Juwan Howard
1998-99 Fleer Metal Universe Base Set Precious Metal Gems #5
Card Snapshot: This 1998-99 Fleer Fleer Metal Universe (Base Set) card features Juwan Howard during his tenure with the Washington Wizards. Card number #5. This is the coveted Precious Metal Gems parallel variation with a printrun of 33/50.
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| Technical Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Player | Juwan Howard |
| Season | 1998-99 |
| Team | Washington Wizards |
| Manufacturer | Fleer |
| Brand | Fleer Metal Universe |
| Theme | Base Set |
| Variant | Precious Metal Gems |
| Card Number | 5 |
| Serial / Print Run | 33 / 50 |
| Rookie Card | No |
| Memorabilia | No |
| Autograph | No |
| Est. Value | $1,450.00 |
📈 Market Value & Price History
Confirmed sales (eBay / PSA / Fanatics / Self-Purchase)
📊 Collector Insights & Card Highlights
🏆 Hobby Significance
SkyBox Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems (PMGs) are widely considered the holy grails of 1990s basketball. The print run was strictly limited to 100 copies. They are notorious for severe edge-chipping straight out of the pack, making highly-graded copies 'unicorns' at auction. The Juwan Howard collection spans multiple decades of basketball history, capturing everything from the high-flying 90s to his championship years with the Miami Heat. Each card represents a unique piece of this journey.
⚒️ Card Technology
Opti-Chrome Technology: This parallel utilizes hyper-refractive geometric foil patterns (like Mojo, Pulsar, or Tie-Dye) that react dynamically to light. These finishes are highly sought after by modern investors. Etched Foil: Utilizes proprietary technology to create deep, grooved textures in the metallic background of the card, allowing light to catch the card in dynamic ways. Numbered Parallel (/50): Serial-numbered to just 50 copies worldwide, ensuring long-term hobby liquidity and low population counts in third-party grading registries. Trading Card Manufacturing: Traditional trading card manufacturing involves multiple layers of printing and finishing. Even standard base cards from this era often featured premium UV coatings and high-quality card stock that was revolutionary at the time.
📈 Player Performance & Team
Juwan continued his steady production in Washington, remaining one of the most reliable post players in the league. His veteran leadership began to show as he helped mentor younger teammates during a period of transition for the franchise. Inaugural Wizards MCI Center Era: Served as the franchise cornerstone through the 1997 rebranding, establishing a lethal high-post scoring punch alongside league assist leader Rod Strickland and later teaming with Michael Jordan during MJ's historic Washington comeback.
🏀 NBA Era & Pop Culture
Post-Jordan Transition Era: Rise of Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, and new young superstars. The 1998-99 season was shortened to just 50 games due to a league-wide lockout. As a result, card manufacturers produced fewer sets and lower print runs, making specific inserts from this era surprisingly scarce today. Turn-of-the-Century Wizards Era: Highlighted by the opening of the state-of-the-art MCI Center in downtown Washington D.C., new teal and bronze colors, and Michael Jordan's front-office tenure and legendary playing return.
🔗 Collector Reference Profiles & History
💎 Related Chase Cards in Collection
Collector Sentiment
Collector FAQs
Why is this 1998-99 Fleer Metal Universe Base Set Precious Metal Gems card significant?
This card is considered a 'Holy Grail' insert in 90s basketball card collecting. Produced by Fleer during the 1998-99 season, its legendarily low print run and iconic design make it a focal point of our collection.
Is this a 'Holy Grail' card?
Yes, this card belongs to one of the most prestigious parallel series in the hobby. These are extremely rare and heavily targeted by high-end collectors.
How rare is this specific card?
This card is serially numbered 33 out of a total print run of 50.
Is this a Juwan Howard Rookie Card?
No, this card was released during the 1998-99 season, which was not Juwan Howard's debut season.