The NBA regular season is inching closer to its end. With this, the playoffs will begin and a more intense atmosphere will be felt all over the league. And just like it has been for so long, there's no shortage of drama or conflict as 16 teams fight like gladiators in an arena to become champions. Of course, that drama and conflict can also spill over to the market and affect key players and their prices. This is something NBA card collectors should definitely keep an eye on.
If done correctly, card enthusiasts can time their purchases and sales to coincide with these narratives. In turn, this will help in optimizing profits or getting better NBA cards of players who can potentially garner a lot of attention in the postseason. We take a look below at which of these storylines is worth monitoring.
Nikola Jokic NBA cards and his quest to win the MVP again
Last season, Nikola Jokic rookie cards reached new heights after the Denver Nuggets' All-Star won his first MVP. This year, the Joker looks like he hasn't missed a beat by leading the race to win the said award ahead of Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
In 62 games this season, Jokic is averaging insane numbers of 26 points, 13.8 rebounds, 8.1 assists, and 1.4 steals per contest. Apart from the numbers, what's making his performance so much more epic is that he's almost carrying Denver's offense singlehandedly on his back after Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. missed a good chunk of time because of injuries.
At this point in time, the Nuggets are in sixth place and their two other stars are on pace to return on or before the playoffs. Card collectors should keep an eye out for Jokic as the regular season ends and the postseason begins. If he bags his second MVP award and Denver goes back to full strength, the Joker's NBA card value stands a chance to take another leap in the coming weeks.
Brooklyn Nets vs. Philadelphia 76ers
For both teams, a good part of this season was spent on how to either send their disgruntled stars away or make them stay. In the case of both the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers, the end result was exchanging James Harden and Ben Simmons to resolve their respective issues with the two.
After the trade deadline, the 76ers have gained another shot creator to complement Joel Embiid to strengthen their playoff push while the Nets are currently battling to keep their postseason hopes alive. In the event Brooklyn makes it, there's a chance they can meet Philadelphia in the first round. Of course, that'll only happen if the Nets bag the seventh seed and Philly rises up to second place in the East.
If this possible scenario happens, it'll be a fight card collectors will feast on. With the NBA card values of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Embiid, Harden, and Simmons on the line, there'll be a lot of potential movement in the market during that exciting match.
LeBron James's battle to keep the Los Angeles Lakers away from elimination
To say that the Los Angeles Lakers's season has been a huge disappointment is definitely an understatement. After trading key pieces from their championship core for Russell Westbrook, plus signing aging stars way past their prime, the Purple and Gold have performed below expectations with a ninth-seed 29-40 record in a competitive Western Conference.
If they don't get their act together, the Lakers will once again fight tooth and nail for a spot in the play-in tournament. In the event they fail, a lot of stocks in the market will be in danger with LeBron James rookie cards being the most notable of them. Those who also invested in NBA cards of Westbrook and Anthony Davis are also in peril if Los Angeles further disappoints in the coming weeks.
Do the Golden State Warriors still have what it takes to become champions?
For the better part of the last decade, the Golden State Warriors were usually on top of the league. After losing key players to injuries or to other squads, the Dubs have been struggling for the past few years to make their way back to the Finals. Fortunately, their core of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson is healthy and able to play as the playoffs are inching nearer. Of course, the narrative card collectors should keep an eye on is if they still have what it takes to win it all.
So far, the Warriors seem to be doing alright. They're currently third in the Western Conference with a 47-22 record, just behind the Phoenix Suns and Memphis Grizzlies. Green has also just returned to the team after suffering a back injury kept him out since January. Thompson also seems to be finding his groove at the right time. Plus, key young guys, like Jordan Poole and Jonathan Kuminga, are playing better recently.
If all these pieces click during the playoffs, the rookie card values of these Warriors in the market can experience a short-term upward trend. This can potentially help collectors sell these stocks, which makes Golden State's playoff campaign one worthy of monitoring in the hobby.
The Memphis Grizzlies' surprising record and its effect on Ja Morant NBA cards
Without a doubt, the hottest young star in the market right now is Ja Morant. His Grizzlies have a better record than Luka Doncic's Dallas Mavericks or Jayson Tatum's Boston Celtics. Not to mention, his numbers all season long have been spectacular and worthy of being considered for the MVP race.
For sure, Morant will show off once the playoffs start. With his fiery personality and competitive approach to the game, there won't be any shortage of highlights from the Grizzlies' All-Star in the coming weeks. If he manages to lead Memphis deep in the postseason, his rookie card value will take another leap up. Plus, collectors can also expect those Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane NBA cards to get a boost if this happens.
With the playoffs fast approaching, there'll be a lot of catalysts that can greatly propel certain names in the hobby or pull others down. In any case, it's best to keep an eye out for these storylines as the regular season is about to end.
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