Almost all the collectors look forward to the next pre-season time, as it is the best time for them to monetize their investment. Now, there are various factors at play that create the hype for a player, and the major factors are such as in-season performance, career milestone hit, milestone anniversary, special media coverage due to external reasons, special appearances, and many more.
Based on this, here are the top 5 NBA cards that you must acquire till the time of harvest comes.
Caution: The value of trading cards can be volatile, and it’s crucial to conduct your own research before buying any of the recommended cards. Diversify your collection and be wary of counterfeit products.
Table of Contents
5. Victor Wembanyama 2023 Panini Prizm #136 Silver Prizm PSA 10
If you’ve been keeping a close eye, almost all of Wemby’s raw cards, including Topps Chrome base, Prizm base, and Optic base, are topping the charts in one way or the other, either showing sharp declines in prices or being highly liquid in sales. This card in particular is special due to its number of sales and its past record, which has seen sharp rises and then declines in price, suggesting the continuous interest for this card in the market.
Almost all Wemby cards are going for record-low prices right now, around the month of December, making them perfect to be purchased for a long-term hold.
You should get a Wemby card considering the fact he is a prime candidate for an MVP title in the 2024-25 NBA season. The last sale recorded of this card on the 21st of October was of around $823, which for me is such a steal deal if you get your hands on a similar one.
4. Anthony Edwards 2020-21 Panini Prizm #258 Silver Prizm PSA 10 Rookie RC
And it’s time for our “Ant-Man.” A young and talented 23-year-old is making headlines as he rises in popularity. Anthony Edwards’ rise in popularity was very unprecedented but was big. These days, the Olympic gold medalist is getting solid media attention as he charms himself in an exclusive list of being one of the only players to hit 5+ three-pointers in three straight games at the start of the season.
He joins this exclusive list with Steph Curry and Anthony Walker.
You should get an Anthony Edwards card to take a bet on the value appreciation. and wait for the next few months as Edwards leads Wolves into the playoffs. The last sale was recorded on the 19th of November for around $968, which again is a steal deal considering the craze of fans for his cards.
3. 2024 Select WNBA Caitlin Clark RC #72 Concourse
At this point, obviously, I would say any Caitlin Clark card would work. The market is literally going bonkers after every Caitlin Clark raw card. Although, according to the trends, her cards have been really liquid in nature, having the highest number of sales, nearly 566 in just 14 days as of today, on the 20th of November.
Her cards started gaining so much traction, particularly after the news of her leaving the WNBA, that people heard on the grapevine.
You should pick your raw Caitlin Clark carefully because if you want to be first to the market, you better get a PSA 10.
2. Graded 1996 Fleer Michael Jordan #4 DOE Rookie Reprint Card PSA 9 Mint
Even though a majority of vintage cards are known to grow slowly and steadily, there are very rare cases where vintage cards show sharp increases in price. But Michael Jordan cards are known to be of a different class. For example, the 1986 Michael Jordan Fleer and 1984 Michael Jordan Fleer are two of the most volatile cards in the market right now.
One of his entry-level cards that is hot in the market is this reprint of the 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan.
You should try to grab any Michael Jordan rookies before his retirement anniversary on January 15th, through which you can make good if you play your cards right.
1. LeBron James 2003 Upper Deck Exclusives ROOKIE #1 BGS 9.5 “GEM MINT”
As LeBron reaches the end of his peak career, there are constant speculations of him retiring in a short run. The rumors gained more eyes. after he confirmed in an interview to not continue playing until “his wheels fall off.”
In such a case, this card, amongst some other LeBron cards, certainly stands out to be a good score considering what you are paying and what you can make out of it in the long run.
This “GEM Mint” card is nothing short of a miracle to be selling under $120 on average. In fact, the last recorded sale on Fanatics Collect was for $120 exactly on the 26th of November.
You can also go for James’ on-card AUTOs, as LeBron really stopped signing his pro jerseys cards or any cards in general for so many years after 2008. These cards are poised to become rare after their supply dries up in the market.
Conclusion
All in all, card collection is a game of long run. Additionally, the aforementioned cards are suggested to be bought at the start of the season and are supposed to be sold at the appropriate window of time. Simply buying and not tracking—when you can make the most profit—can result in loss of all your efforts and money invested. Stay Updated, Make Profit!
FAQs:
1. Should I only focus on popular players’ cards for investment?
Yes, it is a good way to find your footing in the trading card market. Although popular players’ cards are considered a safe investment, collectors cannot leave out other mid-tier players, as they can prove to be a treasure trove of investment.
2. Can I make a career out of trading card investing?
Yes, there are various people who have and are looking to make their careers out of investing in trading cards. Start slow and continue it as a hobby until you can generate the sufficient amount of money required for your living.
3. Should I invest in vintage players over the young talent?
No, just investing in vintage players is not gonna cut it. You need to understand the market well and look out for young prospects in which you can invest. You can follow the 70-30 rule, 70 for vintage cards and 30 for the new, well-performing players.
