The Los Angeles Clippers’ matchup against the Dallas Mavericks in this year’s first round was truly a spectacular one. Every basketball fan witnessed how high Luka Doncic’s ceiling can go when he carried his team to three victories. Ultimately, the Mavs fell to the Clippers, mostly because of their own franchise player: Kawhi Leonard.

With two championship rings tucked under his belt, Leonard is on a quest to get a third in Los Angeles. We examine down below if his stellar performance against the Mavericks makes him a safe bet for card collectors.

A look at Kawhi’s regular season and series vs. Dallas

After the Clippers’ disappointing playoff run in Orlando last year, Kawhi Leonard almost went under the radar of card collectors and basketball fans everywhere. Although the spotlight was stronger on the likes of LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Nikola Jokic, among others, The Klaw still impressed during the regular season.

In the 52 games Leonard played before the playoffs, he averaged 24.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.6 assists. His efficiency was also at an elite level by hitting 51.2% from the field, 39.8% from deep, and 88.5% from the free-throw line.

While those numbers are impressive enough for an All-Star like Leonard, his performance against the Mavericks was even greater. In those seven games, Fun Guy posted 32.1 points 7.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 2.3 steals, and a block per contest. He also connected on 61.2% from the field, 42.5% from downtown, and 89.8% from the charity stripe.

Thanks to Leonard’s dominance on both ends of the floor, the Clippers managed to avoid getting eliminated by Doncic and the Mavs. It remains to be seen whether the Utah Jazz can stop the two-time Finals MVP or not in their second-round matchup.

One thing is for sure, though: the Kawhi Leonard who has been flying below the radar during the regular season has now morphed into a more dangerous player during the postseason.

The State of Kawhi Leonard Cards

At the start of May, Kawhi Leonard’s PSA 10 base Prizm rookie card was at $2,000. This was expected since the Clippers were (and still are) one of the favorites to win the West, and the championship itself. 

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With the Mavericks scoring key victories during their first-round battle, his PSA 10 rookie card value dropped down to $1,250. Now that the Clippers have eliminated Dallas, that price has rebounded to $1,625.

The Klaw will remain as one of the best two-way players in the league who can turn the tide for any team he’s playing for. His complete game on both ends of the floor, paired with years of playoff experience, can potentially pave the way to the Clippers’ first title in franchise history. Collectors should also consider his accomplishments in the past, the way he is performing in the postseason right now, and how his career is a lock for a Hall of Fame induction in the future. 

When these factors are all put together, it’s safe to conclude that investing in Kawhi Leonard cards is a good option moving forward. With the prices of sports cards dipping, now is the ideal time to invest in The Klaw.