collector's Choice Kevin Garnett RC #275
Gallery
Kevin Garnett Rookie Card Gallery
Shop for singles or check completed values on eBay using the specific links.
1995-96 Flair Kevin Garnett RC #206
The dual-image style is a classic Flair element and it works well here. While dated, the design still has an ornate style with gold accents. Also, as you will see, the outstretched arm is something of a theme for Kevin Garnett rookie cards. Collectors can find his inserts in Class of '95 and Wave of the Future.
1995-96 Fleer Kevin Garnett RC #293
Showcasing many of the basic details on the front of the card rather than the back, the Kevin Garnett rookie in 1995-96 Fleer is not the most visually appealing. It does provide a good image of an intense KG face. The '95-96 Fleer Basketball set has a bunch of inserts for Garnett and a European version, as well.
1995-96 Fleer Metal Kevin Garnett RC #167
All things considered, the Fleer Metal style has a nice look many years later. The problem is Garnett's awkward facial expression. There had to be a better image. The Tempered Steel insert is another notable card.
1995-96 Fleer Ultra Kevin Garnett RC #274
In 1995-96 Fleer Ultra, Kevin Garnett is a rookie, in case that's not abundantly clear from the design. The full-length ROOKIE text is hard to overlook. His All-Rookies insert also favors green.
1995-96 NBA Hoops Kevin Garnett RC #272
Skewing more psychedelic than NBA Hoops is normally known to be, this Kevin Garnett rookie pairs a color explosion with very jagged ROOKIE text. His Grant's All-Rookies insert is equally colorful.
1995-96 Skybox E-XL Kevin Garnett RC #49
While the look is unique, Skybox E-XL feels more like a rough draft. The base version for Garnett has a black border and there is a blue frame parallel. The real prize is his Natural Born Thrillers insert, which is much more impressive (and pricey).
1995-96 SkyBox Premium Kevin Garnett RC #233
Rivaling Ultra for the largest ROOKIE text, 1995-96 Skybox Premium is the better choice of the two, but not by much. Key inserts include High Hopes and Lottery Exchange, which is a part of a redemption set numbered to 25,000 copies.
1995-96 SP Premier Prospects Kevin Garnett RC #159
While the diagonal stripes are still an odd decision, the 1995-96 Premier Prospects rookie for Garnett has aged much better than other brands. Grab the Future NBA All-Stars insert if you enjoy die-cut cards.
1995-96 SP Championship Series Kevin Garnett RC #62
Featuring a more expected look for the Upper Deck brand, 1995-96 SP Championship Series offers dual KG images. He's also in the Champions of the Court and Championship Shots inserts.
1995-96 Topps Kevin Garnett RC #237
If you remove the wild text, this might just seem like a regular Topps card. But that's not an option. For some fans, the NBA Draft redemption card may be the best pick.
1995-96 Topps Finest Kevin Garnett RC #115
Home to the top Kevin Garnett rookie card, 1995-96 Finest provides the best choice for collectors. To peel or not to peel, that is the real question.
1995-96 Topps Gallery Kevin Garnett RC #41
Another design sleeper, 1995-96 Topps Gallery kept it simple and that worked out well in hindsight. Of course, the New Editions subset is headlined by Kevin Garnett. On the other hand, his Photo Gallery insert is not as strong.
1995-96 Topps Stadium Club Kevin Garnett RC #343
TSC took things in a different direction with the loud nameplate and logo for Garnett. The base rookie comes in a Retail version with a gold/orange nameplate, and a Member's Only parallel. 1995-96 Topps Stadium Club also adds a Draft Picks insert.
1995-96 Upper Deck Kevin Garnett RC #273
Supplying the most captivating Kevin Garnett rookie card image is 1995-96 Upper Deck. Look for his Electric Court and Electric Court Gold parallels.
1995-96 Upper Deck Collector's Choice Kevin Garnett RC #275
If you are just wanting an affordable option, 1995-96 Collector's Choice is a solid choice. The simple, inexpensive card is unlikely to see big gains, but it's a fine starting point. Those looking for something extra can track down the shiny Player's Club Platinum version. His Draft Trade redemption insert is another choice.
Of course, if you want to be thorough, be sure to grab all the international UD Collector's Choice releases, including French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish editions.
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