If you’re looking to buy or sell sports and gaming cards, check out eBay! *When you click links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
After weeks of ups-and-downs throughout the first two rounds, the NBA Conference Finals are officially upon us and they’re off to a hot start.
In the Eastern Conference, we have Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks facing off against Tyrese Haliburton and an exciting Indiana Pacers team. The beginning of the series was characterized by the Pacers making a miraculous comeback to win Game One and then taking Game two, but the Knicks seem to have some momentum going after winning Game Three in Indy.
As for the Western Conference, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the No. 1 overall seeded Oklahoma City Thunder are competing against Anthony Edwards and a new-look Minnesota Timberwolves squad. These dueling dynamic offenses have been at each other’s necks thus far, but the Thunder hold a commanding three-to-one lead.
All four of these young stars are fighting for their first NBA Championship, something that will certainly cement them in basketball history. With that being said, right now might be the perfect time to invest in these guys, so let’s take a look at their most expensive rookie cards!
Most Expensive Jalen Brunson Rookie Card – $96,661
Brunson, a former Villanova Wildcat, was selected by the Dallas Mavericks in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft. The point-guard had his best season with the Mavs in 2021-22 where he averaged 16.3 points per game during the regular season, and 21.6 points per game in the playoffs including a 41-point explosion in Luka Doncic’s absence.
His real rise to stardom, however, came after he inked a four-year $102 million contract with the Knicks. In his three seasons in New York, Brunson has been an All-Star twice, received multiple MVP votes and been an All-NBA selection. Brunson has led his team past the reigning champion Boston Celtics and the Detroit Pistons this year in the playoffs, while averaging 29.9 points and 7.3 assists per game.
The buyer of this one-of-one Panini Prizm Nebula Choice Prizm bought it for a whopping $96,661 back in November, which can be found here on Goldin’s website. This must’ve been heartbreaking news for the card’s original owner, who was seen on Reddit selling the card in 2019 for $300, as captured in this Mantel post. Alongside its sparkling space background, the card features a rookie Brunson throwing a behind-the-back pass. If Brunson and the Knicks can continue their magical postseason run, it’s safe to say that this card would be worth even more.
Most Expensive Tyrese Haliburton Rookie Card – $84,000
Haliburton has been a force to be reckoned with ever since finding his new home in Indiana. He was originally drafted by the Sacramento Kings in the first round of the 2020 NBA Draft, but only played one full season with the team, coming in third in Rookie of the Year voting. The following season, Hali was dealt to the Pacers in a trade package for Domantas Sabonis.
In his first two years with his new team, Haliburton was an All-Star in both of them and was an All-NBA selection once. Including this year’s stats, he’s averaged 19.5 points, 10.1 assists and 1.5 steals per game in the blue-and-gold. Despite being voted as the “Most Overrated” player by his fellow athletes in the NBA earlier this year, Haliburton has been proving people wrong during the postseason. En route to his second straight Eastern Conference Finals appearance, the 24-year-old has put up 18.5 points, 9.4 assists and 5.5 rebounds per game and knocked off Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Milwaukee Bucks and the East’s first-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers.
This Panini National Treasures Rookie Patch Autographs Logoman card ended up fetching $84,000 in a Goldin sale. The one-of-one was sold in late May of 2023, but since then Haliburton has made big strides as a player and balled out in the playoffs. With the Pacers knocking on the door of their first ever NBA title, and Haliburton being at the forefront, his value is rising.
Most Expensive Anthony Edwards Rookie Card – $426,000
The only player on this list who’s still balling on their original team, Edwards was the first overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft and has been leading the Timberwolves ever since. In his rookie year, he finished second in the Rookie of the Year race, but has added on other accolades later in his career. Edwards has been an All-Star in the past three consecutive years, but this season was his best, as he averaged a career-high 27.6 points per game and tacked on 5.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists to go with it.
This postseason, Edwards has maintained that same level of production against some elite competition. The young star took down two of the all-time greats, eliminating both LeBron James and the heavily-favored Los Angeles Lakers, and Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors. Even though the T-Wolves are down to the Thunder, Edwards has been dealing with a bit of an ankle issue and if he’s fully healthy for the rest of the series, things could be different.
Selling for a staggering $426,000, this one-of-one Panini Flawless Logoman Autographs card is the most expensive of these four cards. The sale was completed here on Goldin, and the card features an autograph, a logo patch and Edwards in his original No. 1 that he only wore for his first three seasons. With the help of Edwards, the Timberwolves could secure their first NBA title ever, which would help boost his cards. If you want to read more about Anthony Edwards rookie cards, check out this story on our Ludex blog.
Most Expensive Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Rookie Card – $196,420
Gilgeous-Alexander had a unique start to his career, but has come a long way since then. A guard out of the University of Kentucky, he was drafted 11th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2018 but got traded on Draft Night to the Los Angeles Clippers. After just one season in L.A., SGA was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder as part of a package for Paul George and that’s when he started to come into his own.
In his first season with the team, Gilgeous-Alexander increased his points per game average by 8.2 points, and things only went up from there. Over the past three seasons specifically, Gilgeous-Alexander has transformed into one of the best players in the NBA. In the past three years, he’s been named an All-Star, first-team All-NBA and has finished top five in MVP voting every single time. This season, his 32.7 points and 6.4 assists per game propelled him to the NBA’s pinnacle of individual success, taking home the Most Valuable Player award.
This one-of-one Panini Prizm Black Prizm card from Gilgeous-Alexander’s rookie year in L.A. sold for $196,420, here on Goldin, in March of 2024. The Thunder are currently the overwhelming favorites to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy, something that shouldn’t be too surprising considering they had the best record in the NBA this season. After SGA took home the MVP, his cards saw a big spike in value, but they would multiply even further if he helped lead the Thunder to a championship.
The Ludex app is here to help you track and manage your trading card collection. Click HERE to download the Ludex mobile app for FREE!
Want more Ludex content?
Sign up for the LUDEX Newsletter to recieve the lastest posts right to your inbox!