I’ve always thought that this insert was super cool…But I never really knew how rare they were. They are unnumbered, and the Instagram user “Card Channel” uses math and pack odds to back out the production run of inserts from popular sets, specifically in the 90s and 2000s. This one has an estimated print run of only 60 cards! The more rare Kobe Bryant inserts during his playing days. I got this one raw a couple years ago and planned to send it in for grading. I think it comes back a PSA 9 but has an outside shot to do slightly better or slightly worse. With my luck, it’s probably gonna end up a PSA 8.

Miss Carter is awesome! From a high-end product, this rookie answer went through extra extraordinary eyes during the Covid boom. At one point a PSA 10 sold for about $30,000. Anyone with any cents should realize this card was not worth that much… However, they are extremely hard to grade in the surface scratches really easily. Still it’s such a cool card to have and looks great in-hand!

Outside of the 1997-98 iconic credentials set, the 2006 credentials set is my favorite. The fun acetate colors are very striking and it feels like a classic 90s insert or parallel set. I have a few of the major players, but I’m still looking to buy or trade for other stars from the set. I have this Shaq, Jordan, Wade, Nowitzki, Garnett, Ray Allen, and Duncan and a few others…But if you have any others, please shoot me a direct message and let’s work on a deal!

Hey all - trying something new on Mantel. Posting a BUY ad. I’m looking to buy or trade for NBA, baseball or football E-X essential credentials. Looking for 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2003-04 and 2006 specifically but will look at any. Especially stars. Shoot me a DM if you have any! Picture is for attention (but this is one I have in my collection).

While this set is in the 2000’s, many still consider it as part of the 90’s insert craze due to the legacy of the E-X 2000 brand and its ever-popular Essential Credentials Future/Now parallels. The cardboard cut outs laying on colored, thick acetate always stands out as groundbreaking, innovative, fun and aesthetically pleasing. I have never pulled a credentials out of a pack. Ever. And boy, I tried! Clearly, boxes now are so far out of my price range that even if you for so lucky as to pull one, you’d have to hit a star to get your money back. And with people CT scanning boxes, probably not a good idea to try! Still, glad I got this one for relatively cheap, compared to today’s prices, about 6 years ago. KG was a hard-nosed trash-talking PF who had inside out moves. Still one of my all-time favorite basketball players. Need to get this one graded as they are very condition sensitive, especially on the surface.