To say that Kyrie Irving's time with the Brooklyn Nets has been underwhelming is an understatement. After going through different episodes with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics, the point guard's run with his current team has been more of the same on various fronts, specifically his stand on vaccination. And as the Nets fight to keep their playoff hopes alive, so too does Irving's stock in the card market.
Even with his role diminished by New York's vaccination mandate, Uncle Drew still finds a way to be relevant on the road. With a recent 50-point explosion against the Charlotte Hornets, Irving has once again reminded everyone that he's more than all the drama surrounding him. We take a look at how he's doing this season and how his rookie cards are performing in the market.
Part-time Kyrie and how he's been for the Nets
The Kyrie Irving experiment in Brooklyn has been going on for three years. Unfortunately, his stint hasn't amounted to anything tangible for the Nets. And while his numbers have always looked good, the overall impact he brings to the table is way below expectations for the past few years.
In his first season with the Nets, one in which he only played 20 games, the All-Star point guard notched 27.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 1.4 steals per contest. While those stats are incredible, the looming pandemic at that time and various injuries limited his effectiveness. That, and the absence of Kevin Durant, who was still recovering during that period, ensured that the Nets didn't go far in the Bubble.
The following season was supposed to be a promising one for the Nets. Both Irving and Durant were healthy while James Harden came over via a trade with the Houston Rockets. With these three in the lineup, collectors expected Brooklyn to dominate their way to the Finals. But with various injuries to their key players, Irving included, and Durant's foot on the three-point line helped the Milwaukee Bucks eliminate Brooklyn in the Eastern Semifinals last year.
With two whole seasons past, the hope for this current campaign was to have these three stars healthy and available. Unfortunately, Durant missed a chunk of time due to injuries while Irving was prohibited from playing at home due to New York's vaccination mandate. But even this limitation didn't stop Kyrie from being the offensive force he is on the court. In the 17 games he has played so far, the All-Star guard is averaging 26.2 points on efficient 47/40/90 shooting splits while making 4.6 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.2 steals.
While those numbers look good, it gets even better when the Nets faced the Hornets recently. In 37 minutes on the floor, Irving masterfully drained 15 of his 19 field goal attempts, including going 9-for-12 from beyond the perimeter. In the end, the All-Star posted 50 points 6 assists, 3 rebounds, a steal, and a block to lead Brooklyn to a 132-121 win over Charlotte.
That game reminded everyone that Irving is more than the drama surrounding him. Take everything away and collectors will the point guard for who he is on the court – a talented ball-handler who can break defenses down and score efficiently at will from anywhere on the court. All he needs now is for the vaccination mandate to be repealed and for the Nets to make the playoffs in the coming weeks.
The state of Kyrie Irving rookie cards
Irving's definitive rookie card, his 2012 Prizm, is among the hottest that can be found from this set. The thing is, its value has been asleep for quite some time since the All-Star hasn't been playing that much this season. But recent data shows that the value of this card has recently spiked up.
In a three-month graph by Card Ladder, the PSA 10 base Prizm rookie card of Irving has jumped up from $360 late last year to $445. That's an 85% increase over 27 confirmed sales during the said period.
This data can be considered as a good one when it comes to Irving's stock in the card market. Even with limited appearances on road games, the All-Star's rookie cards still have a level of hype and demand to them. It still remains to be seen whether the Nets' current woes, along with the danger of missing the playoffs, will affect his value.
The verdict on Kyrie Irving rookie cards
As compared to other names in the hobby, Irving has managed to win a ring and play in multiple All-Star games, among other accomplishments. But to his detriment, there is always an air of controversy that comes along with the Nets' point guard.
This is unfortunate since Uncle Drew is a very talented player and can help turn the tide for Brooklyn if he is allowed to play at home. But until then, this recent uptick in his Prizm rookie card has the potential to be temporary. If the Nets slide further down in the standings or miss the playoffs altogether, expect his stock to suffer too in the market. In any case, it helps to keep an eye out for Irving and the Nets in the coming weeks to help collectors make sound decisions when it comes to the point guard's cards.
Follow Us
Subscribe