Bill Russel doesn’t often come up in the NBA GOAT debates. But he really should. Ultimately, basketball is about winning and not stats. And no one was a bigger winner than Bill. Bob Cousy was there for the early part of that spectacular Celtics dynasty, and John Havlicek for the end of it. But Bill was there for the whole thing and was the lynchpin of all of those title-winning teams. He won a ridiculous 11 NBA titles, more than any player in history. He dominated and defeated every rival, most notably Wilt Chamberlain, who surpassed Russell in every statistical category.
Russell was mainly well-known for his all-encompassing defensive skills. The center used his tremendous 7”4 wingspan to block shots and generally get in the face of every opponent. He was also a masterful rebounder, leading the league four times in rebounds during the Wilt Chamberlain era.
Russell accomplished all this while trailblazing. He was the first genuine Black star in the NBA and did it in a city that was not known for its racial tolerance. Despite the sensitive nature of race relations at the time, Bill was outspoken in his participation in the civil rights movement. Then, in 1966, he was appointed player-coach, thus becoming the first African-American coach in the league. Russell was also a successful coach, winning two titles with the Celtics. Not many basketball players win the Presidential Medal of Freedom, but Bill did. He wasn’t just one of the best players in the annals of the league; he was one of the greatest men it had ever seen. Probably the most impressive of all, honestly.
Collecting Bill Russell Cards
Russell has always been considered one of the greatest NBA players. Therefore, Bill Russel cards are priced appropriately. However, two further developments have raised the player's profile since then. First, Bill’s tremendous role in the civil rights movement is extensively recognized today. Second, the legendary center passed away on July 31, 2022. When that happens, the prices of cards often go up, especially when a player has such an impressive reputation.
The upshot of all this is that Bill Russell’s card values may be as high as they will get, at least in the near future. So, while you won’t lose any money on his cards, it may be a while before they show an actual value increase. Nonetheless, these cards are fantastic and will go up eventually.
It is also worth remembering that Bill Russel played in an era where basketball cards were only issued sporadically. Therefore, there were no major releases for most of his peak years. That is sad for vintage collecting completists. But on the other hand, it means there are fewer cards to collect, and that creates a premium for the cards that are out there. It is yet another reason that Bill Russell’s cards are so valuable and treasured.
1957 Topps Bill Russell Rookie Card #77
A PSA 8 sold for $204,608
You rarely see PSA 8 base cards go for over $200,000. But Bill isn’t your ordinary athlete; this is not a regular card. The 1957 Topps Bill Russell Rookie Card #77 is the only recognized rookie of one of the best players ever, so it has a very important status in the hobby. The shot has interesting lighting, which makes it seem like the game is taking place in the pitch dark. It adds a fascinating vibe to the card. The Topps Basketball design of that year was simple but effective, and it works well with the action picture.
The 1957 Topps Basketball release was the first ever for the sport, and it did not have a massive print run. Therefore, there are few copies of these cards. Only 817 PSA-graded items exist. A mere 3 are PSA 9s and no 10s. Therefore, a 9 could go for over a million if one was ever sold.
1961 Fleer Bill Russell #38
A PSA 9 sold for $18,600
The 1961 Fleer basketball set is one of the most iconic early releases. It includes a plethora of critical rookies. However, by this time, Bill was a veteran. Indeed, the picture shows a jaded, long-time player. The choice of purple for the background could have been better, and the Celtics logo of the time was hideous. But none of that changes the fact that the 1961 Fleer Bill Russell #38 card is a timeless classic.
The card is a little bit more common than Bill’s rookie item. But only by a few hundred. Once again, there are no PSA 10s, though the 9s are a bit more common. This may be a good buy at current prices since it's a key NBA card that may increase significantly.
1961 Fleer Bill Russell #62 In Action
A PSA 9 sold for $13,700
In action, inserts and subsets would become an obligatory part of the card industry over the next two decades. But Fleer used them in this beautiful set as a relatively new innovation. I vastly prefer the 1961 Fleer Bill Russell #62 In Action card to the base issue. The surrealistic lighting and the sweat on the jerseys of the beleaguered Philadelphia Warriors players who have given up trying to guard Bill are marvelous.
However, the card is more affordable than the base rookie. That is if you can call a card with a PSA 9 value of over $10,000 affordable.
1963 Boston Celtics Picture Pack Bill Russell
No known graded sales
There is a sad dearth of Bill Russell cards between the 1961 Fleer and 1968 Topps Test cards. Even the latter wasn’t fully released. By the time Topps came back to producing basketball cards at full steam, Russell had retired. Even my personal favorite set of the era, Khan’s Wiener’s, doesn’t feature him. Which is a crime against humanity, but I digress.
Therefore, we are fortunate to have the 1963 Boston Celtics Picture Pack Bill Russell to represent the legendary center in his prime. It isn’t really a card, as much as one of 13 pictures of Boston Celtics players given out as a promotion. The whole set is fantastic, but the Russell picture captures the incredible physique that allowed the center to dominate the paint for over a decade.
1968 Topps Test Bill Russell #4
A PSA 8 sold for $46,800
The 1968 Topps Test release was a curious one. Well, calling it a release is misleading. It was supposed to be an experimental print to prepare for the return of basketball cards to the company. But somehow, the cards were leaked, and some copies are around. As such, it is an object of great curiosity for vintage basketball collectors.
The 1968 Topps Test Bill Russell #4 is the last featuring Russell as an active player. The legend would retire in 1969 as a champion player and coach. But you wouldn’t know the center was about to retire from the picture. The player-coach looks as fit and poised as ever, crouching to fit into the frame with that hulking 7”8 body of his.
There are only 9 copies of this card. That makes it one of the rarest of an incredibly scarce release. That means it is a grail card for many Celtics fanatics out there.
1973 Shur-Fresh Bread Seattle SuperSonics Bill Russell
No known graded sales
Imagine having a coach this cool-looking. And who you know is also a gazillion times better than you are. That is the situation the poor Seattle Supersonics players faced in the 1973-74 season. That team went 36–46, sadly. But Bill looked great while getting that losing record. I am a sucker for promotional cards that come with weird discontinued products, so the 1973-74 Shur-Fresh Bread Seattle SuperSonics Bill Russell card is right up my alley. The cards even came with a little bread tab.
2004 Exquisite Extra Bill Russell 2/5 Autograph Jumbo Patch AP-BR
A BGS 7.5 sold for $5,607
Sadly, we will never get a Bill Russell rookie patch auto. Therefore, the 2004 Exquisite Extra Bill Russell 2/5 Autograph Jumbo Patch AP-BR card is as close as we are going to get. And it sure is a beauty. Upper Deck promises this is a patch from a game-worn Bill Russell jersey, and who are we to doubt them? We also like the classic penmanship on the autograph and that excellent action shot. Finally, let's be honest: the modern Celtics logo is WAY better than the hideous thing they used when Russell was coming up.
1995 Action Packed Hall of Fame Autographs Bill Russell #40 #/500
A PSA 8 sold for $199
Whoever bought that card in 2020 for $199 is one lucky so-and-so. Because today, the 1995 Action Packed Hall of Fame Autographs Bill Russell #40 #/500 card would be worth a lot more. I am not crazy about the picture, which is very unflattering to this incredibly handsome man. But it is a realistic depiction of the kinds of under-the-rim fights he was known for.
1999 UD Century Legends Epic Signatures Bill Russell #BR
A raw version is on sale for $999
There aren’t too many auto Bill Russell cards from this era, making the 1999 UD Century Legends Epic Signatures Bill Russell #BR card a special treat. One thing I like about this card is it gives him that inspired look you associated with civil rights icons. Indeed, the whole card has an exhibit at the museum feel. That certainly seems appropriate for a man of this stature.
2003-04 Exquisite Collection Uniforms Bill Russell #BR Autographed Jersey #/100
A BGS 8 sold for $1,801
The thought of owning a Bill Russell autographed card with a worn jersey patch is delightful. And I love the picture used in the 2003-04 Exquisite Collection Uniforms Bill Russell #BR Autographed Jersey #/100, which is a great candid shot. However, the black background swallows up the picture and the way the signature is placed doesn’t work. Still, I wouldn’t turn this down if someone wants to send it to me for Christmas.
2013 Panini Prizm Autograph Gold Prizm Bill Russell
A BGS 9.5 is currently being sold for $85,000
I feel weird seeing an old-timer like Bill featuring in a garish Prizm card. But to each their own. The 2013-14 Panini Prizm Autograph Gold Prizm Bill Russell incorporates the all-time great in the most popular basketball release of the last decade. And as we know, Russell can pull anything off, so it works. And for whatever reason, Bill also tightened up his penmanship, so we get a more compact signature than usual.
Final Word On Bill Russell Trading Cards
Bill Russell was a giant in every sense of the word. A great player and a great man. There aren’t many cards from his years as an active player. Even as a grand old veteran of the league, he didn’t go around signing every card. He was a man of class and taste. Therefore, his cards are choice and uncommon. Add that to his evident greatness, and you have a recipe for extremely high value.
Therefore, don’t buy into Bill’s cards to make a quick profit. He is already as high up as they come. Instead, savor these items as an incredible piece of an incomparable legacy. There is no greater treasure among basketball cards than these keepsakes.
