The 1970-71 Topps basketball issue was the last of the hobby’s famous “tall boy” sets, and it captures the NBA at one of its most exciting moments. This near-complete run brings together nearly every star of the era, and it’s an ideal foundation for a collector who wants to finish the set on their own terms.

The set is missing only two cards: the Pete Maravich rookie (#123) and Wilt Chamberlain (#50). That leaves the new owner a clear and rewarding goal. Everything else is here, including Hall of Famers who defined a golden age of professional basketball. Lew Alcindor appears in his second-year Topps card after his record-setting Rookie of the Year campaign with Milwaukee. Jerry West, Oscar Robertson, John Havlicek and Willis Reed lead a deep list of legends, and the rookie card of Knicks great Walt “Clyde” Frazier is a key piece of the set.

The oversized 2-1/2" x 4-11/16" format is hard to keep in high grade. The tall cards are prone to corner wear, edge chipping and centering problems, so assembled sets have become harder to find as the years pass. Sets like this one usually break up quickly as their stars head off for grading, which makes a run this close to complete a good chance for vintage basketball collectors. Please see photos for condition.