This is the first time we’re looking at the 1996 Topps Stars set on this channel and these throwback sets are really fun. In your mind, become that youth in the ’90’s with a chance to pull a Wilt Chamberlain card. We weren’t worried about future resale value, we just pulled a Chamberlain. Whether a modern 1996 set or not, if that doesn’t bring a smile to your face, that’s on you… And it gets better, there are three parallels (Finest, Finest Refractor, and Finest Atomic Refractor). Can you imagine searching for a Bob Cousy Atomic Refractor? What an opportunity for young collectors! And we hadn’t had a throwback set from Topps since the 1992-93 Topps Archives. So here in 1996, the 50th anniversary of the NBA was a great reason for a historical set.
The set is structured in a neat way. Each of the player’s named to the NBA’s 50 Greatest got three cards. First was a card with stats on the back, then was a Golden Season card featuring that player’s best season, and finally was a card where the backs have text filling out historical info. Here I have the #79 Kevin McHale from the Golden Seasons cards in the middle of the set. I have to admit, the font of the name and positioning of the season kind of reminds me of those “people we lost” presentations we get on New Year’s, but forgetting that, this is still a cool idea and we see Topps chose the 1986-87 season for Kevin McHale. Tough to argue against this season for McHale personally. Career best in points and rebounds with 2008 and 753 respectively. But here’s the stat I love…by leading the NBA in FG% this season with .604, he became the first player to shoot 60% from the field and 80% from the free throw line in the same season. Everyone, this is rare! We had to wait until 2006-07 for David Lee to repeat it. Nikola Jokic did it as well in 2022-23.
I know these historical sets don’t have a high monetary value, but it’s nice for every generation to have a chance to encounter the history of the game hands-on by opening some new packs. I think this is a fun set and in particular, a nice statistical landmark on this Kevin McHale card.
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