Coming into this season, a lot of fans were really high on the potential of Cam Reddish to be the best Hawk behind Trae Young. Rightfully so, because his tremendous performance during the final stretches of last season made everyone optimistic about the upside of this second-year player. Turns out, most fans were rooting for the wrong Hawk. It’s De’Andre Hunter who’s having the better season this year, giving Atlanta fans and card collectors something to root for.

De'Andre Hunter, Hawks

Hunter, a 6’8” small forward, entered the league as the fourth pick of the 2019 NBA Draft, behind much-hyped players like Zion Williamson, Ja Morant, and RJ Barrett. Williamson, known for his thunderous dunks and freakish athleticism, is somehow the opposite of Hunter, whose skill set and strengths aren’t the flashiest on the court.

Hunter’s rookie season

As his rookie season progressed, the media criticized the Atlanta Hawks for trading up to get Hunter. Among all rookies, he played the most with 32 minutes each game but didn’t contribute that much on both ends of the floor. 

De'Andre Hunter, Hawks
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Hunter finished the season with a poor -4.7 box score rating, the 185th in the entire league. Only Darius Garland and Jordan Poole were worse in that category. Even the Hawks’ other rookie, Cam Reddish, performed better towards the end of last season. His performance encouraged card fans to collect his cards and leave Hunter as an afterthought.

This is evident from Hunter’s card value during the offseason. Last November 28, 2020, a De’Andre Hunter PSA 10 Prizm rookie card was auctioned and reached a price of $47. Keep in mind that the Atlanta Hawks haven’t played an NBA game at this point since the league shut down last March 2021. Moreover, the organization also managed to sign Bogdan Bogdanović, Danilo Gallinari, and Rajon Rondo, driving interest in the team before the new season started.

De'Andre Hunter’s sophomore campaign

It’s a very different story for De’Andre Hunter this year. There were some who doubted the fit of Atlanta’s new acquisitions with those who remained from the previous season. Some were even expecting Hunter to slide down to a bench role to make room for these veterans.

Turns out, that wasn’t the case at all.

Atlanta’s Head Coach Lloyd Pierce elected to keep Hunter as the team’s starting small forward this season. The second-year forward rewarded Pierce and the organization’s trust by taking his game to a whole new level.

Just recently, the Hawks faced off against the Milwaukee Bucks without Trae Young or Clint Capela. Hunter took this opportunity by carrying a larger offensive load. He scored 33 points, grabbed four rebounds, dished four assists, and had a steal in 42 minutes. Although Atlanta eventually lost to the Bucks, fans everywhere took notice of Hunter’s career-high game.

As it stands, Hunter has improved every aspect of his game. He’s currently averaging 17.7 points, 2.2 assists, and 5.6 rebounds in 32 minutes per contest. The second-year player is also shooting better from downtown with a 38% three-point rating. The same can also be said with his shots inside the arc with a 60% success rate.

De'Andre Hunter’s situation in Atlanta

De’Andre Hunter’s leap in every important stat bodes well for his card value. But along with these stats, it's also important to keep an eye on his current short-term outlook with the Hawks.

Just recently, there were rumors of increasing tension between Trae Young and John Collins due to the former’s dominant role in the Hawks’ offensive schemes. Add the fact that Collins wasn't’ offered a contract extension and there’s a chance he can be moved before the trade deadline.

When this happens, it is expected Gallinari will assume Collins' spot as the starting power forward. This will benefit Hunter and solidify his role as Atlanta’s number two option behind Young.

What all of these things mean for De’Andre Hunter’s card stock

If people were not that high on Hunter during the past season, they are certainly changing their tune now. The same goes for card collectors and their outlook on his card value. 

De'Andre Hunter, Hawks
CP

On Jan. 26, a PSA 10 De’Andre Hunter Prizm rookie card sold for $154.99. It was a stark increase from the amount it was commanding during the offseason. If Hunter keeps his performance steady and contributes towards Atlanta’s playoff push, you can expect his cards to jump up in value.

As of the moment, Hunter’s rookie cards from major Panini brands, such as Prizm, Optic, and Select, are still relatively affordable. It won’t take long before collectors notice his improvement and increasing role. When that happens, De’Andre Hunter cards will spike up. It’s best to invest in him now while his stock is attainable before everyone else gets in on the hype.