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In the months before 2012, everyone was waiting with bated breath to find out if the world will indeed end. Turns out, the Mayan prophecy was nothing more than a dud. But instead of the end of the world, 2012 gave two incredible reasons for card enthusiasts to go crazy right now – Panini’s First Edition Prizm and Bradley Beal.
Let’s start with the former and its lasting impact on the card world. The First Year Prizm was, and still is, Panini’s flagship product for card fans. Its chromium design is timeless and the whole set remains to be a highly sought-after product for avid collectors and investors alike.
At the same time, 2012 was also the same year Beal entered the league as the Washington Wizards’ third pick. Since then, the 6’3” shooting guard has evolved into the massive star he is right now, as evidenced by Beal’s monstrous stats this season.
A clear testament to Beal’s improvement and popularity is how his Prizm rookie card is performing in the market right now. We take a look below at how this happened and what to do with your Bradley Beal rookie cards.
Bradley Beal and his supernova season this year
Ask any basketball fan around who they think is the hottest commodity in the card trade market from this season and you’ll end up with Beal as one of the top answers. It’s no secret that his impressive talent doesn’t deserve to be stuck in a losing team. But even if that’s the case, Beal is still going off in every game like a deranged madman.
Last season, Beal averaged 30.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.2 steals in 57 games. This year, the All-Star shooting guard has taken his game to a whole new level by notching a league-leading 32.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.4 steals per contest. He’s also displaying incredible efficiency with his shot selection by draining 54% from the field, 33% from beyond the arc, and 90% from the free-throw line.
Bradley Beal ties a franchise record with a career-high 60 points in the Wizards’ loss to the 76ers. pic.twitter.com/m2TPMnPaiG
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 7, 2021
If these numbers aren’t enough proof of Beal’s monster season, his performance against the Philadelphia 76ers two months ago is going to do the trick. In that game, Beal notched a career-high 60 points to tie Gilbert Arenas’ franchise record for most points scored in a single contest. As a result of his impressive talent this season, Beal was selected as a starter for Kevin Durant’s squad in the All-Star game in Atlanta.
The state of Bradley Beal cards in the market right now
For the longest time, Beal has been an afterthought in the minds of most card enthusiasts. He was a sidekick to Wizards franchise face John Wall, after all. This year, collectors and investors have finally taken notice and it’s showing in Beal’s value.
This is very evident with Beal’s aforementioned 2012 Prizm rookie card. Just last year, a PSA 10 of this card was being sold on eBay for around $569. After Beal being named to the All-Star game as a starter and leading the league in scoring, that number has gone up. Recent sales of his PSA 10 Prizm card are now around $1,082, effectively almost doubling its price in the market.
The rarer version of Beal’s definitive rookie card, the Silver variant, is also enjoying a significant boost. An auction held for a PSA 10 graded copy at the end of last year yielded $3,076. Fast forward to just two weeks ago and you’ll see another gem-mint copy has reached $5,655. These sales in the market are just clear signs that Beal’s incredible run this season has finally made an impact on his card value.
The verdict on Bradley Beal’s card stock
Determining whether to keep, sell, or hoard more Bradley Beal cards is quite tricky at the moment. It’s true that he’s at the peak of his prime but the thing is, he’s going nowhere playing for the Wizards. If he persists to stay in Washington, his value is going to be affected.
On the other hand, the thought of Beal going to a contender will do wonders for his card price. If this happens this year, you can be sure his stock is going to explode right away. If not, interest in him will die down, especially if the Wizards are unable to secure a playoff spot.
It’s best to monitor any trade rumors surrounding Beal and his card value. If you see a deal that’s way below market price, better snag it right away because things can go either way before the trade deadline hits. In any case, you won’t really lose because Beal is a proven star and investing in him is safer than other players in the card market right now.
