There's rarely a more exciting moment in the hobby lifespan of NBA card collectors than when their unexpected investment makes it big. Sure, investing in can't miss prospects like Luka Doncic and Ja Morant can be just as fun. But when an unsung young player goes from potential talent to burgeoning superstar, it's a different kind of sensation. One star in particular has seemingly shone just as bright as any other young talent after the first week of action: Indiana Pacers big man Domantas Sabonis.
Big men often don't often get the same hobby love as their flashier guard counterparts do. But once any players makes that star turn, a significant card value bump is sure to follow. Sabonis' Prizm rookie cards have been on the rise as the young season has goes on, but they're still easily attainable. Raw versions of his 2016 Prizm have been going at around the $50-60 range, based on recent Ebay sales listen on 130 Point.
Now don't get it twisted; Sabonis was already a star last year. Domas was even named as a 2019 NBA All-Star, which shows that he's been recognized around the league. He averaged 18.5 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 5.0 assists on 54% shooting from the field.
But through five games this year, something's definitely clicked for Domas. He's upped his scoring output to 22.4 points per contest, showing signs of being a legitimate offensive threat. He's done this while also upping his percentages from the field, now shooting 58% from the floor and an insane 54% from downtown. Now obviously that shooting touch from deep isn't going to be sustainable. But given the high accuracy and the increased volume he's taking them, it seems like his three point shot could be here to stay.
Sabonis' improved offensive game as a scorer has also opened up his other elite talent: passing. His five assists last year were already terrific for a big man. He was no Nikola Jokic or anything, but his distributing chops were definitely worth writing home about. But through five games, he's upped his numbers this year at 7.2 assists per game. That's more or less the same total the Joker averaged last season as well.
Given that Sabonis is younger than Jokic, you can definitely see how he could possibly mimic the Joker's career trajectory. For avid collectors of Domantas Sabonis cards, that's the sweetest music you could hear. Nikola Jokic's raw Prizm rookie cards from 2015 have gotten a huge bump as he's gone on to become an All-NBA player. As of now, 130 point has his cards' Ebay sales going for around the $140-160 range, with that number set to surely rise. If that's the sign of things to come for Sabonis, then all those invested are set to flourish.
But Nikola Jokic has proven himself to be quite the postseason competitor. He has played a total of 33 playoff games, including the Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers last season. He cemented himself as one of the league's best with some signature performances on the grandest stage. It's these defining playoff moments that really make or break a player, and in turn the value of his NBA cards.
If there's still one area where Sabonis has some catching up to do, it's that. The Pacers star has featured in just 13 postseason contests throughout his career, and was unable to suit up in the NBA bubble playoffs last season after injuring his left foot. In effect, he hasn't yet been given an opportunity to signal his star status with the rest of the world watching.
But if this season's start is any indication, Domantas Sabonis could be poised for a strong postseason to come. He's no stranger to big-time plays, showing off his clutch gene in an earlier matchup against Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics. This led to him being named as this season's first Eastern Conference player of the week.
Flex on 'em, Domas.
The Indiana Pacers seemed to be in flux during the offseason. Victor Oladipo, their most recent face of the franchise, seemingly wanted out of the club. But after his slew of injuries spread across the past few seasons, this Pacers squad may no longer be his team anymore.
Domantas Sabonis has started out guns blazing, playing at an elite level reminiscent of his great father. But at just 24 years old, he still has a lot of his best basketball ahead of him. NBA cards collectors have a golden opportunity here to hitch onto the young star right before he goes full bloom.
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