There are some athletes who at a younger age merely appear destined to realize greatness, and Victor Wembanyama is one in every of them.
I haven’t seen the basketball card interest this exited a few participant’s rookie playing cards since LeBron James’ NBA debut in 2003. Collectors are shopping for up playing cards of the San Antonio Spurs’ middle with hopes that he turns into the very best large man of all-time. And to this point, his sky-high potential has translated into robust manufacturing on the court docket, profitable the 2023-24 NBA Rookie of the 12 months Award by unanimous choice.
So what are the very best choices on the subject of amassing Victor Wembanyama buying and selling playing cards? Listed here are our picks.
High choose (full suggestions beneath)
2023 Panini Donruss Optic #225 Holo rookie card
Wembanyama’s 2023-24 Donruss Optic #225 Holo parallel rookie card is my finest worth suggestion primarily based on shortage in gem mint grades and worth (presently 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 probably the most 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 numerous causes resembling situation, print runs, or graded inhabitants. Different elements that may trigger costs to go up or down embrace participant efficiency, market traits, 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 in the course of the offseason (in different phrases, you may often discover higher costs within the offseason than in the course of the season). My suggestions will not be an try to advertise particular funding conduct or buying and selling recommendation, however to information and inform readers about well-liked and distinctive playing cards which can be celebrated by the sports activities card group.
Whereas the demand for Wembanyama playing cards is presently very excessive — he was among the many 10 most searched athletes on eBay each month in 2024 — so is the provision. Despite the fact 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.
In the end, the very best playing cards to gather are all the time those you’ll personally take pleasure in most, no matter whether or not they go up or down in worth. The suggestions beneath ought to function a place to begin for playing cards to think about, 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 impression their worth. Card grading is a course of through which an skilled of the sphere determines the situation of a card primarily based on a lot of 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 corporations, 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 trade. Playing cards graded a “PSA 10” can carry a major worth multiplier in comparison with uncooked playing cards or these graded by different corporations.
It’s advantageous (and sometimes cheaper) to purchase playing cards uncooked, however if you wish to guarantee authenticity and/or a minimal situation stage, and also you’re not skilled at figuring out card situation for your self, you might wish to purchase a graded card as a substitute — significantly in the event you’re shopping for on-line and solely in a position to see the cardboard in pictures.
Finest low-end (~$1-$99) Victor Wembanyama playing cards
It is a class for collectors who’re on a tighter price range or aren’t as involved in regards to 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 upon 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 middle with enormous expectations coming into the league, David “The Admiral” Robinson.
If you happen to’re trying so as to add a reasonable Wembanyama base rookie card to your assortment, this can be a nice first selection and a sensible various to his Donruss rookie.
Dearer variations and parallels: Blue, Hyper Blue, Impulse, Neon Inexperienced, Purple, Purple Winter, Crimson Backs, Teal Explosion, Winter, Yellow, Premium Field Set (/199), Silver (/199), Inexperienced (/99), Hyper Crimson (/99), Gravity (/75), Crimson (/75), Blue Explosion (/59), Artist Proof (/25), Hyper Inexperienced (/25), Orange Explosion (/25), Crimson 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 worth ranges as a result of it has excessive print runs, significantly in recent times. 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 top provide, collectors should buy gem-mint graded examples for lower than $100.
Nevertheless, Prizm gives an abundance of variations and parallels (see the lengthy checklist beneath) that I’d advocate pursuing if you’d like a way more restricted Wembanyama Prizm rookie card.
Prizm’s rising print runs mixed with the model’s mainstream attraction to each novice and skilled collectors alike makes it one in every of Wembanyama’s most transacted rookie playing cards.
Dearer serial numbered parallels of this card: Silver, Crimson Prizm (/299), Crimson 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), Crimson Quick Break Prizm (/100), Blue Seismic Prizm (/99), Purple Prizm (/99), Alternative Crimson Prizm (/88), Multi Wave Prizm (/88), Purple Quick Break Prizm (/75), Crimson 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)
Finest worth (~$100-$499) Victor Wembanyama playing cards
It is a class for collectors seeking to pay a bit extra for playing cards which have some extent of shortage and have a greater likelihood at retaining or growing in worth long-term.
2023 Panini Donruss Optic #225 Holo rookie card
Panini’s Donruss Optic units are the premium, chrome-ified variations of ordinary Donruss and its traditional “Rated Rookie” playing cards, which had been first launched in 1984.
For this explicit suggestion, I wished 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 singular rainbow-like shine and showcases his large arms across the basketball as he makes an attempt to make a move. The precise variety of Holo parallel playing cards printed per set is unknown, however it’s considerably lower than base playing cards. Collectors can discover six Holo parallels in each sealed interest field and two per blaster field (on common).
In response to 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 features 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 suggestion. 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.
Dearer variations and parallels: White Sparkle, Crimson Velocity (/299), Aqua (/249), Blue Seismic (/249), Premium Field Set (/249), Orange (/199), Lime Inexperienced (/149), Crimson Seismic (/130), Copper Glitter (/99) Quick Break Purple (/99), Hyper Orange (/99), Crimson (/99), Crimson/Gold Worldwide (/99), Crimson Alternative (/88), Pink Velocity (79), Inexperienced Glitter (/77), Quick Break Crimson (/75), Crimson 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 Crimson 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 keep on with playing cards from conventional releases which have constructed a big following, however generally units which have debuted in recent times, like Panini’s PhotoGenic Basketball, might be worthy of consideration too. Launched in 2021 as an online-exclusive, these photography-centric playing cards use a few of the best and most distinctive photos 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 will not be 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 meanwhile).
The cardboard’s picture of Wembayama denying Giannias Antetokounmpo’s dunk try really represents his gifted shot-blocking capability. This is likely one of the best-looking rookie playing cards of his that Panini has to supply, in my view. It’s additionally value noting that that is the primary card I’ve talked about exhibiting the 21-year-old enjoying in an NBA recreation somewhat than photos used from photoshoots. PSA 10 gross sales on eBay are within the $350-$450 ballpark.
Further variations and parallels: Silver (/99), Diamond (/75), Wedges (/49), Maze (/25), Gold (/10), Fireworks (/5), Platinum (1/1)
Finest high-end (~$500+) Victor Wembanyama playing cards
It is a class for collectors seeking to purchase essentially the most desired Wembanyama playing cards available on the market.
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 essential attraction. Nevertheless, 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 crew names and logos on their buying and selling playing cards. Unlicensed playing cards, like these presently 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) might not be capable to 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.
Further variations and parallels: Refractor, Purple Geometric Refractor, Gold Refractor (/50), Orange Geometric Refractor (/25) Black Wave Refractor (/10), Crimson 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 fascinating inserts with extraordinarily low print runs (often known as tremendous quick 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 a few of the most sought-after inserts of the trendy period thanks partly to their relative shortage and flashy, comic-book type design.
Further variations and parallels: Gold (/10), Inexperienced (1/1)
Different cool Victor Wembanyama Playing cards
2023 Sports activities Illustrated for Children #1053
Certainly one of Wembanyama’s first playing cards earlier than his time with the Spurs might be present in a Sports activities Illustrated for Children journal. The cardboard’s picture captures him hovering by way of the air for a dunk whereas enjoying 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 difficulty since 1989 and has included early playing cards of legends throughout numerous sports activities, resembling Tiger Woods, Serena Williams and Tony Hawk.
SI for Children include a sheet of 9 perforated buying and selling playing cards that may be individually eliminated by gently folding and tearing alongside the perforated traces. Since these playing cards must be pulled aside, there’s a better danger of the cardboard being broken. These playing cards usually have picture centering points too — a key aspect 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 Children card span from $30 to as excessive as $150 relying on the situation and the way centered the borders are. Personally, I’d be enthusiastic about shopping for a whole copy of the journal that the cardboard was issued in so I may rigorously take away it from the sheet myself. The 2023 January/February difficulty of S.I. for Children together with Wemby’s card might 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 grew to become the No. 1 total choose. Topps Now — a print-on-demand product used to shortly commemorate milestones and important moments — produced MLB-licensed Wemby playing cards that featured a chunk of the Yankees jersey he sported in the course of the event. Playing cards together with a chunk of memorabilia or relics are frequent within the interest, 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 a few of the finest eye-appeal of any basketball playing cards, and the Acetate Rookies inserts are among the many most unusual. Acetate playing cards are produced from a transparent plastic as a substitute of the standard paper-based inventory, permitting designers to make elements of the cardboard see-through. The Acetate Rookies inserts had been solely accessible outdoors the U.S., including an additional stage of intrigue to them. Maybe as a result of they’re not as well-known amongst American collectors, they are typically fairly low-cost regardless of how cool they give the impression of being and the way restricted they’re, so you may nonetheless get an ungraded copy for $50 or much less.
Getting the very best worth
Costs for a sure buying and selling card can range wildly and fluctuate shortly, making it essential to examine current gross sales of a given card to be sure to’re shopping for at a good worth. You possibly can examine current gross sales of an merchandise on eBay by choosing the “offered gadgets” filter on search outcomes. It’s also possible to run a search on 130point.com, which is a free website that gives gross sales knowledge from a lot of high on-line marketplaces. There are additionally a number of apps that present extra in-depth gross sales knowledge, usually charging subscription charges for full entry.
To account for outliers and scams, it’s essential to think about a number of earlier gross sales, not simply the only most up-to-date. It’s additionally essential to notice the recency of these gross sales and any real-world elements that would have an effect on adjustments in worth.
Why you need 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 corporations 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 picture: Darren Carroll/NBAE through Getty Pictures; card photos: eBay)