AI Appraisal Estimate

This is a standard 2.5 by 3.5-inch basketball trading card produced by Upper Deck for the 1993-1994 NBA season. The card features Hall of Famer Michael Jordan and is part of the 'Season Leaders' subset, specifically highlighting his league-leading performance in steals. The card front displays a crisp action photograph of Jordan in his Chicago Bulls home white uniform against a textured, dark gray background designed to look like a stone or asphalt surface. The text 'SEASON LEADERS' is printed vertically in large silver-toned block letters, with 'MICHAEL JORDAN - STEALS' printed in smaller white type adjacent to it. The Upper Deck hologram logo is visible in the upper-left corner. The card is currently housed in a protective clear plastic top-loader, which has some surface scratching not affecting the card itself. The card corners appear relatively sharp, though the top edge shows minor white chipping, common for cards with dark borders. The centering appears slightly shifted toward the right side. The printing utilizes high-quality UV-coated cardstock characteristic of mid-90s premium releases. The back of the card, though not visible, would typically contain statistical data and biographical information. This item represents a key era in sports collectibles during Jordan's first retirement and brief baseball career transition.

I have examined the 1993-94 Upper Deck Michael Jordan 'Season Leaders' #171 basketball card through available imagery. The card presents in 'Raw' Near-Mint condition. Key observations include relatively sharp corners and a clean surface finish on the UV-coated stock. However, I noted minor white chipping along the top edge and a right-leaning centering bias (approximately 45/55), which are common manufacturing defects for this specific set. The holofoil Upper Deck logo appears authentic to the period. As this was a high-volume production era, value is driven by Jordan's global brand rather than scarcity. Current market data shows high liquidity for this card, with raw copies consistently selling in the $10-$25 range. Top-tier professional grading (PSA 10) can elevate value significantly, but the visible edge wear on this specimen suggests it would likely grade as an 7 or 8. Limitations: This assessment is based on visual digital inspection and does not constitute a guarantee of authenticity. A physical examination is required to verify card stock thickness, surface indentation, and microscopic printing patterns to rule out high-quality reprints. To finalize a valuation for insurance or sale, I recommend submitting the card to a third-party grading service (PSA, BGS, or SGC) to verify the physical integrity and secure a definitive condition grade.