Unopened packs Blog

1996 Skybox E-X2000 Set Analysis

Written by Jeff Walters | March 2021

The 1996-97 Skybox E-X2000 basketball set is among the few products that encapsulate the mid-to-late-1990s to its fullest. Cards felt futuristic and brought a different “air” to the market.

Despite not being a vintage product, high grades are tough to come by. This is mainly due to the sensitive nature of the cards, which has only been amplified over time. With an intricate design comprised of a framed border, die-cut player image, and transparent sheet decorated with clouds, as their primary background; is a bit reminiscent of an older Skybox insert, the 1995-96 Hoops Skyview.

The bulk of the set is comprised of 82 base cards, 80 if you exclude the checklists. While there are some very notable base cards (such as Michael Jordan), the 1996-97 NBA rookie class is what takes the cake, including Kobe Bryant, Ray Allen, Allen Iverson and Stephon Marbury rookies.

The set actually has only one base parallel, the Credentials, numbered to 499, and can be distinguished by a pearl foil border and the word "CREDENTIALS" on the top right corner of the card front.

This post will cover:

  • Set Overview
  • By the Numbers – Key Insights and Observations
  • Top 10 Most Expensive Cards from the Set
  • Data Related to Unopened Boxes and Packs
  • Set Checklist

 

1996 Skybox E-X2000 Set Overview

  • Base Set: 82
  • Insert = An insert cardaka (Chase Card) is a card that is randomly inserted into packs of a sports card offering. These insert cards are not part of the regular numbering system of a set of sports cards and they tend to have a unique design.
    • A Cut Above: 1:288 (10 Cards in total)
    • Net Assets Set: 1:20 (20 Cards in total)
    • Star Date 2000 Set: 1:9 (15 Cards in total)
    • Grant Hill Promos/Incentives: GH Emerald Autographed Redemption (1:500)
    • Autographics Set: 1:72 (Number of cards not disclosed)
  • Refractors: A Refractor Cardis a card that has a reflective coating and displays a rainbow when held at a specific angle. They are parallels of base set issues.
    • Credentials (Parallel): Numbered to 499
    • ProFiles Set
    • Seasons’s Best Set
    • Youthquake Set
  • Boxes
    • Each box contained 24 packs
    • Each pack contained 2 cards
    • Case production currently unknown
  • Notable – Key players in the sets:
    • Kobe Bryant
    • Allen Iverson
    • Ray Allen
    • Steve Nash
    • Michael Jordan

By the Numbers – Key Insights and Observations

 

Despite the limited number of cards, the 1996-1997 Skybox E-X2000 featured high quality, cutting edge designs. As seen in the image above, the "Credentials" parallels (numbered to 499) featured die cut player images, accompanied by an off-white colored foil border, and cloud filled sky backgrounds. These cards are very rare and don't come up for sale very often, and when they do, top grades are hard to find due to the extreme condition sensitivity.

A good condition Credentials parallel however can yield very high returns.

Collecting the base set – Assuming perfect distribution, at 2 cards per pack, and 24 packs per box; you would need 2 boxes to complete the entire set of 80 base cards.

The base version of Kobe Bryant also made our list. This card is almost identical to the rare "Credentials" parallel with the only exception being the different colored border. Despite being part of the base set (having a higher encounter rate) these cards are too prone to wear and chipping along the colored edges. The fragile nature of the cards makes getting a PSA 10 extremely rare. This can easily make the card’s value skyrocket and should not be overlooked, even if it’s part of the Base Set.

 

Top 10 Key Cards from the 1996 Skybox E-X2000 Set

 

The top 10 highest priced cards of the 1996 E-X2000 basketball set included:

 

Card Name

Number of PSA 10’s Graded

Highest Price Paid for PSA 10

1.   #30 Kobe Bryant Credentials

4

$78,000 (for a PSA 8)

2.  #30 Kobe Bryant

24

$87,100

3.  #9  Michael Jordan Credentials

2

$21,500 (for a PSA 9)

4.  #9 Michael Jordan

38

$4,500

5.  #5 Michael Jordan – A Cut Above Insert

1

$9,299 (for a PSA 9)

6.  #8 Michael Jordan Net Assets Insert

38

$3,070

7.  #3 Kobe Bryant Star Date Insert

89

$70,152

8.  #53 Allen Iverson Credentials

3

$18,288

9. #42 Steph Marbury Credentials

0

$3,000 (for a PSA 9)

10. #53 Allen Iverson

22

$7,250 (for a PSA 9)

 

1996 Skybox E-X2000 Unopened Boxes and Packs

 

Average Prices for:

Amount

1996 Skybox E-X2000 Box

$15,000 asking price

1996 Skybox E-X2000 Pack

NA

Case

Currently unknown

 

1996-97 Skybox E-X2000 Basketball Set Checklist

 

Base Set

1 Christian Laettner
2 Dikembe Mutombo
3 Steve Smith
4 Antoine Walker RC
5 David Wesley
6 Tony Delk RC
7 Anthony Mason
8 Glen Rice
9 Michael Jordan
10 Scottie Pippen
11 Dennis Rodman
12 Terrell Brandon
13 Chris Mills
14 Shawn Bradley
15 Michael Finley
16 Dale Ellis
17 Antonio McDyess
18 Joe Dumars
19 Grant Hill
20 Chris Mullin
21 Joe Smith
22 Latrell Sprewell
23 Charles Barkley
24 Clyde Drexler
25 Hakeem Olajuwon
26 Erick Dampier RC
27 Reggie Miller
28 Loy Vaught

29 Lorenzen Wright RC
30 Kobe Bryant RC
31 Eddie Jones
32 Shaquille O'Neal
33 Nick Van Exel
34 Tim Hardaway
35 Jamal Mashburn
36 Alonzo Mourning
37 Ray Allen RC
38 Vin Baker
39 Glenn Robinson
40 Kevin Garnett
41 Tom Gugliotta

42 Stephon Marbury RC
43 Kendall Gill
44 Jim Jackson
45 Kerry Kittles RC
46 Patrick Ewing
47 Larry Johnson
48 John Wallace RC
49 Nick Anderson
50 Horace Grant
51 Anfernee Hardaway
52 Derrick Coleman
53 Allen Iverson RC
54 Jerry Stackhouse
55 Cedric Ceballos
56 Kevin Johnson

57 Jason Kidd
58 Clifford Robinson
59 Arvydas Sabonis
60 Rasheed Wallace
61 Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf
62 Brian Grant
63 Mitch Richmond
64 Sean Elliott
65 David Robinson
66 Dominique Wilkins
67 Shawn Kemp
68 Gary Payton
69 Detlef Schrempf
70 Marcus Camby RC
71 Damon Stoudamire
72 Walt Williams
73 Shandon Anderson RC
74 Karl Malone
75 John Stockton
76 Shareef Abdur-Rahim RC
77 Bryant Reeves
78 Roy Rogers RC
79 Juwan Howard
80 Chris Webber
81 Checklist
82 Checklist

A Cut Above Set Checklist

1 Kevin Garnett
2 Anfernee Hardaway
3 Grant Hill
4 Allen Iverson
5 Michael Jordan
6 Shawn Kemp
7 Hakeem Olajuwon
8 Shaquille O'Neal

9 Glenn Robinson
10 Dennis Rodman

 

Net Assets Set Checklist

1 Ray Allen
2 Charles Barkley
3 Patrick Ewing
4 Kevin Garnett
5 Anfernee Hardaway
6 Grant Hill

7 Allen Iverson
8 Michael Jordan
9 Jason Kidd
10 Kerry Kittles

11 Karl Malone
12 Alonzo Mourning

13 Shaquille O'Neal
14 Gary Payton
15 Bryant Reeves
16 David Robinson

17 Dennis Rodman
18 Joe Smith
19 Damon Stoudamire
20 Chris Webber

 

Star Date 2000 Set Checklist

1 Shareef Abdur-Rahim
2 Ray Allen
3 Kobe Bryant
4 Marcus Camby
5 Erick Dampier
6 Juwan Howard
7 Allen Iverson
8 Jason Kidd
9 Kerry Kittles
10 Stephon Marbury
11 Jamal Mashburn
12 Antonio McDyess
13 Joe Smith
14 Damon Stoudamire
15 Antoine Walker

 

Grant Hill Promos / Incentives Set Checklist

Grant Hill Emerald Autographed Basketball Redemption (1:500 packs)
Grant Hill Oversized Case Incentive #/3000
Grant Hill Sample Promo

 

Autographics Set Checklist (1996-97 Skybox Autographics Set Checklist)

The cards are found throughout 1996-97 Fleer/Skybox products. They are listed alphabetically as they are not numbered.

Adam Keefe
Allan Houston
Alonzo Mourning
Andrew DeClercq
Andrew Lang
Antoine Walker
Antonio McDyess
B.J. Armstrong
Bill Wennington
Billy Owens
Bob Sura
Bobby Phills
Brent Barry
Brian Grant
Bryant Stith
Byron Scott
Charles Oakley
Chris Childs
Chris Mills
Chris Morris
Chuck Person
Clyde Drexler
Damon Stoudamire
Dana Barros
David Wesley
Dell Curry
Dennis Scott
Don MacLean
Doug West
Ed O'Bannon
Eddie Jones
Eric Montross

Eric Snow
George Lynch
George McCloud
Gheorghe Muresan
Glen Rice
Grant Hill
Grant Long
Greg Ostertag
Hakeem Olajuwon
Jerry Stackhouse
Jim Jackson
Joe Smith
Joe Wolf
John Starks
John Wallace
Juwan Howard

Kendall Gill
Kenny Anderson
Kenny Smith
Kerry Kittles
Kevin Garnett
Latrell Sprewell
Lawrence Moten
Lee Mayberry
Loy Vaught
Luc Longley
Marcus Camby
Mark Jackson
Matt Geiger
Michael Finley
Monty Williams

Muggsy Bogues
Nate McMillan
Nick Anderson
P.J. Brown
Randy Brown
Ray Allen
Rick Fox
Rik Smits
Rod Strickland
Rodney Rogers
Sam Mitchell
Sam Perkins
Samaki Walker
Scottie Pippen
Sharone Wright
Sherman Douglas
Stephon Marbury
Steve Kerr
Steve Nash
Theo Ratliff
Tim Hardaway
Toni Kukoc
Tony Delk
Travis Best
Tyrone Hill
Tyus Edney
Vincent Askew
Voshon Lenard
Walter McCarty
Wesley Person
Zan Tabak
Zydrunas Ilgauskas