1971-72 Topps - League Leaders Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain

The 1971-72 Topps #142 NBA Rebounds Leaders card is one of the most electrifying multi-player cards in vintage basketball — a single piece of cardboard that places Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then Lew Alcindor) and Wilt Chamberlain together alongside Elvin Hayes to commemorate the 1970-71 season's top rebounders. Two generational giants, one card, over 50 years old. This is the kind of vintage find that serious collectors chase for decades.

The 1971-72 Topps basketball set returned to the standard card size of 2½" × 3½" , and cards were issued in 10-card, 10-cent packs with 24 packs per box. A total of 233 cards make up 1971-72 Topps Basketball. Subsets include a review of the NBA playoffs on cards #133–137, the NBA statistical leaders on cards #138–143, and the ABA statistical leaders on cards #146–151. There are also 26 different sticker inserts that fall one per pack.

Legends Wilt Chamberlain and Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) rank as the most valuable 1971-72 Topps Basketball cards. Card #142 puts them both on the same piece of cardboard — a combination that commands instant attention in any collection or break. When the 1971-72 season came to a close, Abdul-Jabbar sat atop the scoring leaderboard for the second season in a row, pacing the league with 34.8 points per game. His 16.6 rebounds per game were the second-highest of his legendary career.

What you're hunting:

• #142 NBA Rebounds Leaders — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Elvin Hayes — the crown jewel multi-player card of the set
• #140 NBA Field Goal Pct. Leaders — Johnny Green, Lew Alcindor, and Wilt Chamberlain sharing the field goal percentage leaders card
• Key rookies — Nate Archibald, Rick Barry, Larry Brown, Dave Cowens, Spencer Haywood, Dan Issel, Bob Lanier, Rudy Tomjanovich, and Doug Moe
• Trios Stickers inserts — 26 different sticker inserts, one per pack , including Wilt Chamberlain stickers
• NBA Scoring Leaders #138 — Lew Alcindor, Elvin Hayes, and John Havlicek on the scoring leaders card

The 1971-72 Topps basketball card set was the first to feature the ABA , making it a landmark vintage issue that spans both leagues in a single set. There's little questioning what era these cards are from — they bring lots of colors, playful lettering, and players cut out and cast in front of a single-colored box. High-grade examples of this card are genuinely scarce after 50-plus years of circulation, and the demand for Kareem and Wilt cardboard together on one slab continues to grow as the vintage basketball market tightens. Raw copies in presentable condition are your entry point — PSA/SGC-graded examples command a meaningful premium. Act accordingly.

Available at Collector Station, Easley, SC. Local pickup available. All sales final. Shipping damage must be reported within 48 hours of delivery with photos.