1998-99 Upper Deckbasketball

Fleer Brilliants

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Frequently asked

What makes this set special for collectors?
The 1998-99 rookie class is legendary. Dirk Nowitzki, Vince Carter, Paul Pierce, and Antawn Jamison all debuted here, and their rookie cards are the main draw. The foil-heavy design and colorful parallels also give it a premium feel compared to other late-90s releases.
What are the key rookies to hunt?
Dirk Nowitzki, Vince Carter, Paul Pierce, and Antawn Jamison are the headliners. Also notable are Mike Bibby, Rashard Lewis, Peja Stojakovic, and Jason Williams. All 25 rookies in the set pull at 1:2 packs.
How do the parallel sets work?
There are three tiers. Brilliant Blue is the most common (1:3 for veterans, 1:6 for rookies). Brilliant Gold is numbered to 99. 24-Karat Gold is the rarest, numbered to just 24. The higher tiers can add serious value to key rookies.
What inserts should I be chasing?
Illuminators (1:10 packs) is the main insert set. Shining Stars (1:20 packs) is scarcer. If you're really lucky, Pulsars (1:400 packs) is a parallel of Shining Stars and extremely rare. Most collectors focus on Illuminators as the realistic chase.
Does this set have autographs?
No, there are no autographs in 1998-99 Fleer Brilliants. It's a base and insert-focused product, so the value is all in the rookie cards and parallel tiers.
How many cards are in a typical box?
A hobby box has 24 packs with 5 cards each, so 120 cards total. You'll pull roughly 12 rookies (1:2 packs), several parallels, and hopefully an Illuminators or Shining Stars insert.
Is this a good value compared to other 1998-99 basketball sets?
It depends on what you're after. If you want the big rookie names with nice foil designs and multiple parallel tiers, Brilliants is solid. The inserts are accessible enough that you'll likely hit something, and the parallels add replay value. Prices have climbed over the years, so sealed boxes are pricey.
When did 1998-99 Upper Deck Fleer Brilliants come out?
It dropped January 1, 1998.
What's in a 1998-99 Upper Deck Fleer Brilliants hobby box?
24 packs per box, 5 cards per pack
Where can I buy 1998-99 Upper Deck Fleer Brilliants?
We track listings across the major North American card shops and surface the best price up top. The Buy on eBay links go through the eBay Partner Network.

1998-99 Upper Deck Fleer Brilliants Basketball

1998-99 Fleer Brilliants is a 125-card basketball set built around the rookie class of Dirk Nowitzki, Vince Carter, Paul Pierce, and Antawn Jamison. The set features colorful foil designs and multiple parallel tiers, with inserts like Illuminators and Shining Stars adding chase appeal.

On average per hobby box
  1. 12 Rookie cards (1:2 packs)
  2. 8 Brilliant Blue parallel cards (mixed veteran/rookie odds)
  3. 1 Illuminators insert (1:10 packs)
  4. 1 Shining Stars insert (1:20 packs)
Inserts to watch
  • Illuminators 1 in 10 packs Short-print insert set that's the main chase element in Brilliants.
  • Shining Stars 1 in 20 packs Scarcer insert subset with premium player selection.
  • Pulsars 1 in 400 packs Ultra-rare parallel of Shining Stars, extremely hard to pull.
  • 24-Karat Gold Sequentially numbered to 24, the rarest parallel tier.
  • Brilliant Gold Sequentially numbered to 99, mid-tier parallel.
  • Brilliant Blue 1 in 3 packs (veterans), 1 in 6 packs (rookies) Most common parallel, available for both base and rookie cards.
Fast facts
Released
January 1, 1998
Box config
24 packs per box, 5 cards per pack

By CardStock Editorial