Welcome to Must Know Inserts (MKI), a series highlighting the basketball card insert every collector should know. MKI #1 covered Beam Teams, #2 focused on Scoring Kings, and in this one, we’re taking a fresh look at:
1997-98 Metal Universe Planet Metal
At nearly 30 years old, 1997-98 Skybox Metal Universe set is arguably the greatest basketball set ever created, at least when it comes to inserts. The set itself features two of the most sought-after inserts in modern basketball: Precious Metal Gems and Platinum Portraits. (Both will get their own MKI at some point, so stay tuned.)
But while those two inserts are wildly out of reach for most of us, the more common Planet Metal insert gives the rest of us a chance to own some of the greatest players of the era from one of the most iconic 90s basketball card sets.
With its simple yet effective design featuring a player like Dennis Rodman in the foreground and a silvery black hole-like vortex in the background, this insert is instantly recognizable. It was successful enough during its debut run that the Metal Universe team recycled the idea in the 98-99 set, although they switched up the design and made it a die-cut card.
Personally, I prefer the original.
Planet Metal At A Glance:
15-Card Checklist
Only 3 (maybe 4) of which are generally $50 or less if purchased raw (ungraded)
Marcus Camby, Stephon Marbury, and Gary Payton can typically be found for <$50, while Grant Hill and occasionally Charles Barkley can also be found at those levels.
Randomly inserted into 1:24 Hobby packs and 1:38 Retail packs
An insert from the legendary 1997-98 Skybox Metal Universe set.
Conor Collects Hobby Icon Score: (4/5)
Key Planet Metal Cards
Top Chase Cards:
Michael Jordan (#1)
Kobe Bryant (#3)
Shaquille O’Neal (#4)
Notable Hall of Famers:
Michael Jordan (#1)
Allen Iverson (#2)
Kobe Bryant (#3)
Shaquille O’Neal (#4)
Kevin Garnett (#8)
Dennis Rodman (#10)
Grant Hill (#11)
Hakeem Olajuwon (#12)
David Robinson (#13)
Charles Barkley (#14)
Gary Payton (#15)
💰 Market Snapshot 💰
Highest Recorded Sale
Player: Michael Jordan
Grade: PSA 10
Price (Date): $32,700 (July 24, 2026)
Two Year Trend: Up 280% 🔥🔥🔥
Other Notable Sales
Player: Kobe Bryant
Grade: PSA 10
Price (Date): $23,400 (September 27, 2026)
Two Year Trend: Up 1,100% 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Overall Trend: Its a Conor Collects Must Know Insert, so its going to be hot. But like all 90s inserts, how hot depends on the player. The general trend is strong to extremely strong (like the Kobe Bryant card). There are also a few players who look due for a big run, more on that below.
Conor’s 2 Cents
While undeniably a lesser known insert, this one feels like its starting to get the recognition it deserves. Plus, with that monster Kobe sale, there’s some real momentum behind it.
The clearest sign that Planet Metal is starting to break out may be Dennis Rodman, whose raw copies have gone from roughly $50 last September to regularly selling for $150+ today, with even a few sales topping $250.
That’s a small but interesting move that I typically pay attention to: not super hyped, but a pretty noticeable shift in what collectors are willing to pay.
Do I Own Any? - Yes, I picked up one raw Jordan pre-COVID, another VERY lucky MJ pickup before the market went bananas. I’m looking to add Shaq, Rodman, and The Admiral (David Robinson) to my collection this year as well. And if I make it that far, I’m thinking that this one would be a fun one to complete.
Biggest Opportunity? - Shaquille O’Neal (#4)
If you read the August Basketball Card Recap you know the Shaq market was one of the biggest winners of the month and his cards have been on fire all year. Planet Metal, however, clearly hasn’t caught up yet.
The highest selling PM card for Shaq is a modest $4,000 set back in February 2024. None have topped $3,000 since then. Don’t sleep on that gap, especially with the rest of the Shaq market moving so fiercely.
As the broader Shaq market continues to heat up (and his cards are up an insane 225% YTD), this is one I’ll be paying close attention to before the market closes that gap for us.
Conor Collects Overall Rating for Planet Metal: 8.8/10
Planet Metal Cards Selling on eBay
I’ve compiled a list of raw and graded Planet Metal cards (only the 97-98) in case you want to add one to your PC. If you’re looking to hunt one down, I’ve pulled together a curated list of the best raw and graded 1997-98 Planet Metal listings below. Any of these purchases will earn me a small commission (at no cost to you), which helps support Conor Collects.
But don’t limit your search to eBay. These pop up at shows, LCSs, and other marketplaces too. If you spot a good one at the right price, it will be worth taking a closer look.
Let me know if you find anything good!