If you were ripping basketball in the mid 90s, SkyBox E-X2000 felt like it came from the future. Clear plastics, etched foils, wild die-cuts. Sitting near the top of that wave is A Cut Above, a ten-card insert with edges carved like a circular saw. Michael Jordan’s card #5 is the headliner and one of the decade’s most recognizable non-numbered grails.
What the card is
A Cut Above is a short-printed insert inside 1996-97 E-X2000. The front centers a full-bleed Jordan image against an etched-foil backdrop, framed by those razor-tooth edges that look like a spinning blade. No serial number. No parallel. Just a brutally tough pull and a design you can spot from across a room.
Why it matters
A Cut Above distilled everything people love about 90s tech: bold concept, premium materials, and an insert theme that actually fits the player. It celebrates the guys who sat a notch above the league, and Jordan in ’96-97 was exactly that. The card also lives in an era before serial numbering became standard, so scarcity is driven by pack odds and survival, not a printed stamp. High-grade copies are scarce because the teeth chip if you just look at them wrong.
Real sales that frame today’s market
Recent 2025 results show how condition drives price on this card:
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PSA 7 closed at $6,450 on Aug 17 (auction)
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PSA 7 closed at $6,223.77 on Sep 22 (auction)
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PSA 8 sold for $9,000 on Sep 4 (Buy It Now)
That spread from mid-6s to $9k tells the story. Every bump in grade on this release is a steep step up. Higher grades get thin fast, and eye appeal (clean foil, sharp teeth, centered image) can push a copy beyond typical comps.
Condition hurdles to watch
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Die-cut teeth: the tiny points are notorious for nicks, flares, and micro-folds
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Foil surface: hairlines and print lines show at an angle under bright light
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Corners and back edge chipping: the stock exposes whitening quickly
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Centering: the circular motif makes off-center cuts stand out
Buy smart, store smarter
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Prefer graded examples for this card. If you go raw, inspect under strong light and magnification, then run a finger very gently around the teeth to feel for lifts or crunching
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Beware trims. Clean, too-perfect teeth on an otherwise worn card can be a red flag
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Sleeve with care. Use an oversized soft sleeve and a larger semi-rigid so the teeth don’t catch. Avoid tight top loaders that can crush the points
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For displays, float the card in a custom frame or use a recessed magnetic holder to keep the die-cut edges away from pressure
Set context that adds to the appeal
E-X2000 was SkyBox pushing boundaries. The base set mixed acetate and foil with vivid backgrounds, and inserts like A Cut Above proved pack-pulled art could be the main event. Alongside other 90s icons like Jambalaya, Golden Touch, Hot Numbers, and Big Men on Court, this Jordan sits on the short list of “show someone one card and they get it” pieces.
How I’d approach it as a collector
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Decide your lane: grade first or eye appeal first. On this card, a sharp-looking 7 can feel better in a case than a dull 8
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Use the recent PSA 7 results in the mid-$6k range and the PSA 8 at $9k as anchors while you negotiate
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Be patient. With survival and condition working against supply, the right copy at the right number takes time
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Build a tight three-card 90s display: A Cut Above, one E-X base Jordan, and a second tech insert from the era. It tells the whole 90s story without needing a dozen slabs
Quick snapshot
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Year/set: 1996-97 SkyBox E-X2000
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Insert: A Cut Above
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Card: Michael Jordan #5
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Serial numbering: none
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Known for: saw-blade die-cut, etched foil, extreme condition sensitivity
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Recent comps: PSA 7 around $6,224 to $6,450; PSA 8 at $9,000
Nearly three decades later, the A Cut Above Jordan still feels dangerous in the best way. It’s sharp, dramatic, and instantly 90s. And when you find a clean one, it’s a centerpiece that needs no explanation.
