There are some athletes who at a younger age merely appear destined to attain greatness, and Victor Wembanyama is one in every of them.
I haven’t seen the basketball card pastime this exited a couple of participant’s rookie playing cards since LeBron James’ NBA debut in 2003. Collectors are shopping for up playing cards of the San Antonio Spurs’ heart with hopes that he turns into the perfect huge man of all-time. And to this point, his sky-high potential has translated into sturdy manufacturing on the courtroom, successful the 2023-24 NBA Rookie of the Yr Award by unanimous determination.
So what are the perfect choices in the case of amassing Victor Wembanyama buying and selling playing cards? Listed below are our picks.
High choose (full suggestions under)
2023 Panini Donruss Optic #225 Holo rookie card
Wembanyama’s 2023-24 Donruss Optic #225 Holo parallel rookie card is my finest worth advice primarily based on shortage in gem mint grades and value (at the moment about $300 in a PSA 10 grade). Optic’s connection to the historic Donruss model and its iconic “Rated Rookie” brand that adorns the playing cards of first-year gamers makes it particularly interesting to collectors. Holo parallel playing cards radiate a rainbow-like sparkle and are one of the desired variations for basketball rookies due to their extra restricted provide in comparison with base playing cards.
Issues to know earlier than shopping for
The worth of sports activities playing cards can fluctuate for varied causes akin to situation, print runs, or graded inhabitants. Different elements that may trigger costs to go up or down embrace participant efficiency, market tendencies, and well being of the broader economic system. The secondary gross sales marketplace for particular person playing cards of a given sport typically hits its lowest level throughout the offseason (in different phrases, you possibly can often discover higher costs within the offseason than throughout the season). My suggestions usually are not an try to advertise particular funding conduct or buying and selling recommendation, however to information and inform readers about fashionable and distinctive playing cards which can be celebrated by the sports activities card group.
Whereas the demand for Wembanyama playing cards is at the moment very excessive — he was among the many 10 most searched athletes on eBay each month in 2024 — so is the provision. Regardless that he’s simply in his second 12 months within the NBA, Wembanyama already has the sixth highest complete inhabitants of graded playing cards all-time amongst athletes throughout all sports activities, with greater than Derek Jeter or Tom Brady, in accordance with Gemrate, which tracks graded card populations.
Finally, the perfect playing cards to gather are at all times those you’ll personally take pleasure in most, no matter whether or not they go up or down in worth. The suggestions under ought to function a place to begin for playing cards to contemplate, however an enormous a part of the enjoyable in amassing is the hunt for the playing cards you want.
“Uncooked” playing cards vs. Graded playing cards
Playing cards can come out of the pack (their “uncooked” state) with all kinds of imperfections that may influence their worth. Card grading is a course of during which an professional of the sphere determines the situation of a card primarily based on various elements (together with nook sharpness, picture centering, print imperfections, and extra) and assigns a numerical grade, often on a scale of 1-10 (with the latter being near good) and sealed in a protecting case. There are a variety of grading firms, every with their very own distinctive grading scales, however PSA (Skilled Sports activities Authenticator) is by far the most important and most distinguished within the business. Playing cards graded a “PSA 10” can carry a major worth multiplier in comparison with uncooked playing cards or these graded by different firms.
It’s high quality (and sometimes cheaper) to purchase playing cards uncooked, however if you wish to guarantee authenticity and/or a minimal situation degree, and also you’re not skilled at figuring out card situation for your self, you could need to purchase a graded card as a substitute — notably in the event you’re shopping for on-line and solely in a position to see the cardboard in images.
Greatest low-end (~$1-$99) Victor Wembanyama playing cards
This can be a class for collectors who’re on a tighter finances or aren’t as involved concerning the long-term financial worth of the playing cards they purchase.
2023 Panini Hoops #277 rookie card
The 7-foot-3 sensation’s 2023 Panini Hoops #277 card is a budget-friendly base rookie that’s modestly priced in PSA 10 graded copies. As I write this, uncooked examples are promoting on eBay for as little as $5, and PSA 10s are fetching between $25 and $45.
Hoops is one in every of Panini’s low-end basketball releases printed on conventional paper card inventory. (In lots of instances, the worth, situation sensitivity, and desirability of a card can rely on the standard and thickness of the cardboard inventory.) Hoops playing cards had been launched to collectors in 1989 when the inaugural set included a rookie card of one other Spurs heart with big expectations coming into the league, David “The Admiral” Robinson.
In the event you’re trying so as to add a cheap Wembanyama base rookie card to your assortment, this can be a nice first alternative and a sensible different to his Donruss rookie.
Costlier variations and parallels: Blue, Hyper Blue, Impulse, Neon Inexperienced, Purple, Purple Winter, Pink Backs, Teal Explosion, Winter, Yellow, Premium Field Set (/199), Silver (/199), Inexperienced (/99), Hyper Pink (/99), Gravity (/75), Pink (/75), Blue Explosion (/59), Artist Proof (/25), Hyper Inexperienced (/25), Orange Explosion (/25), Pink Explosion (/15), Artist Proof Gold (/10), Hyper Gold (/10), Artist Proof Black (1/1)
2023 Panini Prizm #136 rookie card
Prizm is Panini’s flagship model, so I needed to embrace Wembanyama’s 2023 Prizm #136 base rookie card right here. Prizm is printed on chromium card inventory, which his thicker and has extra of a metallic shine than paper inventory playing cards.
Regardless of Prizm’s recognition, this card lands within the low-end part of the value ranges as a result of it has excessive print runs, notably lately. PSA has graded over 40,000 copies of his Prizm #136 base rookie with practically 25,000 receiving a PSA 10 grade. Because of that prime provide, collectors can buy gem-mint graded examples for lower than $100.
Nonetheless, Prizm presents an abundance of variations and parallels (see the lengthy checklist under) that I’d suggest pursuing in order for you a way more restricted Wembanyama Prizm rookie card.
Prizm’s rising print runs mixed with the model’s mainstream enchantment to each novice and skilled collectors alike makes it one in every of Wembanyama’s most transacted rookie playing cards.
Costlier serial numbered parallels of this card: Silver, Pink Prizm (/299), Pink Seismic Prizm (/299), Teal Ice Prizm (/225), Blue Prizm (/199), White Prizm (/175), Blue Quick Break Prizm (/150), Purple Ice Prizm (/149), Blue Sparkle Prizm (/144), Blue Ice Prizm (/125), Pink Quick Break Prizm (/100), Blue Seismic Prizm (/99), Purple Prizm (/99), Alternative Pink Prizm (/88), Multi Wave Prizm (/88), Purple Quick Break Prizm (/75), Pink Energy Prizm (/75), Orange Wave Prizm (/60), Pink Quick Break Prizm (/42), White Wave Prizm (/38), Blue Shimmer Prizm (/35), Purple Pulsar Prizm (/35), White Ice Prizm (/35), Inexperienced Pulsar Prizm (/25), Mojo Prizm (/25), Gold Sparkle Prizm (/24), Bronze Quick Break Prizm (/20), Alternative Cherry Blossom Prizm (/20), Gold Prizm (/10), Gold Shimmer Prizm (/10), Wave Gold Prizm (/10), Alternative Inexperienced Prizm (/8), Inexperienced Sparkle Prizm (/8), Fortunate Envelopes Prizm (/8), Black Gold Prizm (/5), Inexperienced Shimmer Prizm (/5), Neon Inexperienced Quick Break Prizm (/5), Black Prizm (1/1), Black Shimmer Prizm (1/1) Alternative Nebula Prizm (1/1)
Greatest worth (~$100-$499) Victor Wembanyama playing cards
This can be a class for collectors seeking to pay a bit extra for playing cards which have a point of shortage and have a greater probability at retaining or rising in worth long-term.
2023 Panini Donruss Optic #225 Holo rookie card
Panini’s Donruss Optic units are the premium, chrome-ified variations of normal Donruss and its traditional “Rated Rookie” playing cards, which had been first launched in 1984.
For this specific advice, I needed to maneuver away from base playing cards and recommend one of many extra memorable refractors that’s been a spotlight of Optic since 2016: the “Holo” parallel. This parallel has a reflective prism-like impact when held as much as the sunshine and is a extra restricted card that runs parallel to the bottom set.
Wembanyama’s 2023 Panini Optic #225 Holo rookie card has a novel rainbow-like shine and showcases his large fingers across the basketball as he makes an attempt to make a cross. The precise variety of Holo parallel playing cards printed per set is unknown, nevertheless it’s considerably lower than base playing cards. Collectors can discover six Holo parallels in each sealed pastime field and two per blaster field (on common).
Based on PSA, there are lower than 2,300 examples of Wembanyama’s Optic #225 Holo rookie card graded by the corporate and fewer than 1,100 have obtained a PSA 10 grade. (For comparability, there are round 6,300 PSA graded examples of the favored 2023 Prizm #150 Silver parallel and about 4,200 PSA 10s.)
The nostalgic facets of Donruss’ Rated Rookie playing cards and the restricted amount of Wembanyama Optic Holo PSA 10 graded playing cards make this one my finest worth advice. To not point out, It’s additionally priced decrease than his Prizm #136 Silver parallel. Uncooked and PSA 10 copies of his Optic Holo #225 rookie card are fetching between $100 and $300 on eBay.
Costlier variations and parallels: White Sparkle, Pink Velocity (/299), Aqua (/249), Blue Seismic (/249), Premium Field Set (/249), Orange (/199), Lime Inexperienced (/149), Pink Seismic (/130), Copper Glitter (/99) Quick Break Purple (/99), Hyper Orange (/99), Pink (/99), Pink/Gold Worldwide (/99), Pink Alternative (/88), Pink Velocity (79), Inexperienced Glitter (/77), Quick Break Pink (/75), Pink Glitter (/75), Inexperienced Worldwide (/65), Blue (/49), Quick Break Blue (/49), Inexperienced Velocity (/49), Black Velocity (/39), Quick Break Pink (/25), Pink (/25), Blue Mojo Alternative (/24), Purple Stars (/17), Blue Glitter (/15), Quick Break Gold (/10), Gold (/10), Gold Worldwide (/10), Black Gold Alternative (/8), Fortunate Envelopes (/8), Quick Break Pink and Yellow (/7), Quick Break Neon Inexperienced (/5), Inexperienced (/5), Black (1/1, Quick Break Black (1/1), Gold Vinyl (1/1), Nebula Alternative (1/1)
2023 Panini PhotoGenic #200 rookie card
I usually follow playing cards from conventional releases which have constructed a big following, however typically units which have debuted lately, like Panini’s PhotoGenic Basketball, may be worthy of consideration too. Launched in 2021 as an online-exclusive, these photography-centric playing cards use among the most interesting and most distinctive pictures of the NBA’s high rookies, stars, and legends. 2023 PhotoGenic base rookies are short-printed and include solely three rookie playing cards per field, so the probabilities of pulling a Wembayama #200 out of a pack usually are not in your favor. Consequently, the bottom rookie card has a low PSA graded inhabitants with lower than 50 gem mint PSA 10 copies in existence (in the interim).
The cardboard’s picture of Wembayama denying Giannias Antetokounmpo’s dunk try actually represents his gifted shot-blocking skill. This is among the best-looking rookie playing cards of his that Panini has to supply, for my part. It’s additionally value noting that that is the primary card I’ve talked about displaying the 21-year-old taking part in in an NBA recreation somewhat than pictures used from photoshoots. PSA 10 gross sales on eBay are within the $350-$450 ballpark.
Extra variations and parallels: Silver (/99), Diamond (/75), Wedges (/49), Maze (/25), Gold (/10), Fireworks (/5), Platinum (1/1)
Greatest high-end (~$500+) Victor Wembanyama playing cards
This can be a class for collectors seeking to purchase probably the most desired Wembanyama playing cards in the marketplace.
2023 Topps Chrome #CG-VW Autograph
Topps misplaced the unique license to supply NBA playing cards to Panini in 2010, however after an extended hiatus, Topps Chrome Basketball made its return in 2024, reintroducing the product with Wembanyama rookie playing cards and autographs because the set’s predominant attraction. Nonetheless, you gained’t discover a Topps Chrome Wembanyama rookie or autograph card with a Spurs brand. But.
Panini nonetheless has the unique NBA buying and selling card license for a bit longer, that means they’re the one card producer that may print official NBA workforce names and logos on their buying and selling playing cards. Unlicensed playing cards, like these at the moment produced by Topps for basketball, typically generate decrease collector curiosity, however Wemby’s Topps Chrome autograph is one in every of his most prized high-end playing cards since he’s solely signing playing cards produced by Topps. Fanatics (which owns Topps) could not be capable of produce NBA-licensed playing cards proper now, however they do have unique buying and selling card autograph and memorabilia offers with superstars like Wembanyama, and most not too long ago Duke freshman phenom Cooper Flagg.
Uncooked examples of this card are promoting on eBay for near $1,000 and PSA 10’s are fetching between $2,000-$2,500.
Extra variations and parallels: Refractor, Purple Geometric Refractor, Gold Refractor (/50), Orange Geometric Refractor (/25) Black Wave Refractor (/10), Pink Geometric Refractor (/5), Black Geometric Refractor (/2), SuperFractor (1/1)
2023 Panini Crown Royale #11 Kaboom!
Since Wembanyama has no Panini rookie autograph playing cards with a Spurs or NBA brand, hobbyists have been chasing his most visually charming inserts with extraordinarily low print runs (often known as tremendous brief prints). Out of the favored insert playing cards produced of the Frenchman, Wembanyama’s Panini #11 Kaboom! from Crown Royale is one in every of his most beneficial. In 2024, his Kaboom! Gold parallel 3/10 offered in near-mint situation (PSA 7 grade) for $40,260 at Goldin Auctions. Wembanyama was additionally featured on the 2023 Kaboom! guidelines for Panini’s Crown Royale Euroleague Basketball launch, however is pictured sporting his LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne jersey from 2021.
Worth put apart, Kaboom! playing cards have turn into among the most sought-after inserts of the fashionable period thanks partially to their relative shortage and flashy, comic-book model design.
Extra variations and parallels: Gold (/10), Inexperienced (1/1)
Different cool Victor Wembanyama Playing cards
2023 Sports activities Illustrated for Youngsters #1053
One in all Wembanyama’s first playing cards earlier than his time with the Spurs may be present in a Sports activities Illustrated for Youngsters journal. The cardboard’s picture captures him hovering via the air for a dunk whereas taking part in for Metropolitans 92 in France’s LNB professional basketball league.
The month-to-month journal for younger sports activities followers has produced playing cards in every concern since 1989 and has included early playing cards of legends throughout varied sports activities, akin to Tiger Woods, Serena Williams and Tony Hawk.
SI for Youngsters include a sheet of 9 perforated buying and selling playing cards that may be individually eliminated by gently folding and tearing alongside the perforated strains. Since these playing cards need to be pulled aside, there’s the next danger of the cardboard being broken. These playing cards typically have picture centering points too — a key ingredient thought-about by graders. These points have resulted in a minuscule variety of PSA-authenticated examples in excessive grades. Solely eight copies have obtained a PSA 9 and none have earned a gem-mint 10 grade. Out of the practically 1,700 playing cards submitted to the corporate for authentication, PSA 6 was the most typical grade obtained, with round 450 copies in existence.
Uncooked gross sales of Wembanyama’s SI for Youngsters card span from $30 to as excessive as $150 relying on the situation and the way centered the borders are. Personally, I’d be fascinated by shopping for a whole copy of the journal that the cardboard was issued in so I may fastidiously take away it from the sheet myself. The 2023 January/February concern of S.I. for Youngsters together with Wemby’s card may be discovered on eBay with gross sales within the $100 vary, give or take.
2023 Topps Now Yankees Occasion Worn Jersey Relic #472B
In the summertime of 2023, the Yankees invited Wembanyama to throw out the ceremonial first pitch earlier than a recreation in New York, which occurred to be two days earlier than the NBA draft, the place he turned the No. 1 general choose. Topps Now — a print-on-demand product used to rapidly commemorate milestones and vital moments — produced MLB-licensed Wemby playing cards that featured a chunk of the Yankees jersey he sported throughout the event. Playing cards together with a chunk of memorabilia or relics are frequent within the pastime, however this “event-worn” baseball jersey of an NBA participant is an uncommon sports activities card crossover.
2023-24 Panini Courtroom Kings Acetate Rookies
Panini’s Courtroom Kings units have among the finest eye-appeal of any basketball playing cards, and the Acetate Rookies inserts are among the many most unusual. Acetate playing cards are comprised of a transparent plastic as a substitute of the same old paper-based inventory, permitting designers to make elements of the cardboard see-through. The Acetate Rookies inserts had been solely out there outdoors the U.S., including an extra degree of intrigue to them. Maybe as a result of they’re not as well-known amongst American collectors, they are usually fairly low-cost regardless of how cool they give the impression of being and the way restricted they’re, so you possibly can nonetheless get an ungraded copy for $50 or much less.
Getting the perfect value
Costs for a sure buying and selling card can fluctuate wildly and fluctuate rapidly, making it necessary to examine current gross sales of a given card to ensure you’re shopping for at a good worth. You may examine current gross sales of an merchandise on eBay by choosing the “offered objects” filter on search outcomes. You too can run a search on 130point.com, which is a free website that gives gross sales information from various high on-line marketplaces. There are additionally a number of apps that present extra in-depth gross sales information, typically charging subscription charges for full entry.
To account for outliers and scams, it’s necessary to contemplate a number of earlier gross sales, not simply the only most up-to-date. It’s additionally necessary to notice the recency of these gross sales and any real-world elements that might have an effect on adjustments in worth.
Why it’s best to belief us
As a second-generation collector, Tyler Holzhammer began amassing playing cards and attending the Nationwide Sports activities Collectors Conference at 10 years previous. He’s developed his ardour as a collector right into a profession, beforehand offering sports activities card content material and market evaluation for firms like Sports activities Card Investor and Goldin Auctions. Tyler’s sports activities card assortment is centered round gamers from his favourite groups, the Los Angeles Rams and the St. Louis Cardinals.
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(High photograph: Darren Carroll/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs; card pictures: eBay)
