Collecting NBA cards is all the rage these days, especially with the playoffs generating so much hype. That’s why it’s always a welcome treat to pull a rare card that will demand a lot of value on the market. But in all of these, there are small details that can make it more valuable to collectors.

We take a look down below at four tiny things every collector should look out for when pulling cards. If done correctly, these details can drive a card’s value through the roof.

NBA Cards That Feature A Player’s Jersey Number

One of the things collectors chase when ripping packs or boxes is to hit a numbered card. They come with a label that mentions how many cards there are in existence and their particular number in the order. 

For instance, a hobbyist ended up with a Prizm Purple card of an All-Star, which is numbered to 99 copies. There are instances when the number labeled on the card matches the player’s jersey number. This is considered the only one of its kind, making it more valuable to collectors.

A good example was shown recently by Slabtox. A copy of LaMelo Ball’s 2020 Prizm Blue Shimmer, which is numbered 14/35, sold for $12,800. Another copy with a 2/35 numbering, Ball’s jersey number, got $18,311. This proves that the market gives more value to these jersey numbered cards more.

Parallel Cards That Use A Player’s Team Color

Parallel cards that match a player’s team color can be likened to those that have a similar jersey number. Those that target these cards do so because of their awesome look. For example, collectors would appreciate hitting a Prizm Green Jayson Tatum card, a parallel that matches his team’s colorway. The card looks better than its base counterpart and commands more value on the market. Proof of this is when the card below sold on eBay for $2,800.

Although there’s a bigger chance of pulling a parallel that matches a certain player’s jersey, the odds go up if the team’s color isn’t that widely available. Again, green parallel cards can be easily found in retail packs, while rarer variants like gold or black are harder to pull. In turn, they are more in demand by collectors.

NBA Cards With Errors On Them

There are instances when a glitch happens during the printing of a card set. In some cases, it’s an isolated incident. In others, it affects the whole production. In any case, the value of these cards can go up if their error makes them more unique.

Take this 2019 Prizm Red Ice Zion Williamson rookie card, for example. The front features Williamson and the card’s design. On the back, however, has the profile of Nickeil Alexander-Walker upside down. As it can be seen from the images, the error of this card cannot be set aside that easily.

On the other hand, this kind of flaw makes the card unique. This makes it more enticing to collectors, as evidenced when it sold for $3,000 last month. As such, there is value to be found in these cards.

An Interesting Story Behind The Card

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Julio Luis Munar ·

Julio Luis Munar ·

Julio Luis Munar ·

Sometimes, there will be something awesome about a card that will boost its value. It doesn’t have to be an error or match a player’s jersey color. In some cases, there’s a compelling story to be discovered about it.

Take Mark Jackson’s 1990 NBA Hoops card. By all accounts, this player doesn’t command the value of Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant on the vintage card market. What he has, though, is a card that features the Menendez brothers on it.

These two became infamous for murdering their parents in 1989 and claiming the insurance money for their own. It wasn’t until 1990 when they were apprehended for the crime. Their inclusion on the card’s photo confirmed that the brothers went on a spending spree after committing the heinous act.

Interesting details, like this one found on an old card, can also drive value up. A PSA 10 slab of this Jackson card sold last month for $550. All things considered, that’s a pretty good profit for a normal-looking base card.

It’s a good idea to keep an eye out for these tiny details the next time collectors go card hunting. In doing so, the chance to get an insane pull out of nowhere will really go up.