It’s that time of year again where the hardwood floor is the stage, and the stakes are as high as the key three-point arc. Yes, the NBA Conference Finals are here, and with just four teams remaining—the Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, Indiana Pacers, and New York Knicks—basketball fans are glued to the action. But it’s not just about the plays and buzzer-beaters; there’s another intriguing competition orbiting the league—sports card collecting, where superstar athletes’ glittering career highs and lows get immortalized in cardboard.
As the Finals intensify this fiery May, the legendary card inserts like Kaboom, Downtown, and Color Blast are notching up their own kind of stats. With collectors’ eyes—or should I say, their magnifying glasses—fixed firmly on these memorabilia markets, we tumble through a team-by-team breakdown of how each franchise’s towering talents are driving worth and why hobbyists might want to reshuffle their collections.
First up, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, affectionately known as SGA, has proven to be more than just a promising young guard. Turned juggernaut of the hobby world, SGA’s cards have shown movement parallel to his team’s playoff odyssey. Take, for instance, the 2023 One and One Downtown, a staple for card enthusiasts. Recently, raw versions of this card have ticked up by 7.4% over the past month, climbing from the depths of $1,950 to dance around a steeper $2,500. For those polished gem mints, aka PSA 10s, imagine a swing, albeit in the opposite direction—dipping by 20% but still holding the fort strong at $3,700. Then there’s the seductive shine of the 2023 Obsidian Black Color Blast. The raw card tops off at an $850 valuation, up a striking 22%, and the PSA 10 is nestled comfortably at a $1,170 niche. So, amateur collectors, perhaps there’s a buy-low chance here in the PSA 10 landscape, should the Thunder thunder on.
Minnesota’s emergent star, Anthony Edwards, has cemented his name and appeal akin to a gold rush. Known as Ant-Man, and just maybe the next face of the league, his 2020 Crown Royale Rookie Kaboom! card has been a jewel in the card-collector community. Still basking in the afterglow of a $2,950 raw sale back in March, his PSA 10 versions have climbed by 2.5%, reaching an impressive $8,923 earlier this May. Meanwhile, his iconic 2020 One of One Rookie Downtown saw soaring enquiries. Raw sales are robust at $5,800, and the PSA 10 stakes are high, enjoying a considerable 33% upturn, peaking at $13,000. With Edwards continuously showcasing playoffs allure, his rare inserts curl up positively in the cherished long-term hold category.
Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers has proven he can do magic—not the abracadabra kind, but the kind that builds a strong reputation on the court. His 2020 One and One Rookie Downtown is both rare and a hit, priced at $1,500 raw as of March, while its PSA 10 status surges by 40%, translating into a sturdy $4,000 sale. Additionally, the 2023 Spectra Color Blast lures with its modern verve; raw cards flew off at $830, and PSA 10 collectors laud its steep worth pegged at $1,463. With whispers of Indiana’s possible push to the Finals, Haliburton’s inserts could transform from stars to supernovae if finals fortune beams down on Indiana.
Lastly, who better to spotlight than Jalen Brunson, leading the New York Knicks through the treacherous territory of being the Conference Finals underdog? Thou shalt not despair, Knicks faithful, as Brunson’s 2023 One and One Downtown prices reflect a quirky contrast. Despite raw card values dropping 14% to $1,100, the PSA 10s defy convention by climbing 35%, now shining at a $2,425 mark. For the astute hobbyist, catching Brunson’s raw copies now, then polishing them through grading might bring prosperity if the Knicks break the glass ceiling and dazzle everyone outright.
As thrilling games continue, teaming up sports card collecting with live NBA action brings a heart-pounding extra layer of excitement. The blend of top-notch sports drama mixed with hobby speculation makes for a heady cocktail. So, whether you’re a faithful follower of the arrows, blue and yellow, purples, or a classic orange crush, collecting during these finals as the modern stars are cemented into lore is a winning game card of its own. In this enchanting season of hoops, don’t just watch it—collect it!
