You’re looking at a standard 1990-91 NBA Hoops card. Mark Jackson, then a point guard for the New York Knicks, is mid-bounce pass. He’s focused. The arena lights are bright. But if you shift your gaze just a few inches to the left, past Jackson’s waist, you’ll see them. Two young men with feathered hair sitting courtside, looking like every other wealthy New Yorker in 1989. Those aren't just fans. They are Erik and Lyle Menendez.
It’s honestly one of the most unsettling "Easter eggs" in sports history.
For nearly thirty years, this card sat in shoeboxes and dusty binders, valued at maybe a nickel. Then, the internet noticed. Suddenly, a worthless piece of "junk wax" era cardboard became a true-crime relic. The Erik and Lyle Menendez basketball card isn't just a collectible; it’s a frozen moment of a $700,000 spending spree fueled by a double murder.
The 1990-91 Hoops Mark Jackson #205: A Glimpse into a Spending Spree
The photo was taken at Madison Square Garden during the 1989-90 NBA season. Specifically, it was shot after August 20, 1989—the night Jose and Kitty Menendez were killed in their Beverly Hills mansion—but before the brothers were arrested in March 1990.
During those seven months, the brothers went on a legendary tear. They bought Rolexes. They bought Porsches. They hired full-time tennis coaches. And, as card #205 proves, they flew to New York and bought the best seats in the house to watch the Knicks.
There’s something deeply morbid about it. You’re looking at two people who had just committed a high-profile homicide, sitting in the front row of a televised game, completely unbothered. They look bored. Erik is actually wearing a Knicks hat, blending into the crowd while the police back in California were still trying to piece together what happened.
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How the Secret Was Finally Leaked
Believe it or not, the world didn't know about this until 2018. A true-crime fan named Stephen Zerance was doing some digital sleuthing. He knew the brothers had spent money at MSG, so he started scouring old Getty Images. Nothing.
Then he got the idea to look at basketball cards.
He started buying up bulk lots of 1990 NBA Hoops cards on eBay for pennies. When he finally found Mark Jackson’s card, there they were. He posted it on Twitter, a Reddit thread went viral, and the hobby was never the same.
What Really Happened with the Value?
When the news first broke, the market went absolutely haywire. This card, which you could previously find for 10 cents in a common bin, started selling for $20, $30, and even $50 overnight.
eBay eventually stepped in. For a while, the platform actually banned the sale of the card, citing a policy that prohibits the sale of items related to "notorious murderers." They eventually eased up, but for a moment, the card became a sort of "forbidden" fruit for collectors.
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Today, in early 2026, the market has settled into a weird rhythm.
- Raw (Un-graded) Copies: You can usually snag these for $10 to $20.
- PSA 10 (Gem Mint): These are surprisingly hard to find because the 1990 Hoops set was notorious for poor centering and "chipping" on the borders. If you find a perfect one, it can still command hundreds of dollars.
- The "Niche" Interest: True crime enthusiasts often value it more than sports fans.
It’s the ultimate conversation piece. It’s not rare in terms of "print run"—Hoops printed millions of these things—but it’s rare in its absurdity.
Identifying the Real Deal (No, It’s Not a Reprint)
Because this card is from the "junk wax" era, there are millions of them floating around. You don't need to worry about fakes as much as you need to worry about just finding the right number.
Look for #205 on the back. The front features Mark Jackson in his home white Knicks jersey. The brothers are located in the bottom left corner of the image frame, just behind the baseline. Lyle is on the left in a light-colored sweater, and Erik is next to him.
Some people call this an "error card," but that's technically wrong. An error card is a mistake by the manufacturer (like a misspelling). This was just a photographer capturing a moment in time that happened to include two of the most famous defendants in American history.
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Why It Still Matters in 2026
With the recent resurgence of interest in the Menendez case—thanks to new documentaries and the ongoing legal battles regarding their potential resentencing—the card has seen another spike in popularity. It’s a physical tether to a story that refuses to go away.
It serves as a grim reminder of the "pre-DNA" and "pre-social media" era. Today, a billionaire's sons sitting courtside after a murder would be ID'd by a TikToker in twenty minutes. In 1989, they could hide in plain sight on a trading card for three decades.
Buying Guide: What You Should Look For
If you’re looking to add this to your collection, don't overpay for "hype."
- Check the Edges: These cards have a yellow border on the back that shows wear instantly. If you see white "snow" on the edges, it’s not a high-grade copy.
- Centering is Everything: Look at the blue and orange borders on the front. If one side is significantly thicker than the other, it won't grade well.
- Search for "Mark Jackson 205": Sometimes sellers don't realize the Menendez connection and list it as a basic player card for a couple of bucks. That’s where the real deals are.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your old binders: If you collected in the early 90s, there’s a high chance you already own this card and didn't know it.
- Verify the number: Ensure it is #205 from the 1990-91 Hoops series (the one with the "wood grain" or "gray" frame aesthetic).
- Scope out eBay auctions: Look for "lots" of Knicks cards rather than the single Menendez-labeled card to save money on the "true crime tax."