Chasing the 1985 Air Jordan 1 Chicago: Inside Courtyard’s NBA Opening Week Pack

Tomorrow, Tuesday, October 20th, the NBA makes its triumphant return after a roughly four-month hiatus—and man, did basketball card collectors miss it.

To celebrate, the Association’s Commissioner, Adam Silver, is giving the people what they want: a triple header featuring the 2026 Eastern Conference #1 seed Detroit Pistons vs. Jayson Tatum’s Boston Celtics, the defending champion New York Knicks vs. the new look Philadelphia 76ers, and a rematch of last year’s Western Conference Finals matchup between the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

Not one to be left out of the fun, Courtyard is doing the same: Introducing the new NBA Opening Week Pack.

Highlighted by the chase for a pair of deadstock 1985 Air Jordan High OG “Chicago” sneakers in the original box, laces, and hangtag, Courtyard’s NBA Opening Week Pack features not only an incredibly rare pair of Jordans—along with plenty of other high profile sneakers—but limited-edition, graded SLAM Magazine issues and some seriously special basketball cards, including plenty of vintage, 1990's Michael Jordan cards, like a 1992 Stadium Club "Beam Team" PSA 8, too. 

The NBA Opening Week Pack will be available through October 27th, while supplies last, so set your fantasy basketball lineups, tune into ABC/ESPN, NBC, Peacock, and NBA TV to watch the action live, and get these limited drop packs while you can.

Talk about a high octane tipoff! Let’s get to it.

The Grail: A Pair of 1985 Air Jordan 1 High OG Chicago Worth $30,000

Whether you’re a sneakerhead, or simply a basketball fan, the headliner here is undoubtedly the deadstock Jordans.

First released in 1985 as part of Nike’s “Banned” campaign, these kicks caused a serious stir throughout the NBA, which warned Nike about Jordan’s attire. While the $5,000-per-game fine is a myth, the demand for these legendary basketball shoes was just as real then as it is now—which is why the storied sneaks featuring the iconic white-side-panel Chicago colorway carry a fair market valuation of $30,000. Now, an unworn pair is inside a Courtyard pack, and the pack is priced at $65 in honor of the sneaker’s original retail price.

In addition to the 1985 Nike Air Jordan’s, sneaker collectors can also chase a pair of Nike Air Foamposite Ones in Supreme Red, while basketball collectors can pull graded basketball cards and graded SLAM Magazine issues, making this three-category pack as unique as they come. 

Vintage Basketball Card Chases: Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant & LeBron James

Michael Jordan might have (re)retired in 2003, but this NBA Opening Week event is all about His Airness himself.

In addition to the 1985 AJ1s, there’s another way to chase the GOAT: Two high profile Michael Jordan cards are included in the NBA Opening Week Pack to celebrate tipoff of the 2026-27 NBA season. Check ‘em out:

• $1,809: Michael Jordan – 1995 Topps Power Boosters #277 (PSA 9)
• $1,790: Michael Jordan – 1992 Stadium Club Beam Team #1 (PSA 8)

For fans of the Black Mamba, the modern game, the WNBA, and even those that believe LeBron James is the one true king of the hardwood, there are plenty of other gems to chase in this pack, too:

• $1,600: LeBron James – 2004 Ultra #114 Gold Medallion (PSA 9)
• $1,599: JuJu Watkins – 2024 Bowman Chrome University #37 Autograph Black & Gold Stealth Refractor (PSA 10)
• $1,598: Kobe Bryant – 2014 Panini Prizm SP Variations #8 Silver Prizm (PSA 10)
• $1,595: Michael Jordan – 1999 Ultimate Victory Court Impact #C1 (PSA 10)
• $1,594: Michael Jordan – 1987 Fleer #59 (BGS 8.5)

CGC-Graded SLAM Magazines: Victor Wembanyama & Cooper Flagg Gold Metal Editions

Since 1994, SLAM Magazine has chronicled the NBA, from up-and-comers to the game’s greats. As magazines have become a more popular collectible, SLAM has begun to drop limited Metal Editions, released to either demand (Orange Metal) or just 94 copies (Gold Metal). Courtyard’s vault of CGC-graded SLAM Magazines features a number of rare issues, and the NBA Opening Week Pack is no different:

• $1,624: Victor Wembanyama – SLAM #247 Gold Metal Edition (CGC 9.8)
• $1,200: SLAM #32 Platinum Metal Edition (CGC 9.4)
• $1,090: Cooper Flagg – SLAM #258 Gold Metal Edition (CGC 9.8)
• $1,023: Azzi Fudd and Paige Bueckers – SLAM #235 Black Metal Edition (CGC 9.8)
• $570: LeBron James – SLAM #259 Gold Metal Edition (CGC 9.8)

Anthony Edwards (Black and Gold Metal Editions), Paolo Banchero, Donovan Mitchell, and Jamal Murray are also in the mix, all in 9.8 Black or Gold Metal Editions.

The Most-Searched Basketball Players on Courtyard

The NBA Opening Week Pack has plenty to chase, but Michael Jordan’s sneakers and cards are undoubtedly at the top of the list. 

That should come as no surprise to basketball collectors on Courtyard, who have made Michael Jordan the all-time most-searched basketball player on Courtyard, with Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Cooper Flagg, and Victor Wembanyama rounding out the top five. When looking at more recent searches, such as those since the Knicks won the NBA Finals back in June, the list slightly varies, with Kobe overtaking Jordan, LeBron once again coming in third, Cooper Flagg remaining in fourth, and Stephen Curry passing Wemby for fifth.

Basketball collectors love legends, but they’re also searching for the next generation’s biggest stars, too.

How to Rip the NBA Opening Week Pack on Courtyard

The Association is (almost) back, and fans of all 30 teams have hope once again—well, except for Kings fans. Sorry, Sacramento, you were robbed in 2002, and we support you.

To celebrate, basketball fans can rip Courtyard’s $65 NBA Opening Week Pack to chase authentic deadstock 1985 Air Jordan 1s, a graded Michael Jordan 1992 Stadium Club Beam Team, a graded Victor Wembanyama SLAM Magazine issue, and much more from October 20th through October 27th.

Get ready to dial up the inbound play and hit the game-winner!