It's been around a week since the new season started and there's already a lot of ground to cover for NBA card collectors. For starters, the Chicago Bulls look like legitimate contenders in the East while Stephen Curry doesn't appear to have lost his touch these past few days. Of course, that's just the tip of the iceberg as there are a lot of details to consider when planning your card purchases.
While it's still too early in the season to make some solid projections about certain guys, there are several overreactions going on in the market right now. We take a look at some of these players, their card value, and what kind of reaction they've gotten from collectors.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander NBA cards
Although he just played 35 games last season, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander still left a good impression on hobbyists. In those contests, the Oklahoma City Thunder's franchise player averaged an efficient 23.7 points on 50/41/80 shooting splits while contributing 4.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists This season, though, is starting to look for SGA.
In the three games Gilgeous-Alexander has played for OKC, he notched 20 points per game without the same efficiency he previously had. The fourth-year guard is currently shooting 43% from the field, 76% from the free-throw line, and an abysmal 15% from downtown.
During the offseason, SGA was one of the hottest names in the hobby because of how he performed last season. Now, his PSA 10 Prizm Silver rookie card value has taken a tumble from $1,000 at the start of October to $690 more than a week later. This is a sharp drop, which can still change in the coming months when Gilgeous-Alexander picks up some steam in the way he plays for the Thunder.
Jordan Poole NBA cards
In his first three games as a third-year guard, Jordan Poole looks like he's using the momentum from the offseason to leave a lasting impression on the court. During those contests, the third-year guard is averaging 17 points, three boards, and 3.3 assists in 27.3 minutes per game. While his recent hot streak looks solid, there are a couple of factors that go against him as the season progresses.
For one, Poole doesn't have the size nor skill to be a credible defender. Opposing teams will exploit this weakness and turn him into a liability whenever he's on the court. Second, Klay Thompson is set to return sometime this season, leading Poole's minutes to be reduced. These two factors can potentially drag Poole's stock down from where it is right now. That's too bad because his PSA 10 Prizm Silver rookie card sharply went up from $250 to $435 recently. Those who bought his NBA cards at the peak can potentially regret their purchase down the line.
Tyler Herro NBA cards
Like Poole before him, all eyes have been on Tyler Herro since the preseason began. And with more than a week of NBA action, it seems that the Miami Heat's streaky guard is making up for his lackluster sophomore campaign. This can be clearly seen in his averages of 23 points, seven rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game.
If Herro continues to play this way in the coming months, he'll have a strong case to win the Most Improved Player award. The thing is, there are too many variables that will bring his numbers down to earth, such as injuries or a potential regression. If that happens, the sudden jump of his PSA 10 Prizm Silver rookie card value from $350 to $800 is going to be bad news to collectors who purchased his stock at the top. There's a big chance Herro's value will undergo a correction before the year ends as a response to its recent overreaction.
Zion Williamson NBA cards
Last season's version of Zion Williamson was a definite monster. With averages of 27 points on 61% shooting from the field, the New Orleans Pelicans forward is easy money whenever he's on the court. Unfortunately, things aren't exactly in Williamson's favor in the past few weeks.
For starters, the 6'7″ stud from Duke gained a lot of weight during the offseason while sustaining a foot injury. These two factors have led to his absence from the Pelicans' lineup and caused a drop in his stock in the card market recently. Earlier this month, Zion's PSA 10 Prizm Silver rookie card was valued at $3,615. After news of his weight gain and injury came out, that price dropped down to $2,901.
Collectors shouldn't fret, though, because Williamson will still have his unique skillset when he comes back. And even if the Pelicans won't make it past the postseason, the power forward's insane talent is more than enough to resuscitate his fledgling card value in the coming weeks.
These four guys are just some examples of recent NBA card overreactions to the first few basketball games this season. Expect a series of these in the card market as the season progresses. In any case, it pays to be alert so collectors can properly sell at the right price or purchase when these cards are at their lowest.
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