As the NBA Conference Finals push the last four teams to their limits, there’s a simultaneously heated game off the court— and collectors have their blood pumping for it. The battlefield? The sports card market. This year, with only four teams—the Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, Indiana Pacers, and New York Knicks—left standing, the hobby frenzy has zeroed in on some of the most spectacular card variations, such as Kaboom, Downtown, and Color Blast. These cards provide a glittering canvas for the league’s stars, almost turning sports collectibles into mini art galleries. Let’s dissect how each team’s key players are making waves in card fandom and what this might mean for both collectors and casual enthusiasts.
First up, we take a look at the Oklahoma City Thunder’s very own Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, colloquially dubbed SGA. This young guard has stormed through the league’s ranks from a promising prospect to a full-blown, bone fide star, and his cards are experiencing a similar buzz. His 2023 One and One Downtown card has danced on a financial rollercoaster. Although the raw card version has climbed by 7.4% in the past month, bouncing back from early May lows of $1,950 to a definite $2,500, his PSA 10 cards dipped by a sizeable 20%, selling last for $3,700. Despite this, SGA’s 2023 Obsidian Black Color Blast appears to be riding the aura of his recent performances, with the raw version surging 22%, lately exchanging hands for $850. The PSA 10 equivalent sits at a cool $1,170, illustrating a classic buy-low opportunity—if, of course, SGA and the Thunder continue their competitive ascent.
Then we have the high-flying Minnesota Timberwolves, led by human highlight reel Anthony Edwards, also known as Ant-Man. A minimum of glancing at his 2020 Crown Royale Rookie Kaboom! card paints a profitable picture. While last sold at $2,950 for ungraded versions earlier this year, collectors are particularly keen on PSA 10 versions, which have increased in value by a modest 2.5%, peaking at $8,923. But the real crescendo comes with his unique 2020 One of One Rookie Downtown card, which holds a cinematic allure for collectors. While raw sales reached $5,800, in PSA 10 form, they have ascended an impressive 33% to $13,000. Edwards isn’t just a valuable teammate; his cards are valuable investments.
On to the Hoosier State, where the Indiana Pacers’ rising star Tyrese Haliburton is weaving magic on the court and in collector circles. Capitalizing on his burgeoning leadership, his 2020 One and One Rookie Downtown card last saw a raw sell price of $1,500, and PSA 10 versions have spurted up 40%, witnessing sales as high as $4,000. Meanwhile, his modern 2023 Spectra Color Blast version, though not as frequently auctioned, steals the scene with sales near $830 for raw and $1,463 for PSA 10 versions. If the Pacers manage to wrangle their way into the Finals, the sky’s the limit for Haliburton’s cardboard stock.
New York, New York, the city synonymous with dreams—both made and dashed. This Conference Final saw the Knicks saunter their way this deep into the playoffs, led by the ever-dominant Jalen Brunson. A rags-to-riches story of underdogs, Brunson’s story, like his card market, is a tug-of-war. His 2023 One and One Downtown card, raw, has taken a nose dive of 14% in the preceding month, last obtainable for $1,100. However, one man’s curse is another’s treasure; his PSA 10 cards rebounded up a staunch 35% to $2,425. For those looking to venture with flair, purchasing a raw version and waltzing through the grading process could potentially yield golden returns if Brunson’s Knicks can claim an underdog triumph in their championship pursuit.
As the NBA’s high-stakes drama unfolds on hardwood courts across the nation, a parallel narrative burgeons in the sphere of sports memorabilia. The lure of investing in basketball cards is as much about capturing moments of brilliance as it is about penning narratives with strategic buys and sells. Should the playoffs follow logic, or better yet, twist unpredictably, these cards’ values may take unforeseen dives into record books—or soar into sky-high legend territory. So collector visor hats adorn, wallets clutched, and bidding fingers primed. The game is very much on, both on and off the court.
