If you were ripping packs in the mid-90s, you remember the smell of the foil and the distinct "clink" of a metal card hitting the table. It wasn't just cardboard anymore. It was industrial. It was heavy. Most importantly, it was shiny. When Upper Deck launched the Metal brand in 1995, they weren't just making another set; they were trying to capture the aggressive, metallic energy of an era dominated by industrial rock and baggy jeans. At the center of that universe, always, was Michael Jordan.
Michael Jordan Upper Deck Metal basketball cards aren't just collectibles. They are artifacts of a specific moment in printing technology history where the hobby decided "basic" was no longer enough.
The Chaos of the 1995-96 Metal Base Card
The first year of Metal was honestly a fever dream. While Fleer Ultra was going for high-gloss class and SkyBox E-X2000 was playing with acetate, Upper Deck Metal went for pure texture. The 1995-96 Michael Jordan base card (#1) is a masterpiece of "more is more." You have MJ mid-air, framed by what looks like etched sheet metal and rivets.
It’s weirdly affordable compared to his autographs, but try finding one in a PSA 10. You won't. Or rather, you'll have a hell of a time doing it. The silver foil on these cards is notoriously sensitive. If you so much as breathed on the corners in 1995, they chipped. The surface scratches if you slide it across a table. Collectors today hunt for these because a "gem mint" copy is a statistical anomaly. It’s the ultimate "condition sensitive" chase.
Why does this specific card still command hundreds of dollars in high grades while other 90s base cards are worth pennies? It’s the eyes. The photography Upper Deck chose for that inaugural set captured the intensity of the second three-peat run perfectly. It feels like a piece of the United Center floor was melted down and stamped with his likeness.
The Precious Metal Gems (PMG) Phenomenon
We have to talk about the PMGs. If you mention Michael Jordan Upper Deck Metal basketball cards to a high-end investor, their heart rate probably spikes. Introduced in the 1997-98 Metal Universe set, the Precious Metal Gems took the hobby and turned it upside down.
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These weren't just parallels. They were a statement. The concept was simple but brutal: 100 copies total. The first 10 were Emerald (Green), and the remaining 90 were Red.
The 1997 Michael Jordan PMG is basically the Mona Lisa of the "modern" era. A Red PMG sold for over $300,000. An Emerald version? You're looking at near seven figures depending on the day and the auction house. These cards are infamous for their "edge wear." Because the color was essentially a thin foil layer applied over the metal substrate, the edges look "white" almost immediately out of the pack. A "beater" PMG—one that looks like it was kept in a bike spoke—can still buy you a decent car.
It’s the scarcity that drives the madness. In the late 90s, the odds of pulling a Jordan PMG were astronomical. You could buy ten cases and come up empty. That's why the big auction houses like Goldin and Heritage treat these like fine art. They are.
The Background Textures of 1996-97 Metal Universe
The year before the PMG craze, Upper Deck experimented with some of the coolest backgrounds in history. The 1996-97 Metal Universe Michael Jordan (#1) features him soaring over a literal "cybernetic" city. It looks like something out of a comic book.
Upper Deck used a process called "etching" to give the cards a 3D feel. If you run your thumb over the surface, you can feel the grooves. This was revolutionary. Before this, "premium" just meant "shiny." Now, premium meant "tactile."
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This set also gave us the "Net-Sations" insert. If you haven't seen the MJ version, it's a die-cut card that looks like a basketball net. It’s flimsy, it’s fragile, and it’s beautiful. Again, condition is everything here. The tiny "strings" of the net are prone to snapping. Finding one with all the die-cut teeth intact is the hallmark of a serious Jordan collector.
Why the "Metal" Aesthetic Won the Decade
There’s a reason why Upper Deck (and later SkyBox, under the same umbrella) leaned so hard into the metal theme. The 90s were aggressive. Everything was "Xtreme." Basketball was physical. The cards reflected that.
- The Weight: They felt substantial in your hand compared to Topps base.
- The Light: They reacted to light differently. In a display case, a Jordan Metal card "pops" in a way a paper card never will.
- The Innovation: They used multi-layer printing long before it was standard.
Honestly, some of the lower-tier inserts like "Steel Slammin'" or "Molten Metal" are criminally undervalued. They represent the same tech as the PMGs but at a fraction of the price. If you’re a budget collector, the 1998-99 Metal Universe "Linchpins" or "Planet Metal" are the way to go. They have that same industrial aesthetic without the five-figure price tag.
Spotting Fakes and Trimming
Success breeds greed. Because the Michael Jordan Upper Deck Metal basketball cards—specifically the PMGs and the 1997-98 base cards—are so valuable, the market is flooded with fakes.
One of the most common scams involves "re-coloring." Someone takes a Red PMG with chipped edges and uses a marker or paint to fill in the white spots. Under a jeweler’s loupe, this is easy to spot because the "ink" doesn't reflect light the same way the metallic foil does.
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Another issue is "trimming." People take scissors or paper cutters to the rough edges of these metal cards to make them look "sharp" for grading. Always check the dimensions. If a Jordan Metal card looks too "perfect" and is slightly smaller than a standard card, run away.
The 2020s Revival and "Retro" Metal
Upper Deck doesn't have the NBA license anymore—Panini does—but Upper Deck still has Michael Jordan. This has led to the "SkyBox Metal Universe Champions" sets released recently.
These are basically nostalgia bait. They use the same 1997 and 1998 designs but with MJ in his North Carolina gear or casual clothes. Some purists hate them. Others love them because it’s the only way to get a "new" MJ PMG without mortgaging their house.
The prices for the "Retro" PMGs are surprisingly high. A 2011-12 Retro PMG Jordan can still fetch $20,000+. It proves that the "Metal" brand is more than just a 90s fad; it’s a design language that collectors are hard-wired to love.
Practical Steps for Collecting Jordan Metal Today
If you’re looking to jump into this market, don't just buy the first shiny card you see on eBay. You'll get burned.
- Focus on Surface, Not Just Corners: On metal cards, a clean surface is rarer than sharp corners. Scratches are the enemy.
- Buy Graded for High-End: If you're spending more than $500, buy a card already authenticated by PSA, BGS, or SGC. The risk of trimming or re-coloring is too high on raw "Near Mint" copies.
- Check the 1997-98 Base: Everyone wants the PMG, but the 1997-98 Metal Universe base Jordan (#1) is a work of art. It features him against a cosmic, planetary background. It's one of the best-looking cards ever made and is still obtainable for most fans.
- Look for "Linchpins": This 1998 insert set is incredibly difficult to find in high grades because of the die-cut edges. It's a "sleeper" card that many think will appreciate as people get priced out of the main sets.
The hobby has changed a lot since 1995. We have "1 of 1" logs and diamond-encrusted cards now. But there's something about the original Michael Jordan Upper Deck Metal basketball cards that feels more authentic. They weren't trying to be "investments" back then. They were just trying to be the coolest-looking things in the shop. Decades later, they still are.
Next Steps for Collectors:
Verify the serial numbers of any 1997-98 Michael Jordan PMGs on the PSA or BGS database before bidding. If you are starting a mid-tier collection, prioritize the 1996-97 Metal Universe "Cyber-Metal" inserts; they offer the best balance of 90s "tech" aesthetics and long-term value retention without the extreme volatility of the PMG market. Always store these in "thick" 35pt top-loaders to prevent surface friction against the plastic, which can dull the metallic sheen over time.