It’s hard to argue with the impact that LeBron James has on the modern basketball card market. Despite having over 15 seasons’ worth of cards, collectors continue to clammer for his new releases. Some of his rookie cards and more limited releases command hundreds or thousands of dollars. However, there are still a ton of great cards that can be had for less than $10! Here are a few of my favorites.

5) 2007-08 Fleer #12

While not a direct copy of a past Fleer design, this card has a retro vibe that resonates with me. I really like how the border and uniform colors tie together, and the photo captures James in the middle of a jumpshot. It’s hard to put together a “best of” list without including a Fleer card, and it’s cards like this which make me wish Upper Deck still had a NBA license. You can pick up a copy on eBay for about $5.

4) 2010-11 Donruss #165

The Donruss brand made its first ever push into the basketball card market in the 2010-11 season. They used a 1984 inspired design, and it seems the photos have a bit of a vintage filter applied to them. The combination of design, action photo, and the fact that it’s the first Donruss card, makes this a card I’m happy to own in my collection. It’s another one that can be delivered to your door for $5 or less!

3) 2007-08 Topps #23

LeBron is good at dunking. This 2007-08 Topps card captures him with the ball below his waist, just moments before what I imagine was a powerful reverse slam. I love how it’s a solo action shot, and for some reason the Topps 50th Anniversary logo adds to the overall appeal of the card for me. This one will run you somewhere between $5-$10 depending on the shipping method selected.

2) 2013-14 Pinnacle “The Naturals” #1

This is one of my favorite LeBron cards in my collection. It’s super cheap, and despite selling for less than $5, it doesn’t seem to get the interest it deserves. The Dufex finish is amazing on this card. The silver, black, and gold color scheme is perfect, and as you rotate the card it looks like there are rays of light shooting from LeBron’s body.

1) 2008-09 Upper Deck #33

Man I wish Upper Deck still had a NBA license. More so than any other sport, I think I would enjoy collecting NBA cards more if there were options from Panini, Topps, and Upper Deck. The photo on this card captures an amazing dunk and also makes me laugh. It captures the unfortunate moment his opponent is cowering in fear of LeBrons raw power, and the fact that his eyes are closed just makes me chuckle all the more. You can’t go wrong spending a couple bucks on this card.

These five cards are a few of my favorites, but there are a ton more which fall in the less than $10 threshold. There is a huge focus on the high end of the sports card market, but you don’t have to always spend a ton to enjoy the hobby. Don’t worry about the hype, find cards which you enjoy regardless of how much they are worth.

I included eBay links in each card’s description, but you can also find many of these cards on Sportlots. Please note, I included affiliate links within this post to support the maintenance and development of this site.

Also, if you haven’t heard, I started a new Podcast called the WaxPackHero Sports Card Minute!  It’s available here directly on the site at the Podcast link at the top of the page, or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn!  Check it out, let me know what you think, and tell your friends!