How to Collect | The Washington Wizards

Collecting a Legacy from Baltimore to DC

It’s been more than six decades since the franchise we now know as the Washington Wizards entered the NBA. A brief start in Chicago was followed by a stay in Baltimore punctuated by legends like Wes Unseld and Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, before a trip to the NBA Finals opened up their new home in the nation’s capital.

The Washington Wizards’ collecting legacy stretches from the Baltimore Bullets to today’s rising stars. Iconic Topps cards—from Wes Unseld’s 1969 rookie to Gilbert Arenas’ Chrome refractors—tell the franchise’s story through champions, highlights, and hobby favorites.

Jump to Section:

• Wizards Mount Rushmore
• Wes Unseld Rookie Phenom
• Earl The Pearl and the Finals
• Capital Champions
• Fan Favorites
• Capital Contenders
• MJ’s Return
• Who’s Got Next
• Collecting Your Way
• FAQs
• Key Facts

Wizards Mount Rushmore

Every great team has icons. For Washington, it starts with two champions, an MVP, and a pair of All-Stars who defined eras: Wes Unseld, Elvin Hayes, Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, and Gilbert Arenas. Their Topps cards are cornerstone pieces for any Wizards fan.

• 1969 Topps #56 Wes Unseld RC – Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season.
• 1969 Topps #75 Elvin Hayes RC – Hall of Fame power forward and Finals MVP.
• 1970 Topps #20 Earl Monroe – Flashy guard whose creativity fueled the Bullets’ early Finals run.
• 2006 Topps Chrome #10 Gilbert Arenas Refractor – Three-time All-Star and one of the 2000s’ top scorers.

1969 Topps Basketball #56 Wes Unseld RC

1969 Topps Basketball  #75 Elvin Hayes RC

2008 Topps Chrome Basketball #10 Gilbert Arenas Refractor

1970 Topps Basketball #20 Earl Monroe

A Rookie Season for the Ages

Few players have announced themselves in the league quite like Wes Unseld. The second overall pick in the 1969 NBA Draft, he averaged 13.8 PPG, 18.2 RPG, and 2.6 APG. But the stats only tell part of the story.

His all-around impact was incredible for a rookie, impacting the game in every possible way — as a defender, screener, passer, fast break initiator, scorer — Unseld did it all. He and Wilt Chamberlain are the only two players to win ROY and MVP in the same season.

Unseld’s 1969 Topps Basketball RC is his most valuable, but there are plenty of options with which to build a team collection around, including these gems from 1970. The triple card featuring the young Unseld with legends Elvin Hayes and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a great reminder of how quickly Unseld ascended.

The Pearl and a Trip to the Finals

The team won 57 games in Unseld’s rookie year and began a 12-year playoff run that would include four NBA Finals appearances. The first came in 1971, when Unseld was fully in sync with captivating, must-watch point guard Earl Monroe.

Nicknamed The Pearl, he too had won Rookie of the Year and had already made his third All-Star team by the time the then-Bullets went to the Finals, where they lost to the Bucks. A wizard with the ball as both a scorer and a passer, Monroe’s highlights are among the great joys of the Wizards franchise history. He, like Unseld, has his coveted RC in the famous 1969 Topps Basketball “Tall Boy” set.

Capital Champions

By 1975, Monroe had moved on, but the Bullets weren’t lacking for star power. Elvin Hayes had joined the fold and promptly put up an All-NBA First Team season. Again, the team lost in the NBA Finals, this time to the Warriors. The 60 regular-season wins remain a franchise record.

Hayes has chase cards from throughout his legendary career, beginning with a highly valuable 1969 Topps RC, while with San Diego. For Wizards fans, there are plenty of options from vintage Topps sets when he starred with the franchise, with this 1978 offering showing the star pulling down a board.

Unseld and Hayes led the way, but players like Phil Chenier and former Milwaukee Bucks star Bob Dandridge made valuable contributions and are great additions to a collection.

By 1978, the team was stacked with experienced veterans, including Hall-of-Famer Dandridge, Hayes, and Unseld. All three had entered their 30s, and the combination of talent and know-how propelled them to the mountaintop, dispatching Seattle in a seven-game classic in which four games were decided by four points or less.

Unseld finished seventh in team scoring, but again, his all-round effort made him Finals MVP.

Wizards Fan Favorites

Georghe Muresan played only four years in Washington, but became a true fan favorite. The 7’ 7” center was unsurprisingly the center of attention when he was on the floor. He won the 1996 Most Improved Player award, averaging a career-high 14.5 PPG. In 1998, he starred alongside Billy Crystal in the Hollywood comedy My Giant. He’s a fun addition to any Washington team collection. 

Gilbert Arenas led the franchise back to the playoffs after a seven-year absence. He lit up arenas all over the country, in his prime becoming one of the game’s most exciting scorers. In 2005, Agent Zero led the Wizards to their first playoff series win since 1982, alongside Larry Hughes and Antawn Jamison.

All three players are great options for a team collection telling the story of this return to playoff ball in the nation’s capital.

Capital Contenders

John Wall and Bradley Beal formed a fearsome duo for years in D.C., breathing new life into the franchise and winning the first division title since 1979 almost four decades later in 2017. Both players rank top three in points, assists, and steals in franchise history, and both are essential pieces to a Wizards team collection.

MJ’s Return

Yes, that MJ. His 2001–02 Topps Chrome cards show his final NBA chapter, making them must-haves for both Wizards and Jordan collectors alike.

Both Topps Chrome cards from Jordan’s time in Washington feature fantastic player images. 2002’s card gives collectors that classic fadeaway, while the 2001 offering has MJ throwing down a dunk.

Who’s Got Next?

Today, an exciting young core is emerging in the nation’s capital, led by 20-year-old Alex Sarr and 2025 lottery pick Tre Johnson. Sarr is part of a unique triple card released by Topps NOW® last season, featuring the stars of the NBA’s French Invasion, with Sarr alongside superstar Victor Wembanyama and 2024 ROY runner-up Zaccharie Risacher.

Collecting History Your Way

Whether competing for titles in Baltimore, or seeing stars shine in Washington, the Wizards franchise has created a legacy for fans and collectors alike.

From Hall of Famers to exciting prospects for the future, from champions to contenders to absolute characters, there’s an array of paths to take when it comes to building a fantastic team collection of the Washington Wizards.

Washington Capitals Collector FAQs

• What’s the most valuable Washington Wizards card?
  • Wes Unseld’s 1969 Topps Rookie Card is the crown jewel, especially in PSA 10 condition, followed by early Earl Monroe and Elvin Hayes issues.
• Which Topps set first featured the Bullets?
  • The 1969 Topps Basketball set marked the franchise’s collectible debut, showcasing Baltimore Bullets stars.
• Are Michael Jordan Wizards cards worth collecting?
  • Yes — Jordan’s 2001–02 Topps Chrome cards are highly collectible as part of his final NBA chapter.
• Who are today’s top Wizards prospects?
  • Bilal Coulibaly, Deni Avdija, Alex Sarr, and Tyus Jones headline Washington’s next generation of collectible players.
• What era is best for building a Wizards team set?
  • Many collectors focus on the 1969–1979 Bullets era for vintage stars and the 2000s for Chrome refractor highlights.

Key Facts

• Wes Unseld: Only player to win ROY & MVP in same season.
• Wizards’ first Finals: 1971 with Unseld & Monroe.
• 1978 Bullets championship anchored by Unseld and Hayes.
• Gilbert Arenas: 3x All-Star, Topps Chrome staple.
• MJ’s 2001 Chrome cards mark his Wizards comeback.

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