Even without a Hall of Fame-level star within their ranks, the San Antonio Spurs have played their hearts out all season long. Of course, Dejounte Murray's All-Star leap is the most obvious takeaway here. While that's a given, Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell's development has also played a crucial role in keeping the Alamo alive in the hobby.
While a good chunk of the hobby is focused on the usual names, such as Luka Doncic or Ja Morant cards, there's a good case to be made for these young Spurs and their respective stocks in the market. We take a deep dive below which of Murray, Johnson, or Vassell should basketball card collectors go for first.
The case for Devin Vassell rookie cards
Devin Vassell's jump from when he was a rookie to his role now for the Spurs as a sophomore is looking good. In his first season, the forward from Florida State only averaged 5.5 points and 2.8 rebounds in 17 minutes off the bench. While these numbers won't catch anyone's attention, it makes sense because DeMar DeRozan was still with the team during this time.
Vassell's second year in the NBA has been a lot better than his first one. In the 63 games he has played with an average of 26.8 minutes each, the Spurs' forward is posting 11.8 points on 42% shooting from the field and 34% from deep. He's also making 4.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and a single steal per game.
Again, these stats aren't exactly All-Star level. But at some point during the season, Vassell comes out and shows everyone why he deserves to be in the NBA. In a match against the Miami Heat, the young star exploded for 22 points on 47$% shooting from the field and 50% from beyond the arc while making 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block. And even though San Antonio lost 133-29, Vassell has shown why he deserves the starting small forward spot.
And speaking of starting, San Antonio's recent move of trading Derrick White to the Boston Celtics has bode well for Vassell's young career. With White gone, the forward has been chosen to start for the Spurs' last 14 games. Of course, it remains to be seen how Vassell would perform if given a full season as a starter.
What's sure here is that he'll get sufficient time on the floor to boost his rookie card value in the market soon. As of now, the prices of his raw Prizm Silvers are way too affordable at a little more than $4 on eBay. Looking at the bright side, this current price leaves a lot of room for growth if he potentially takes another leap next season.
The case for Keldon Johnson rookie cards
Keldon Johnson's trajectory in the NBA has been a promising one ever since he entered the league three years ago. From averaging 9.1 points as a rookie, the Spurs' forward has increased his production to 16.3 points on 46% shooting from the field and a very efficient 40% from downtown. Of course, this improvement didn't just happen overnight.
During the last offseason, Johnson was called to be part of Team USA and won the gold during the Tokyo Olympics. As the current season started, the young star solidified his role as a starter after DeMar DeRozan signed with the Chicago Bulls. Since then, Johnson has quietly improved his shot creation, giving San Antonio another option on offense behind Murray.
His evolution as an offensive threat can clearly be seen when the Spurs faced off against the Washington Wizards late last month. In that game, Johnson connected 50% of his field goals, 55% from beyond the arc, and all seven of his free throws to get 32 points in 46 minutes. That production helped San Antonio get the 157-153 overtime win over the Wizards.
KELDON JOHNSON PUTBACK GAME WINNER! pic.twitter.com/t2D9XrhEmh
— NBA Quick Highlights (@NBA_QHighlights) March 21, 2022
While his performance against Washington was notable, Johnson's recent match against the Golden State Warriors showed he can close out games as well. His offensive rebound and the subsequent putback to the rim helped the Spurs get the 110-108 win of the Dubs, which stunned the whole crowd inside Chase Center.
With his improving game and notable performances this season, there's no reason for Johnson's stock in the card market to remain quiet anymore. In the event he breaks out next season, his PSA 10 Prizm Silver rookie card has a pretty good chance of going up from its current price of $125.
The case for Dejounte Murray rookie cards
It's hard to imagine that during Dejounte Murray's first season in the NBA, the then-rookie was only averaging 3.4 points in 8.5 minutes per game. After six years in the league, the Spurs' point guard has become his team's number one option after the departure of DeRozan.
Murray's leap can clearly be seen in the numbers he's posting. In 63 games, San Antonio's franchise player is notching 20.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 9.3 assists, and a league-leading 2.1 steals per contest. With these stats, it only makes sense for him to be named to his first All-Star Game, which serves as the affirmation of all his hard work on the court.
His evolution is definitely an inspiring one after playing limited minutes from the bench, tearing his ACL and recovering from it, and earning the trust of his franchise. With those details in mind, it only makes sense for his PSA 10 Prizm Silver to reach $470 in the market.
The verdict on which of these Spurs stars is the best choice in the hobby
White's departure from the Spurs definitely opens up a lot of opportunities for Vassell. The sophomore is also an intriguing option due to his affordable card value and potential to be an elite 3-and-D wing for the Spurs. But of the three, he is clearly the most inexperienced and gets the least touches on the court.
Johnson, for his part, has what it takes to expand his game by improving as a scorer, playmaker, and defender. At this point in time, he has shown flashes of that potential but it still needs to be realized on the court on a consistent basis. The danger here is that there's a chance he's going to stay at his current level, or even regress.
But of the three, the best rookie card option to go for is no other than Murray. He has stepped up and become San Antonio's number one option. It won't be long before he notches triple-doubles almost every game. If he manages to lead the Spurs back to the playoffs, which is still possible in the coming years, collectors can expect the value of Dejounte Murray rookie cards to shoot up in the market.
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