When searching for winners from last year's draft class, among the hottest are Tyrese Haliburton rookie cards. Even if that's the case, cards featuring LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards are always preferred by most collectors in the hobby. But with the sophomore guard's recent move from the Sacramento Kings to the Indiana Pacers, there's a good chance his stock in the card market will take a leap to a whole new level.
With all of the good options in the hobby, few guys in the NBA are truly worthy of having their cards collected. Here are two solid reasons why collectors should take more notice of Haliburton's cards.
Tyrese Halliburton is the Indiana Pacers’ future
It's well known across the hobby that Haliburton felt betrayed by Sacramento after trading him to the Pacers for a package revolving around All-Star big man Domantas Sabonis. After playing for the Kings and committing himself to the city, it's only understandable for the guard to feel hurt about this move.
The thing is, this trade can be a game-changer for the young stud and his rookie cards in the market. Without a doubt, Haliburton has a very good chance to claim the Pacers as his own team. With guys like Myles Turner, Malcolm Brogdon, and Buddy Hield operating on a different timeline than him, the sophomore can transcend them all to be the franchise's cornerstone.
Tyrese Haliburton nice and now he has that chip on his shoulder to really go be big time. Real game.
🎥 @Pacers pic.twitter.com/tFbzv021OD
— Ball Don't Stop (@balldontstop) February 17, 2022
It also helps Haliburton's case that Rick Carlisle is coaching him in Indiana. With a championship under his belt and experience in handling franchise stars, the guard will have all the guidance he needs to make a leap in the NBA. Taking all of these things into account, Tyrese Haliburton rookie cards can shoot up if the Pacers eventually hand him the keys to the team.
Halliburton has the talent and motivation to succeed
Playing in Sacramento placed Haliburton behind De'Aaron Fox. Now that he's with the Pacers, the guard has all the opportunity he needs to break out. Not to mention, he has enough talent to make a name for himself in the league.
During his first year with the Kings, Haliburton averaged 13 points on 41% shooting from three, 3 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.3 steals. This season, he posted similar numbers of 14.3 points with the same efficiency from downtown, 7.4 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.7 steals in 51 games for Sacramento. The real kicker is the four games he played for his new team, the Pacers.
Tyrese Haliburton with the Pacers:
23 PTS, 6 AST, 4 3PT
22 PTS, 16 AST, 6 3PT
17 PTS, 8 AST, 3 3PT
21 PTS, 14 ASTHe’s shooting 48/45/81%. pic.twitter.com/CzWufBV8Gw
— StatMuse (@statmuse) February 17, 2022
In those contests, Haliburton is averaging 20.8 points on 45% shooting from beyond the arc, 48% from the field, and 81% from the free throw line. He's also notching 11 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2.3 steals in 38.8 minutes per game. While those numbers don't look sustainable when done in a complete season, one can conclude that the sophomore has more than enough skill to take his game to the next level.
If successful, the new Pacer can join the Most Improved Player race next season. Even better, those Tyrese Haliburton rookie cards can enjoy a good boost in value in the event he takes a leap in Indiana. It isn't too hard to imagine it because he has all the tools and motivation to succeed in his new home.
The verdict on Tyrese Halliburton rookie cards
For the most part, the market hasn't caught up yet to the potential of Haliburton playing for the Pacers. Even if he's one of the top names in his draft class, the prices of rookie stock are still mostly the same.
Take his ungraded Prizm Silver rookie cards, for example. Days before he was traded, the value of this particular card on eBay was $37. A day after the trade, it slightly went up to $40, which isn't an earth-shattering move at all. This week, that figure has gone down to $30. All things considered, it looks like the sophomore's stock hasn't caught fire yet.
A key thing to take note of here is that there aren't that many PSA 10 graded cards of Haliburton in the market. This shortage of slabs can be attributed to the temporary halt of grading companies accepting new orders. The good news is PSA and BGS, two of the top names in the grading industry, have cleared most of their backlog and are accepting new cards once again. It's only a matter of time when those gem-mint Tyrese Haliburton rookie cards will hit the market and their actual value can be determined by collectors.
But as of now, it's wise to capitalize on Haliburton's good value in the market. Better grab those parallel and low-population rookie cards because their value will hold up even if prices drop in the offseason. In any case, keep an eye out so you can be the first in line for this promising guard's stock.
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