Finding a criminally undervalued rookie in the card market is definitely the dream for any collector. Just imagine being one of the very few who have invested in a budding star before he pops out onto the scene. When that happens, the capital you’ve invested in these guys will yield a lot of profits down the line.

This is certainly the case each year in the NBA with each draft class. There are some who are clearly future superstars in the making, like LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards. On the other hand, there are a couple of names that have the talent to make it to the top. We take a look below at several rookies from this year’s draft class who have the potential to be amazing investments in the card market.

 

Aleksej Pokusevski – Thunder

No one expected Aleksej Pokusevski to garner a lot of attention on the court and in the card market. His lanky frame and unpolished skills at the start of the season didn’t exactly impress anyone. Even his averages this year aren’t eye-popping at all, with 7.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.1 blocks in 23.8 minutes per game.

But what turned heads around was when Pokusevski, a seven-foot forward from Serbia, started for the Oklahoma City Thunder when Darius Bazley was out with an injury. From March to April, the rookie scored in double digits nine times out of 16 games, including a 25-point outburst against the Charlotte Hornets.

In that contest, Pokusevski hit nine out of 14 field goals, which equated to a 64% success rate from two. He also drained 63% from downtown by connecting seven of his 11 attempts. The rookie added nine rebounds and four dimes to showcase a complete game against Buzz City that night.

If Pokusevski develops properly in the coming years, the Thunder can gain a clone of Kristaps Porzingis, a star who can force mismatches and stretch defenses. When that happens, his ungraded Prizm rookie card, which is currently valued at $20, will definitely soar from where they are right now.

 

Jae’Sean Tate – Rockets

It’s not all gloom and doom for fans of the Houston Rockets. Apart from having promising talent in Christian Wood and Kevin Porter Jr., they also have several rookies who can blossom as solid players in the league. Foremost among them is Jae’Sean Tate.

The undrafted 25-year old forward from Ohio State University has been showing flashes of his ceiling lately. In the 58 games Tate has played, with 46 as a starter, he has averaged 11.1 points 5.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.2 steals. While his three-point shot needs improvement, he has the tools and the playing time to get better sooner than later.

 

Proof of his potential was on full display last month when the Rockets faced off against the Atlanta Hawks. Tate notched 25 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, a steal, and a block in 34 minutes on the court. He also shot 47% from the field, and 57% from downtown in a loss against the Hawks.

Space City clearly needs quality pieces around Wood and Porter to get back to relevance. Among all of its current crop of rookies, Tate has the best chance to stand out. The same goes with his base Revolution rookie card, which is currently being sold for $16 on eBay.

 

Saddiq Bey – Pistons

Talented wings are essential for any team to succeed in the NBA. The Detroit Pistons, it seems, is on the verge of gaining an able partner for Jerami Grant in the form of its 19th pick this season – Saddiq Bey.

Bey possesses a 6’7”, 216 lb frame and a skillset that befits the modern 3 and D wing in the league. He’s averaging 11.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 25.7 minutes per game. The rookie is also shooting 41% from the field and 38% from beyond the arc, which helps Motor City space its offense better whenever he’s on the floor.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mvd-yHFhDj4

All of these numbers came out in full force against the Boston Celtics last February. In that game, Bey exploded for 30 points on 83% shooting from the field and draining all of seven attempts from three. As a result, the Pistons went away with a 108-102 victory against the Celtics.

If Bey performs this way in the coming years, his stock will definitely gain more traction from where it is now. His raw Prizm rookie card is currently valued at $15 on eBay.

 

Desmond Bane – Grizzlies

Any rookie with hot hands from downtown will surely turn several eyes in his direction. For this year’s draft class, it’s Desmond Bane of the Memphis Grizzlies.

The 22-year old entered the league as Memphis’s 30th pick during the 2020 Draft. In his four-year collegiate stint for the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs, Bane connected 249 of his 575 attempts from three, a whopping 43% success rate.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbtLtpWgJGs

In the 52 games he has played in the NBA, Bane has effectively taken his sharpshooting skills to the professional level. He’s currently hitting 46% from three on 3.9 attempts per game. Bane is also averaging 9.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 22.3 minutes per game.

Bane certainly needs to increase his shooting volume from downtown to gain more traction in the league and in the card market. With time, the rookie can definitely be a future threat from beyond the perimeter. When this becomes a reality, his raw Prizm card, which is valued at $10 right now, will spike up.

It’s a big win to find hidden gems in any rookie class before anyone else does. To do this, collectors should be vigilant in monitoring how these players perform on the court and in the card market. When done properly, you’ll be way ahead of the crowd with your rookie card investments, thanks to the potential presented by these up-and-coming stars.