Featuring the eleven best players in the NBA at that time (except, perhaps, for Isiah Thomas), including Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, and Karl Malone, Sports Illustrated described the Dream Team as "arguably the most dominant squad ever assembled in any sport." The Dream Team changed the game of basketball forever. Basketball is easily one of the most popular sports around the world today.
Sports Illustrated #v74 #6 (February 18, 1991)
This issue has an iconic cover that I instantly recognize even 33 years later. At the end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the United States became the world's sole superpower. This Sports Illustrated cover projects that sense of American might that America had at that time: "WATCH OUT, WORLD! THIS COULD BE AMERICA'S 1991 OLYMPIC FIVE."
The cover's photograph is perfectly composed with the backcourt of Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan in the foreground, and the front court of Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, and Karl Malone in the background. If this cover featured Larry Bird as well (perhaps instead of Patrick Ewing), it would, in my opinion, be perfect.
According to the CGC Census, there are only 36 Universal blue-label copies of this issue in existence. Although sales data is limited, this issue is affordable, especially in lower grades. The CGC 6.0 newsstand version featured in the photograph above sold for $199.50 on February 5th, 2023, after 24 bids during an auction hosted by eBay. Just a few weeks later, a CGC 7.0 copy sold for the same amount during another eBay auction.
Nearly two and a half years ago, an ungraded, detached cover of this issue (seen in the photo above) sold for a whopping $6,900 (including the buyer's premium) on Heritage Auctions. Why so much for a detached cover? Because Jordan, Johnson, Barkley, Ewing, and Malone all signed this cover in black felt tip ink.
Beckett Authentication Services authenticated their signatures. Can you imagine how much this same issue would cost if it were complete, high-grade, and if it were verified through CGC's Signature Series service?
Newsweek #v120 #1 (July 6, 1992)
The Dream Team were such a global phenomenon that even non-sports magazines like Newsweek featured them on their covers. While not quite as memorable as the Sports Illustrated cover, this Newsweek cover does feature the three most historically significant players on the Dream Team: Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, and Magic Johnson. It also includes Bird which is a significant omission from the Sports Illustrated cover.
Not surprisingly, this Newsweek issue is significantly more affordable than the Sports Illustrated magazine discussed above. According to the CGC Census, CGC has graded only 15 Universal blue labels of this issue. The CGC 8.5 copy featured in the photograph above sold for $98 back on March 12th on eBay. A week CGC 7.0 copy sold for $42.79 after seven bids during an eBay auction about a week later. Another 7.0 sold for a mere $33.79 after 15 bids during an auction hosted by eBay on April 6th.
Do you collect any memorabilia related to the Dream Team? If so, please let us know in the comments section below!
*Any perceived investment advice is that of the freelance blogger and does not represent advice on behalf of GoCollect.
