With a little more than 10 games remaining in the regular season, it's pretty clear now who performed beyond expectations in the NBA and those who didn't. For started, Ja Morant and Tyler Herro are on pace to win the Most Improved Player and Sixth Man of the Year awards, which is better than most people expected from them. At the same time, there are the likes of Cole Anthony, who have not only underwhelmed on the court, they're not doing so well in the rookie card market either.
Apart from the Orlando Magic's young star, there are a couple of other guys whose rookie cards haven't exactly worked out in the hobby. We take a deep dive into these players and how their cards are doing in the market.
Deni Avdija rookie cards
Before the season started, hopes were high for Deni Avdija to make a leap in his second year in the NBA. Even with the addition of Kyle Kuzma and Montrezl Harrell to the lineup, card collectors were still high on the Israeli wing to come out with guns blazing as a sophomore.
Unfortunately, that hasn't been the case so far. In 23.2 minutes off the bench, Avdija is just posting averages of 7.4 points on 43/31/75 shooting splits while making 5 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. The Washington Wizards' poor record isn't helping too after reaching the upper tier of the East earlier this season.
That's why it's not surprising to see his base Prizm Silver fall off. From its starting price of $9 three months ago, it peaked at $25 and experienced a wild ride until it settled at less than $7. In the Card Ladder graph above, that's a 28% drop for the sophomore and those who invested in his rookie cards.
Collin Sexton rookie cards
Without a doubt, the Cleveland Cavaliers have been playing well all year long, much to the surprise of many. With the way Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen are playing, the ceiling of this team is looking better than expected. Unfortunately, little of the Cavs' current success can be attributed to Collin Sexton, their injured guard who missed the majority of this season.
After averaging 16 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 16 games, the Young Bull suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee, causing him to miss the rest of the season. And even when he was still healthy, there were doubts about Sexton's ability to lead the Cavs and help them become relevant in the NBA again.
Since that question has been answered, thanks to the All-Star leap of Garland and Rookie of the Year-worthy performance of Mobley, it seems that Sexton is looking more and more expendable by the day. This can be seen in a three-month graph where his PSA 10 Prizm Silver rookie card dropped almost 27% from $199 to $145. Needless to say, that's one card investment that would take months before it bounces back in the market.
Kevin Porter Jr. rookie cards
When the Houston Rockets called Kevin Porter Jr. from the G League last season, the then-sophomore took everyone by surprise and showed how good he really was. During the offseason, a good chunk of collectors placed their bets on the young guard as he was expected to take a leap.
Turns out, those were just expectations. In the 47 games Porter played this season for the Rockets, the 21-year old guard is averaging 13.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. This is a clear regression from his first stint in Houston last season when he posted 16.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and almost a single steal in 26 contests.
With Jalen Green getting significant touches, and Houston's preference to tank until the regular season ends, there's just no light at the end of the tunnel for Porter. That's why it's not surprising his PSA 10 Prizm Silver rookie card has gone down from $162 to $93, according to his Card Ladder graph. Over the course of three months, the said card has dropped almost 43%. And with the offseason fast approaching for the Rockets, it seems that Porter's value isn't gonna go up anytime soon.
Cole Anthony rookie cards
Unlike other guys from this list, Cole Anthony's numbers all season long are considered an improvement from his rookie campaign. From 12.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.1 assists during his first year in the league, the Orlando Magic's young guard is now averaging 17.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.7 assists. And while there's still a lot of room left to improve when it comes to shot efficiency, one can say he has what it takes to take the leap in the NBA.
The thing is, his rookie card value isn't on the same page. Within the last three months, Anthony's base Prizm Silver rookie card has gone down by or from $45 to $30. Looking at the chart, that's a steep fall from where it was late last year. And with the offseason coming soon for the Magic, expect his prices to remain at that level.
While nothing is set in stone for these guys, it's going to take some time before their rookie cards bounce back. Better keep a close eye on these young stars so collectors can determine whether to get more of their stocks, sell them, or just simply focus on more promising prospects in the market.
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