The 1990s were the golden era for basketball cards . Card companies introduced imaginative inserts and ingenious designs that made cards feel unique. At the same time, the hobby was not yet overly complicated. There weren’t endless parallels and collectors knew what to expect when opening packs.

The $3.125 million sale of this 1997 Kobe Bryant Precious Metal Gem (serial numbered to 10) made national headlines this week, setting a new record for the most expensive solo Kobe card ever. | Card Ladder

The ‘Jordan Factor’ played a massive role in this golden era. Jordan's dominance coincided with card companies pushing their creative limits, resulting in thousands of unique Michael Jordan cards that remain highly sought after today. Jordan rookie reprints remain hot .…