As the curtain rises on the 2025 to 26 NBA season, it’s not just the players on the court who are drawing attention, but also those featured in the trading card market. This year’s debut, a tantalizing doubleheader promising enough star power to short-circuit a small city, holds the potential to redirect interest in NBA memorabilia enthusiasts. The Oklahoma City Thunder’s commanding frontman, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and fresh Rocket Kevin Durant’s showdown are likely to draw eyes and applause, while a face-off between LeBron, Luka, and Curry promises its usual fireworks. However, these headliner matchups are now more than just games—they serve as the context for dramatic shifts in the sports card market.
Since September 21, enthusiasts known for meticulously tracking Beckett Online Price Guide trends have noted some intriguing movements: four players are catching heat, while another four are cooling off as the schedule gets underway. First in line is Victor Wembanyama, the towering force from the San Antonio Spurs. After an all-too-brief and bittersweet season shadowed by the specter of a health issue, the towering 7-footer inches his way back into contention. Armed with the formidable potential to clinch a Defensive Player of the Year and drawing throngs of collectors to his cardboard exploits, Wembanyama seems poised to reclaim his superstar narrative. It’s no wonder his cards, like the 2024-25 Panini Hoops Anti Gravity 13, are skyrocketing in price—a tangible reflection of the hope pinned on his comeback.
Then there’s Matas Buzelis, a Dark Horse who’s driven the Chicago Bulls fanbase into something akin to a frenzy. As a newcomer creeping up the competitive NBA ladder, he played his way into the Bulls’ starting five, radically shifting perceptions of what he could achieve. From a moderate 5.8 points in 14 minutes to a starter’s stat line of 13 points in nearly 27 minutes—these numbers are not just improvements, they’re a curtain call. Card collectors, no strangers to staking bets on potential, are praising the second-year breakout while the market adds value to paraphernalia like his 2024-25 Panini Prizms Green 252.
Meanwhile, out in Los Angeles, Bogdan Bogdanovic’s move to the Clippers acts as a midseason plot twist worthy of Hollywood’s finest. Recasting himself as a consistent scorer amid the Clippers’ evolving lineup, Bogdanovic ended up fueling a playoff charge that sent his card values soaring—especially those labeled 2024-25 Panini Mosaic Purple 138. The market’s response seems as steady as his jump shot, injecting a healthy boost into demand.
Across the land in Minnesota, Terrence Shannon Jr. had a slow start, but he’s picked up considerable pace since. His transition into a linchpin role has not only improved his game but has collectors and fans leaning forward in their seats, eager to see if the prophecy of his potential rings true. Slow and steady may win the race after all, as his Select Orange Flash Prizms 78 continue to attract eyes and wallets.
Yet, the world of sports—and sports cards—must contend with the inevitable ebb as much as the enthusiastic flow. On the cooling list sits Joel Embiid, whose MVP credentials have succumbed to a dismal two season dogged by injuries and recovery from knee surgery. With only 58 games under his belt, Philadelphia’s cautious approach casts a lingering doubt, mirrored in the gently deflating demand for his cards, like the 2024-25 Donruss Playmakers 5.
A promising start is merely prelude for Zach Edey, the Memphis rookie whose season is now stalled by an inconvenient ankle injury. That unplanned pause dares to clip the wings of what might have been a dramatic ascent. For card buyers, that has translated to an attitude of caution, as reflected by the current pricing trends for his 2024-25 Panini Prizm Black Purple Ice Prizm 64.
In a similar vein, Jaylen Wells’s appearance in the Grizzlies as a second-round surprise rewrites ‘rags to contractual riches’ stories. But the narrative is clouded by sophomore jitters, with some collectors opting to wait before investing heavily after recent spikes in pricing fluctuate. The seasoned tale told by 2024-25 Donruss Optic Photon Prizms 252 has yet to find its definitive ending.
And then there’s Baylor Scheierman, the Boston reserve player set on proving more than just a wafting potential. His limited time on the court keeps collectors waiting with bated breath, ready to embrace a breakout moment. But for the moment, the drift of his rookies ahead of the opening night exhibits a community itching for evidence before taking the leap—like the storyline of an intriguing novel still missing its climax. His 2024-25 Panini Mosaic Rookie Scripts RS-BAY remain unscripted fascination.
This oscillating dance of on-court performance and cardboard economy highlights the unpredictable, dazzling realm of sports collectables. As the NBA serves up its next season’s savory first courses, don’t blink too long or you might miss the market’s next metamorphosis. Whether rising or falling, the stakes are high, and like a nail-biting, late-game buzzer shot, they demand attention.
