The Menendez Brothers And Mark Jackson: How A $10 NBA Card Became A True-Crime Collectible

The convergence of true crime and sports memorabilia is rarely as shocking or bizarre as the story of the Menendez brothers and former NBA star Mark Jackson. As of December 2025, a seemingly unremarkable 1990-91 basketball trading card has become one of the most infamous true-crime collectibles in history, not because of the player on the front, but because of the two convicted murderers lurking in the background.

This strange, decades-old Easter egg on the 1990 Hoops Mark Jackson card (#205) has experienced a massive resurgence in interest and value, driven by renewed media attention on the Menendez case. The card captures the chilling moment when Lyle and Erik Menendez, months after murdering their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, were enjoying a courtside New York Knicks game, completely unaware that a camera was immortalizing their presence in the background of a professional sports photograph.

The Profiles: Lyle, Erik Menendez, and Mark Jackson

The three main figures in this unusual story come from vastly different worlds—a high-profile NBA star and two notorious patricidal killers. Their biographies highlight the stark contrast between the subject of the card and the infamous spectators.

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Joseph Lyle Menendez

• Born: January 10, 1968, in New York City.
• Crime: Convicted of the August 20, 1989, murders of his parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, in their Beverly Hills mansion.
• Sentence: Sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole (LWOP) in March 1996, following a retrial.
• Current Status: Incarcerated in California. He was housed at the Mule Creek State Prison and later transferred to the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility, where he was reunited with his brother, Erik, in 2018.

Erik Galen Menendez

• Born: November 27, 1970, in Blackwood, New Jersey.
• Crime: Convicted alongside his older brother, Lyle, for the murder of their parents. Their defense argued they acted out of fear and years of alleged abuse, a claim rejected by the jury in the second trial.
• Sentence: Sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole (LWOP).
• Current Status: Incarcerated in California, currently housed with his brother, Lyle. He has continued to advocate for their case, hoping that new evidence will lead to a reversal of their convictions.

Mark A. Jackson

• Born: April 1, 1965, in Brooklyn, New York.
• Career: A former American professional basketball player, coach, and current sports commentator. He played 17 seasons in the NBA, primarily as a point guard.
• Teams: Played for seven teams, including the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Clippers, Indiana Pacers, and Denver Nuggets.
• Accolades: NBA All-Star in 1989 and the 1988 NBA Rookie of the Year. He is currently ranked in the top five all-time for career assists in the NBA.
• Connection to the Case: Jackson has no personal connection to the Menendez brothers; they simply appear in the background of his 1990 Hoops trading card during a New York Knicks game.

The Infamous Card: A True-Crime Easter Egg

The story of the 1990-91 NBA Hoops Mark Jackson card (#205) is a fascinating intersection of sports history and criminal lore. The photograph, taken courtside at a New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden, features Jackson passing the ball.

The true significance of the card was not discovered until decades later. A sharp-eyed sports collector noticed two figures seated courtside, just over Jackson’s right shoulder, who bore a striking resemblance to the notorious Menendez brothers.

Upon closer inspection and cross-referencing with court photos and timelines, it was confirmed: Lyle and Erik Menendez were indeed sitting in prime, expensive seats, enjoying a high-profile basketball game. This outing occurred in the months between the August 1989 murders and their eventual arrest in March 1990.

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The image is particularly chilling because it captures the brothers during a period when they were famously spending their inheritance lavishly, attempting to project an image of normalcy while under suspicion for the murder of their parents. The card serves as a tangible piece of evidence of their post-crime behavior.

The Trading Card Frenzy and Soaring Value

The revelation of the Menendez brothers' presence on the Mark Jackson card turned a common piece of cardboard from the 1990s "junk wax era" into a highly sought-after collectible. The card, which once sold for mere pennies, has seen its value skyrocket in recent years, particularly since 2024.

The renewed interest has been fueled by a surge in true-crime media, including documentaries and television series that have revisited the case of the brothers and their defense attorney, Leslie Abramson.

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The Value Surge:

• Pre-Discovery Value: Less than $1.
• Initial Discovery Value: The card began selling on platforms like eBay for $10 to $25.
• 2024 True-Crime Boom Value: Graded versions of the card, particularly those rated high by PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator), have seen sales reach into the hundreds of dollars. Some reports indicate a 100% increase in value for high-grade copies.

This phenomenon has created a unique niche in the collecting world. The Mark Jackson Menendez Card is no longer just a sports card; it is a piece of true-crime memorabilia, attracting both traditional sports collectors and true-crime enthusiasts. The card's notoriety is now its primary selling point, far outweighing Mark Jackson's impressive NBA career statistics, which include over 12,000 career assists.

The Menendez Legacy and Topical Authority Entities

The Menendez brothers' case remains a cultural touchstone due to the shocking nature of the crime and the controversial defense based on years of alleged sexual abuse by their father, Jose Menendez, and the complicity of their mother, Kitty Menendez. The trial was a media circus, famous for its televised coverage and the testimony of key figures like the brothers' therapist, Dr. Jerome Oziel, and his mistress, Judalon Smyth.

The card’s relevance is a constant reminder of the bizarre details surrounding the case. The brothers’ extravagant spending spree after the murders—buying a Porsche, a Jeep, and taking expensive trips—was a crucial part of the prosecution's argument that the motive was greed, not fear. Their casual attendance at a Knicks game, captured on a basketball card, perfectly encapsulates the cold, indifferent behavior they exhibited in the immediate aftermath of the patricide.

Today, as the brothers continue to serve their sentences of life without parole, the 1990 Hoops Mark Jackson card ensures that their story remains a permanent, physical artifact in popular culture, forever linking the world of professional basketball to one of the most infamous crimes in American history.