As the tempest of the NBA Conference Finals intensifies, a different kind of excitement is sweeping through the collectors’ circuits—a colorful explosion of premium sports cards, particularly the coveted inserts like Kaboom, Downtown, and Color Blast. With just four resilient teams left in the fray—Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, Indiana Pacers, and New York Knicks—the focus isn’t just on the hardwood heroes but the treasure troves their cards have become in the markets. Let’s dive into this mosaic of athletic excellence and market value, analyzing how these stars’ top inserts are performing and offering a pulse check for avid hobbyists who are eagerly tracking the trends.
Starting with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is rewriting his narrative from a promising guard to a bona fide hobby juggernaut. As his team barrels through the playoffs, the value of his iconic Downtown card gains momentum parallel to the Thunder’s electrifying playoff charge. Over the past 30 days, raw cards have experienced a significant uptick of 7.4%, moving from a modest $1,950 to a promising $2,500. Meanwhile, his PSA 10 card tells a different tale, declining by 20% this past month, the last sale pegged at a hefty $3,700 as the scoreboard read May 15. But those aren’t the only cards weaving a tale of rising fortunes; his 2023 Obsidian Black Color Blast has also surged, raw copies escalating by 22%, last selling for $850. For the PSA 10 aficionados, the cards are enticing at $1,170, holding the allure of a classic buy-low window—of course, contingent on the Thunder’s continued advancement.
On to the icy plains of Minnesota, where a veritable superstar, Anthony Edwards, is firmly ensconced as a face of the NBA’s not-so-distant future. Nicknamed the ‘Ant-Man’, Edwards potentially holds cards with the capacity to shoot for the moon should he and his Timberwolves claw their way to the Finals. His 2020 Crown Royale Rookie Kaboom! cards are in demand, with raw copies last changing hands at $2,950 as of March 1. Meanwhile, PSA 10s have climbed a modest 2.5%, rounding off sales at $8,923 earlier this May. Taking the spotlight next is his 2020 One of One Rookie Downtown card, a card exuding rarity and prestige, sold raw at a regal $5,800. Here, the PSA 10 has rocketed by an impressive 33%, with the record sale splashing into a tidy 13 grand. Ant-Man’s inserts are proving to be not only popular but poised for a strong and potentially lucrative hold in the long game.
In the heartland of hoops, the Indiana Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton is spearheading an extraordinary playoff run. His leadership on the court echoes resoundingly in his card market, bearing witness to a solid surge. The 2020 One and One Rookie Downtown card continues its climb with raw copies recently securing $1,500 in March, while the PSA 10s have accelerated upward by a remarkable 40%, with recent sales cresting at $4,000 as we welcomed May 8. His 2023 Spectra Color Blast isn’t one to let up, raw sale numbers are holding strong at $830, while PSA 10s drew eyes at $1,463. Should Indiana punch their ticket to the Finals, Haliburton’s modern inserts are poised on the brink of reaching lofty new heights.
Venture east to the cacophonous courts of New York, and you’ll find Jalen Brunson commandeering the Knicks’ underdog avenue to the Conference Finals. With Brunson at the helm, the team has captivated the imagination of both fans and collectors, although his card prices narrate a tale of contrasting trends. The Downtown raw cards dipped by 14% over the past month, the latest at $1,100 as of the early days of May. However, a different fortune befalls the PSA 10, with a significant 35% rise, going for $2,425. The card collectors willing to roll the dice on raw copies might find themselves striding into a windfall if Brunson can continue his ascent, bringing the Knicks to heights unseen in decades.
As the dust and confetti of the playoffs swirl, the market smoothly mirrors the thrill of the game itself. Every dribble, shot, and pass echoes in the card exchanges balancing on finger-wearing edges of market saturation. So, for those blessed with the foresight to move their pieces purposefully on this grand chessboard, aligning skill with strategy, the playoffs present not only moments immortalized in sports history but tangible opportunities to capture their economic worth. Is it any wonder why cards from stars like Shai, Ant-Man, Tyrese, and Jalen become relics that weave stories—both personal and pecuniary—for years beyond their issuance? Modern mythology relayed, not through scroll or song, but ink and cardboard, echoing the victories and losses encased in time.
