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Almost everyone expected the Brooklyn Nets or Philadelphia 76ers to make a deep playoff run this season. With the presence of perennial All-Stars and incredible talent in their respective rosters, it was only right to expect these teams to contend. The thing is, no one expected Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks to be so good this soon.
During the regular season, no one gave the Hawks even the slightest chance to make the Eastern Conference Finals. Now, they’re being carried by Young, who’s playing at an elite level right now. We take a look below whether cashing in on the All-Star’s stock in the card market is a wise move or not.
The State Of Trae Young Cards Before and Early Into The Playoffs
It’s hard to believe but there was a time when Trae Young and the Hawks were expected to either miss the playoffs or be eliminated in the first round. This was justified midway through the regular season when Atlanta fell to the East’s lower tier in the standings. This all changed when Nate McMillan was tasked to lead the team back into contention.
This coaching change catapulted the Hawks back into contention after tumbling down the standings in February. They would go on to finish the regular season as the fifth seed with a 41-31 record. At that point, Young’s PSA 10 Prizm base rookie value was at $282.
McMillan’s new direction unlocked Trae Young’s true potential as they faced the New York Knicks in the first round. In that series, Young went insane on the offensive end of the floor. The Hawks’ franchise player would go on to average 29.2 points and 9.8 assists in 36.4 minutes per game to help Atlanta overcome New York, four games to one.
After getting rid of the Knicks, Young and the Hawks would go on to face the Philadelphia 76ers earlier this month. With Atlanta stealing Game 1 with a 128-124 victory on the road, Young’s gem-mint Prizm rookie card increased a little to $300. This was the point where the All-Star’s stock was about to explode in the coming weeks.
Trae Young Cards: To Sell Or Not To Sell?
After that first game against the 76ers, six more would be held to decide who goes on to the Eastern Conference Finals. During that series, Trae Young would dominate by notching 29 points, 10.9 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. Even though his shooting wasn’t as efficient as many would have wanted, the point guard’s offensive impact was more than enough to create good looks for his teammates.
As a result, Atlanta is now facing the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals. Even though the odds are against them, Trae Young has shown he has what it takes to lead the Hawks into a deep and meaningful playoff run. This sentiment has reflected on his rookie card value, which has shot up now to $400.
Young’s impressive performance, both on the court and in the card market, begs the question of whether to sell his stock now or not. Keep in mind that the value of Trae Young rookie cards is still way below Luka Doncic’s, his fellow 2018 Draft classmate. This gap is an indication of how high Young’s ceiling is in the hobby and how far his cards can go price-wise.
Those who need cash right now to chase a monster card should obviously sell their Trae Young cards. Otherwise, it’s better to hold them now because he has ascended to an elite level few players have ever reached. It won’t be long now before the prices of Young’s cards follow his increasing talent and popularity.
