The 1995-96 Fleer Ultra Scoring Kings Michael Jordan is often overshadowed by the legendary 1993-94 version, but for a true “chase” collector, the Hot Pack parallel of this card is a masterpiece of 90s scarcity.
Here is the breakdown of why this card is a “must-know” for your collection.
1. The Pull: One Pack to Rule Them All
In 1995, Fleer Ultra Series 2 featured Hot Packs at a rate of roughly 1 in 72 packs. Unlike standard packs, every single card inside a Hot Pack was a parallel insert.
The Odds: While the standard Scoring Kings Jordan was a 1:24 hobby pack pull, the Hot Pack version was part of that 1:72 pack miracle.
Identification: To the untrained eye, they look similar, but the Hot Pack version often has a more vibrant, “liquid” gold foil application compared to the matte finish of the standard insert.
2. Rarity & The PSA 10 “Wall”
This card is a “condition rarity” gatekeeper. Because it’s a borderless foil card, any friction inside the pack or 30 years of storage creates “white-out” edges.
As of early 2026, the PSA Population Report shows just how hard it is to Gem:
Total Graded (Hot Pack): Hundreds have been submitted.
PSA 10 (Gem Mint): Only 10 exist globally.
PSA 9 (Mint): Roughly 62 exist.
Why so few 10s? Most copies suffer from “foil snow” (tiny white dots in the gold stamping) or corner blunting from being the front or back card in those specific Hot Packs.
Crescent Vale Self-Graded Scores
Centering: One of the best subgrades to this card was the centering with 9.5
Edges: The edges showed wear and received an 8.
Corners: The back left lower corner displayed the most wear and brought the score to a 7.5.
Surface: With minimal imperfections, the surface got a 8.5.
Overall Self-Graded Score: 8.5 NM-MINT+
Grok AI Scores
This is a solid, mid-grade example with good eye appeal: Jordan’s pose is sharp and iconic, colors vibrant (purple/blue foil pops under light), gold foil header intact and bright (no major dulling or heavy chipping), no obvious creases/stains/print defects on back text, and decent gloss. The card presents well for a 30-year-old foil insert.Key issues from close inspection and video:Edge wear/whitening (noticeable along right/bottom edges near foil and purple borders—micro-chipping and roughness visible, especially lower-right corner area).
Corner softness (bottom corners show whitening and light dings/micro-rounding under magnification; top corners better but faint wear).
Surface mostly clean (no deep scratches, dimples, or foil pulls), but minor gloss wear in textured diamond zones and subtle foil alignment variance.
Centering acceptable (front ~55/45 L/R with no extreme tilt; back more even).
No major flaws like bends, paper loss, heavy scratches, or staining.
BGS-Style SubgradesBGS is ideal for foil inserts due to transparent breakdown.Centering: 8.5
Mild left bias on front, but borders consistent and no diamond cut. Back balanced.
Corners: 8.0
Light whitening and micro-dings (most evident bottom-right/left in close-ups/video). Not soft/rounded, but typical foil wear prevents higher.
Edges: 8.0
Whitening/chipping along perimeter (right/bottom most affected—foil edges show nicks/roughness under light). Common defect on these.
Surface: 8.5
Clean—no heavy damage, scratches, or foil lifting. Minor texture/foil imperfections, but strong visual pop.
Overall Grade: 8.0–8.5 (NM-MT range)
Please Note: This card is housed in a custom display slab for superior protection and presentation. While the label may include descriptive details, this is not a grade from a third-party professional service (such as PSA, BGS, or SGC). The card is being sold as Raw/Ungraded. Please review the high-resolution photos provided to make your own assessment of the card’s condition before bidding or purchasing.
