The NBA Conference Finals are not just heating up the courts; they are also setting the sports card world ablaze with excitement over rare and coveted inserts like Kaboom, Downtown, and Color Blast. This year, in a delightful twist of fate, it’s not the usual blockbuster teams making headlines. The Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, Indiana Pacers, and New York Knicks have stepped into the spotlight, sending the trading card market into a frenzy.
Each of these teams brings to the table more than basketball prowess; they bring marquee players whose performances are pushing their top inserts to new heights. Let’s take a leisurely stroll down the aisle of the sports card market to see whose cardboard likeness is making collectors swoon and swoop in anticipation and strategy during this critical playoff stretch.
**Oklahoma City Thunder: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander**
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, affectionately known as SGA, has gone from being a promising guard to a veritable hobby behemoth. The “Downtown” card series, known for its artistic backgrounds and vibrant designs, mirrors Gilgeous-Alexander’s own dynamism on the court. His 2023 One and One Downtown card is a testament to his rising stardom.
The trade buzz is that raw cards are up a modest 7.4% over the last 30 days, with the most recent sale pegged at a cool $2,500—a significant elevation from the earlier May dip of $1,950. However, a curious downturn is seen with PSA 10 graded cards, dropping 20%, fetching $3,700 as of May 15.
Then there’s the 2023 Obsidian Black Color Blast that’s seen a spirited jump of 22%, priced at $850 for raw copies, while PSA 10 versions lingered at $1,170. Experts in the hobby speculate this downturn may well be the opportune ‘buy-low’ window for graded copies, a treasure for those with faith in OKC’s playoff journey.
**Minnesota Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards**
Anthony Edwards, aka “Ant-Man”, is considered by many as a future face of the NBA. His status as a league leader seems preordained among fans and collectors alike, with a potential Finals stint poised to send his inserts into orbit.
The 2020 Crown Royale Rookie Kaboom! is holding strong in the market. The last raw card in March flashed at $2,950 while PSA 10s nudged up by 2.5%, recently ringing up at $8,923 on May 7. Meanwhile, the 2020 One of One Rookie Downtown harbors a sale price of $5,800 for raw cards and a staggering 33% increase for PSA 10s, now at $13,000.
The verdict from the card-collecting cliques? Keep Ant-Man’s rarities close, as their value seems buoyed by his playoff performance trajectory.
**Indiana Pacers: Tyrese Haliburton**
Tyrese Haliburton has turned into something of a talisman for the Indiana Pacers. His leadership parallels his card popularity, with the 2020 One and One Rookie Downtown reflecting this wave. Cleaned up and ungraded, these cards can be found at the $1,500 line since mid-March. However, graded PSA 10s have seen a mine-staggering 40% leap, with sales hitting $4,000 as of May 8.
Haliburton’s 2023 Spectra Color Blast similarly displays his ionic charge in the market. Visionaries see the raw versions listing for $830 and receive validation in the form of $1,463 sales on PSA 10 cards. If Indiana fights its way to the Finals, collectors anticipate Haliburton’s inserts soaring to unforeseen metrics.
**New York Knicks: Jalen Brunson**
Jalen Brunson has not only led the Knicks to an unexpected dance in the Conference Finals but has also driven the demand for his cards through his remarkable renaissance. His success on the hardwood could serve as the catalyst for his cards in the market, particularly the 2023 One and One Downtown series.
Curiously, while raw copies witnessed a 14% decrease over the past month, settling at $1,100 in a May 5 transaction, PSA 10s conversely scaled upwards by 35%, with recent deals sealed at $2,425. Thus defensive hobbyism is at play; the strategy of choice is to grab a raw piece, get it graded, and hope the Knicks send shockwaves through the league.
Collective hobbyist thinking equates to an unspoken consensus: Should New York’s stars align, those holding Brunson cards shall find themselves with hands of gold dust.
It is undeniable that the NBA playoffs not only give rise to extraordinary sporting feats but also add an intriguing layer to the business of sports memorabilia. This playoff season, as holiday lights glow in basketball cities and virtual bidding keyboards hum with the sounds of passionate sports card trading, one thing is clear: the market will echo the on-court success of these standout players long after the final whistle blows.
