It’s pretty easy to spot the clear winners in the NBA playoffs right now. The same thought can be applied to the NBA card value of these players as well. You’ve got Trae Young, who has been incredible for the Atlanta Hawks, and Chris Paul, who has elevated the Phoenix Suns to a championship-caliber team.
On the other hand, there are those who ended their season this year in a very disappointing fashion. We take a look at these guys and how far down their stock in the NBA card market fell.
5 biggest losers in NBA card market trends
Tyler Herro Cards
Needless to say, a lot of expectations were hanging over Tyler Herro’s head after a surprising playoff debut last year. Unfortunately, the sophomore didn’t live up to the massive hype that surrounded him.
Herro’s stock took a deep dive when the Miami Heat were swept in the first round by the Milwaukee Bucks. In that series, the guard was essentially a non-factor by averaging a dismal 9.3 points on 31% shooting, both from the field and beyond the arc.
Along with his horrible on-court performance, Tyler Herro cards also suffered in the market. From a $139 price tag last April, his PSA 10 Prizm base rookie card has dropped to $80 this week. This represents a sharp fall in value caused by a disappointing sophomore campaign.
Ben Simmons Cards
There were a lot of things that went wrong for Ben Simmons when the Philadelphie 76ers faced the Atlanta Hawks recently. In those seven games, the former Rookie of the Year regressed on offense, primarily his 34.2% free throw rating, which was the worst in NBA playoff history. It didn’t help that Simmons’ lack of mental fortitude was also a reason why the 76ers were eliminated.
Simmons’ lackluster performance reflected badly on his NBA cards. Before the postseason started, his PSA 10 2016 Prizm rookie card was priced at $310 at the start of May. Now, that same card can be purchased for $168.5 on eBay.
Michael Porter Jr. Cards
The playoffs were supposed to be Michael Porter Jr.’s coming out party. Without Jamal Murray in the lineup, the 6’10” forward should have blossomed on the biggest stage of them all. The thing is, Porter was found lacking when the Denver Nuggets were swept by the Phoenix Suns in the second round.
While Porter did put up good numbers on offense, it was his defense that stuck out like a sore finger. He was constantly outplayed on that end of the floor, most notably by the Suns’ franchise player, Devin Booker. With his failure to turn the tide for his team, Porter’s PSA 10 Prizm rookie card price plummeted from $280 before the playoffs started to $123.5 this week.
Anthony Davis Cards
Anthony Davis’ injury woes came back to haunt him at the most unfortunate time. Coming off a championship run last year, the Brow endured several injuries leading into the Los Angeles Lakers first-round matchup against the Phoenix Suns. Davis would try his best to overcome a strained left groin, but ultimately fail, as Devin Booker and his squad eliminated the Purple and Gold this early in the postseason.
The Los Angeles Lakers' first-round exit didn’t do any good to Davis’ card value. His PSA 10 Prizm rookie card value has gone down hard from $1,650 to $690.
LeBron James Cards
Another unfotunate consequence from the Lakers’ first-round exit is the fall of LeBron James’s card value Although he tried his best to carry Los Angeles against the Suns, in the end, the opposing squad proved to be too much for the four-time NBA champion. Coupled with the overall downward trend in the NBA card market, and you’ve got a drastic drop of the King’s prices.
Last May, James’ PSA 10 2003 Topps Chrome rookie card sold on eBay for $23,400. Just this week, another gem-mint slab of the same card was auctioned off for $13,100. This sharp decline can go even further during the first few weeks of the offseason, much to the dismay of those who purchased the King’s rookie cards at a more expensive price.
While the stocks of these players are going down right now, it can be a good opportunity to scoop them up. Their value will rebound once the hype for next season starts to ramp up. By then, there will be a good profit to be made from these sleeper investment options.
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