Basketball set
1981 Topps Checklist & Card Prices
Basketball198196 cards96 pricedTopps
1981 Topps (Basketball) has 96 cards in our price guide, 96 of them with live market values. The most valuable is Larry Bird #101 at $13,300 in PSA 10 ($15.20 raw). Across the set, PSA 10 copies total $61K and raw copies $304.
- Cards
- 96
- With prices
- 96
- PSA 10 total
- $61K
- Raw total
- $304
- Avg gem premium
- 61×
- Top card
- $13,300
Most valuable cards
The 12 highest-value cards in 1981 Topps, ranked by PSA 10 price (best graded or raw where no PSA 10 sale exists).
12
34
5![Magic Johnson [West] #W109 1981 Topps card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/EigAAeSwvdxqVEva/s-l500.jpg)
6![Charlie Criss [East] #E67 1981 Topps card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/PtwAAOSwiJ9l7iKf/s-l500.jpg)
7
8
910
1112![Bill Laimbeer [Mid-West] #MW74 1981 Topps card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/idkAAeSwRT1qV9--/s-l500.jpg)
Larry Bird #101
Raw $15.20PSA 10 $13,300
Magic Johnson #21
Raw $18.97PSA 10 $8,140
Larry Bird #4
Raw $59.00PSA 10 $4,000
Magic Johnson #109
Raw $14.19PSA 10 $3,958
Magic Johnson [West] #W109
Raw $13.50PSA 10 $3,155
Charlie Criss [East] #E67
Raw $1.27PSA 10 $2,806
Kevin McHale #E75
Raw $10.73PSA 10 $2,698
Julius Erving #30
Raw $6.29PSA 10 $2,050
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar [West] #W106
Raw $4.99PSA 10 $1,825
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar #20
Raw $5.71PSA 10 $1,397
Larry Bird / Nate Archibald #45
Raw $4.78PSA 10 $925
Bill Laimbeer [Mid-West] #MW74
Raw $5.95PSA 10 $882
Best cards to grade
Charlie Criss [East] #E67 shows the biggest jump in 1981 Topps: $1.27 raw to $2,806 in PSA 10, a 2210× premium. Ranked by PSA 10 price ÷ raw price; only cards with a PSA 10 value of $20 or more are shown.
- 12210×Charlie Criss [East] #E67$1.27 raw → $2,806 PSA 10
- 2875×Larry Bird #101$15.20 raw → $13,300 PSA 10
- 3429×Magic Johnson #21$18.97 raw → $8,140 PSA 10
- 4366×Kareem Abdul-Jabbar [West] #W106$4.99 raw → $1,825 PSA 10
- 5353×David Thompson #12$1.27 raw → $449 PSA 10
- 6326×Julius Erving #30$6.29 raw → $2,050 PSA 10
- 7305×Bob Lanier #25$2.00 raw → $611 PSA 10
- 8
![Mike O'Koren [East] #E81 card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/yb0AAOSw1yVnjWr4/s-l500.jpg)
281×Mike O'Koren [East] #E81$0.99 raw → $278 PSA 10
Full checklist
All 96 cards we track from 1981 Topps, with the latest raw and graded market values. Tap any card for its full price history.
| Card | Raw | PSA 9 | PSA 10 | CGC 10 | BGS 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adrian Dantley / Ben Poquette / Allan Bristow #65Adrian Dantley / Ben Poquette / Allan Bristow | $0.32 | $19.99 | $61.69 | $37.00 | $80.00 |
| Adrian Dantley #40Adrian Dantley | $2.05 | $21.41 | $320 | $192 | $416 |
| Alex English [West] #W68Alex English | $1.69 | $36.50 | $300 | $180 | $389 |
| Alvan Adams [West] #W79Alvan Adams | $0.99 | $41.00 | $63.02 | $38.00 | $82.00 |
| Artis Gilmore #7Artis Gilmore | $1.99 | $36.25 | $229 | $137 | $297 |
| Bill Cartwright [East] #E102Bill Cartwright | $1.87 | $21.73 | $295 | $177 | $384 |
| Bill Cartwright / Micheal Ray Richardson #58Bill Cartwright / Micheal Ray Richardson | $2.28 | $19.99 | $189 | $113 | $246 |
| Bill Cartwright #26Bill Cartwright | $1.29 | $23.79 | $350 | $210 | $455 |
| Bill Laimbeer [Mid-West] #MW74Bill Laimbeer | $5.95 | $110 | $882 | $529 | $1,146 |
| Bill Robinzine [Mid-West] #MW78Bill Robinzine | $1.36 | $22.50 | $45.99 | $28.00 | $60.00 |
| Billy Knight / James Edwards / Johnny Davis #53Billy Knight / James Edwards / Johnny Davis | $1.75 | $11.19 | $100 | $60.00 | $130 |
| Billy McKinney [West] #W69Billy McKinney | $1.77 | $21.00 | $125 | $75.00 | $162 |
| Bob Lanier #25Bob Lanier | $2.00 | $17.77 | $611 | $366 | $794 |
| Bobby Jones #32Bobby Jones | $1.74 | $34.86 | $188 | $113 | $244 |
| Bobby Wilkerson [Mid-West] #MW70Bobby Wilkerson | $0.99 | $12.95 | $101 | $61.00 | $132 |
| Calvin Murphy #15Calvin Murphy | $1.77 | $17.54 | $215 | $129 | $280 |
| Cedric Maxwell #5Cedric Maxwell | $1.72 | $36.00 | $208 | $125 | $270 |
| Charlie Criss [East] #E67Charlie Criss | $1.27 | $21.27 | $2,806 | $1,684 | $3,648 |
| Dan Issel #11Dan Issel | $1.69 | $20.57 | $319 | $191 | $414 |
| Dan Roundfield #2Dan Roundfield | $1.60 | $14.99 | $124 | $74.00 | $161 |
| Darrell Griffith #41Darrell Griffith | $2.00 | $58.99 | $424 | $254 | $551 |
| Darryl Dawkins [East] #E103Darryl Dawkins | $3.29 | $23.40 | $99.99 | $60.00 | $130 |
| Darryl Dawkins #29Darryl Dawkins | $0.99 | $26.51 | $78.44 | $47.00 | $102 |
| David Greenwood [Mid-West] #MW67David Greenwood | $1.88 | $14.99 | $45.00 | $27.00 | $59.00 |
| David Thompson / Dan Issel / Kenny Higgs #49David Thompson / Dan Issel / Kenny Higgs | $1.72 | $22.13 | $162 | $97.00 | $210 |
| David Thompson #12David Thompson | $1.27 | $40.00 | $449 | $269 | $583 |
| Dennis Johnson #34Dennis Johnson | $1.34 | $19.65 | $130 | $78.00 | $169 |
| Dwight Jones [Mid-West] #MW68Dwight Jones | $0.99 | $11.50 | $38.50 | $23.00 | $50.00 |
| Eddie Johnson [East] #E68Eddie Johnson | $1.17 | $15.00 | $52.72 | $32.00 | $69.00 |
| Elvin Hayes / Kevin Porter #66Elvin Hayes / Kevin Porter | $1.85 | $24.00 | $219 | $131 | $284 |
| Elvin Hayes #42Elvin Hayes | $1.19 | $28.27 | $293 | $176 | $381 |
| Fred Brown #43Fred Brown | $1.65 | $24.99 | $121 | $72.00 | $157 |
| Freeman Williams / Swen Nater / Brian Taylor #63Freeman Williams / Swen Nater / Brian Taylor | $1.12 | $5.00 | $121 | $73.00 | $157 |
| George Gervin [Mid-West] #MW106George Gervin | $1.83 | $29.49 | $170 | $102 | $221 |
| George Gervin / Dave Corzine / Johnny Moore #62George Gervin / Dave Corzine / Johnny Moore | $1.60 | $34.81 | $375 | $225 | $488 |
| George Gervin #37George Gervin | $2.87 | $36.00 | $578 | $347 | $751 |
| Jack Sikma / Vinnie Johnson #64Jack Sikma / Vinnie Johnson | $1.79 | $15.26 | $132 | $79.00 | $172 |
| Jack Sikma #39Jack Sikma | $1.25 | $21.50 | $115 | $69.00 | $149 |
| Jamaal Wilkes #23Jamaal Wilkes | $1.79 | $22.00 | $231 | $139 | $300 |
| Jeff Cook [West] #W80Jeff Cook | $1.39 | $22.49 | $73.59 | $44.00 | $96.00 |
| Jim Paxson / Mychal Thompson / Kermit Washington / Kelvin Ransey #61Jim Paxson / Mychal Thompson / Kermit Washington / Kelvin Ransey | $2.12 | $11.93 | $71.60 | $43.00 | $93.00 |
| Jim Spanarkel [Mid-West] #MW79Jim Spanarkel | $1.37 | $18.48 | $36.68 | $22.00 | $48.00 |
| Jim Spanarkel / Tom LaGarde / Brad Davis #48Jim Spanarkel / Tom LaGarde / Brad Davis | $0.39 | $43.00 | $52.00 | $31.00 | $68.00 |
| John Drew / Dan Roundfield / Eddie Johnson #44John Drew / Dan Roundfield / Eddie Johnson | $1.18 | $15.00 | $67.00 | $40.00 | $87.00 |
| John Drew #1John Drew | $1.53 | $30.74 | $273 | $164 | $355 |
| Johnny Davis #16Johnny Davis | $1.29 | $12.48 | $45.00 | $27.00 | $59.00 |
| Julius Erving [East] #E104Julius Erving | $4.75 | $49.99 | $568 | $341 | $738 |
| Julius Erving / Caldwell Jones / Maurice Cheeks #59Julius Erving / Caldwell Jones / Maurice Cheeks | $2.00 | $22.66 | $173 | $104 | $225 |
| Julius Erving #30Julius Erving | $6.29 | $183 | $2,050 | $1,230 | $2,665 |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar [West] #W106Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | $4.99 | $156 | $1,825 | $1,095 | $2,373 |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar / Norm Nixon #55Kareem Abdul-Jabbar / Norm Nixon | $1.67 | $26.15 | $350 | $210 | $455 |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar #20Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | $5.71 | $121 | $1,397 | $838 | $1,817 |
| Keith Herron [Mid-West] #MW81Keith Herron | $1.00 | $20.00 | $50.41 | $30.00 | $66.00 |
| Kent Benson [Mid-West] #MW80Kent Benson | $1.37 | $27.84 | $203 | $122 | $263 |
| Kevin McHale #E75Kevin McHale | $10.73 | $91.69 | $2,698 | $1,619 | $3,508 |
| Larry Bird / Nate Archibald #45Larry Bird / Nate Archibald | $4.78 | $55.56 | $925 | $555 | $1,203 |
| Larry Bird #101Larry Bird | $15.20 | $236 | $13,300 | $7,980 | $17,290 |
| Larry Bird #4Larry Bird | $59.00 | $1,232 | $4,000 | $2,400 | $5,200 |
| Leonard Robinson / Alvan Adams #60Leonard Robinson / Alvan Adams | $1.72 | $20.99 | $40.00 | $24.00 | $52.00 |
| Leonard Robinson #35Leonard Robinson | $1.75 | $23.69 | $159 | $95.00 | $207 |
| Lionel Hollins #31Lionel Hollins | $1.35 | $23.00 | $125 | $75.00 | $163 |
| Lloyd Free #13Lloyd Free | $1.86 | $24.00 | $233 | $140 | $302 |
| Magic Johnson [West] #W109Magic Johnson | $13.50 | $203 | $3,155 | $1,893 | $4,102 |
| Magic Johnson #109Magic Johnson | $14.19 | $250 | $3,958 | $2,375 | $5,145 |
| Magic Johnson #21Magic Johnson | $18.97 | $643 | $8,140 | $6,000 | $10,582 |
| Mark Landsberger [West] #W78Mark Landsberger | $1.94 | $45.00 | $54.00 | $32.00 | $70.00 |
| Maurice Cheeks #90Maurice Cheeks | $2.75 | $30.63 | $243 | $146 | $316 |
| Maurice Lucas [East] #E79Maurice Lucas | $2.25 | $14.03 | $49.99 | $30.00 | $65.00 |
| Michael Cooper [West] #W77Michael Cooper | $3.47 | $38.10 | $133 | $80.00 | $173 |
| Micheal Ray Richardson #27Micheal Ray Richardson | $1.63 | $33.00 | $155 | $93.00 | $201 |
| Mike Gminski [East] #E78Mike Gminski | $1.70 | $10.71 | $294 | $176 | $382 |
| Mike Mitchell #9Mike Mitchell | $1.78 | $45.01 | $500 | $300 | $650 |
| Mike Newlin [East] #E80Mike Newlin | $1.23 | $22.66 | $171 | $102 | $222 |
| Mike O'Koren [East] #E81Mike O'Koren | $0.99 | $18.75 | $278 | $167 | $362 |
| Moses Malone / Allen Leavell #52Moses Malone / Allen Leavell | $1.46 | $11.00 | $158 | $95.00 | $205 |
| Moses Malone #14Moses Malone | $1.99 | $40.00 | $392 | $235 | $509 |
| Mychal Thompson #36Mychal Thompson | $1.80 | $21.06 | $81.55 | $49.00 | $106 |
| Nate Archibald #3Nate Archibald | $1.99 | $26.40 | $186 | $112 | $242 |
| Norm Nixon #22Norm Nixon | $1.29 | $22.55 | $174 | $104 | $226 |
| Otis Birdsong / Reggie King / Phil Ford #54Otis Birdsong / Reggie King / Phil Ford | $1.44 | $16.00 | $175 | $105 | $227 |
| Otis Birdsong #17Otis Birdsong | $1.83 | $14.71 | $167 | $100 | $217 |
| Phil Ford #18Phil Ford | $1.72 | $66.00 | $79.00 | $47.00 | $103 |
| Phil Hubbard [Mid-West] #MW82Phil Hubbard | $1.25 | $18.16 | $19.01 | $11.00 | $25.00 |
| Ray Williams #28Ray Williams | $1.75 | $21.48 | $150 | $90.00 | $195 |
| Reggie Theus [Mid-West] #MW69Reggie Theus | $1.00 | $22.79 | $42.89 | $26.00 | $56.00 |
| Reggie Theus / Artis Gilmore #46Reggie Theus / Artis Gilmore | $1.82 | $20.48 | $201 | $121 | $262 |
| Rich Kelley [West] #W81Rich Kelley | $1.02 | $21.20 | $25.00 | $15.00 | $33.00 |
| Rick Mahorn [East] #E98Rick Mahorn | $2.75 | $24.00 | $84.62 | $51.00 | $110 |
| Ricky Sobers #8Ricky Sobers | $1.25 | $29.64 | $89.99 | $54.00 | $117 |
| Robert Parish [East] #E108Robert Parish | $2.75 | $30.82 | $398 | $239 | $517 |
| Robert Parish #6Robert Parish | $2.73 | $49.57 | $258 | $155 | $335 |
| Scott Wedman #19Scott Wedman | $1.40 | $14.92 | $131 | $78.00 | $170 |
| Swen Nater #38Swen Nater | $1.38 | $38.68 | $203 | $122 | $263 |
| T.R. Dunn [West] #W67T.R. Dunn | $2.75 | $26.72 | $322 | $193 | $419 |
| Tom LaGarde #10Tom LaGarde | $1.79 | $12.26 | $201 | $121 | $261 |
| Walter Davis #33Walter Davis | $0.99 | $32.03 | $250 | $150 | $325 |
Players in this set
All Basketball players →- Larry Bird
- Magic Johnson
- Charlie Criss
- Kevin McHale
- Julius Erving
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Larry Bird / Nate Archibald
- Bill Laimbeer
- Bob Lanier
- George Gervin
- Mike Mitchell
- David Thompson
- Darrell Griffith
- Robert Parish
- Moses Malone
- George Gervin / Dave Corzine / Johnny Moore
- Bill Cartwright
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar / Norm Nixon
- T.R. Dunn
- Adrian Dantley
About this set
1981 Topps is a Basketball set from 1981. Midpoint tracks 96 cards from it, 96 with market prices from recent sales and 96 with a PSA 10 value. The set's most valuable card is Larry Bird #101 at $13,300 in PSA 10 ($15.20 raw). Priced raw copies add up to $304, and PSA 10 copies to $61K. On average a PSA 10 sells for 61× the raw price across the set's graded cards.
Frequently asked questions
- How many cards are in 1981 Topps?
- Our Basketball price guide lists 96 cards for 1981 Topps, 96 of them with live market prices.
- What is the most valuable card in 1981 Topps?
- The most valuable card in 1981 Topps is Larry Bird #101 at $13,300 in PSA 10 ($15.20 raw).
- Is Larry Bird #101 worth grading?
- A PSA 10 Larry Bird #101 sells for $13,300 vs $15.20 raw — a 875× premium. That gap is what makes grading a well-centered, clean copy worthwhile.
- When was 1981 Topps released?
- 1981 Topps was released in 1981.
Is your basketball card centered well enough to grade?
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