1990-91 SkyBox Basketball not only marked the debut of a new brand, but the set elevated basketball cards in general to a new premium level.

That may be hard to notice today, but the product did help pave the way for what would come in the years that followed.

1990-91 SkyBox Basketball Set Details

Whether you're a fan or not, the 1990-91 SkyBox Basketball design is instantly recognizable. Gold borders give way to colorful backgrounds that are abstract. Toss in glowing basketballs and a black nameplate done with an elegant font and you've got a look that's wild and emblematic of the time it was released.

Card backs are much more elegant. Although NBA Hoops used second photos on their card backs, they were small, generic portraits. 1990-91 SkyBox Basketball opted for large shots that take up a good chunk of the back, often action images or something that shows the player's personality. Stats are limited, but they offer a decent breakdown of how players stack up against one another.