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The 2021-22 NBA season is officially past its halfway mark and the race towards the postseason is now on. With this in mind, basketball card collectors are looking forward to knowing who's going to end up with the major awards in the league. While everyone is looking forward to the MVP race, the fight for the Most Improved Player award is also deserving of attention.
For several years now, the player who bags the said award has a big chance of making a leap and becoming a star in the NBA. Guys like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Pascal Siakam, Brandon Ingram, and Jimmy Butler are just some of the names that won this accolade and went on to become important pieces to their respective teams.
But before the award is given, collectors should have the chance to get stocks on the potential winners. Shown below are the must-have basketball cards of guys in the Most Improved Player conversation.
Desmond Bane basketball cards
The Memphis Grizzlies' ascension to the West's upper tier didn't happen overnight, nor was it a miracle. Ja Morant alone isn't entirely responsible for this team's stellar showing this season. He had guys that stepped up into their role and provided the important elements to help Grit and Grind return to relevance.
One of these guys is undoubtedly Desmond Bane. From 9.2 points per game, the second-year guard is getting more touches and converting it to buckets. This season alone, Bane is posting 17.9 points on 46% shooting from the field and 41% from beyond the three-point line. He's also grabbing 4.5 boards, dishing 2.5 assists, and making 1.2 steals per game.
Thanks to his effort on both ends of the floor, Memphis enjoys a 113.6 offensive rating, which is 5th in the league, while orchestrating a 108.8 defensive rating worthy of the 7th spot among 30 teams. The Grizzlies' winning record, along with a stellar showing from the sophomore this season, has raised the value of his rookie cards. At this point in time, Bane's PSA 10 Prizm Silver is worth $455 on eBay.
Miles Bridges basketball cards
For quite some time now, Miles Bridges has been languishing in obscurity with the Charlotte Hornets. In the span of three seasons, the athletic forward averaged a combined 10.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists. And even though he had the size and talent to make a difference, Bridges was limited in his role for Buzz City.
All that has changed and it seems Bridges is a new man. With the Hornets building around LaMelo Ball and improving their performance, so did the fourth-year forward in every aspect of his game. He is currently posting 20 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and a single steal in 36.3 minutes per game. That, and an improved offensive box score of 1.2 from last season's 0.2 is proof enough that Bridges has improved enough to warrant the market's attention.
With those things in mind, it only makes sense for his rookie cards to garner demand from the market. Bridges' definitive Prizm Silver rookie card is valued at $201, which is down from its price of $285 late last year. In any case, this presents a good buy-low player that has a high potential in the league.
Anfernee Simons basketball cards
There has always been this lingering fear among fans of the Portland Trail Blazers that at some point in the future, Damian Lillard will be wearing another jersey. But seeing Anfernee Simons step up to the plate with Lillard out and CJ McCollum traded to the New Orleans Pelicans, that fear is somehow relieved.
Right after the departure of McCollum and the trade deadline, Simons has been a man on a mission for the Trail Blazers. The fourth-year guard has led Portland to successive victories over teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks, and Memphis Grizzlies.
During that four-game stretch, Simons posted averages of 30.3 points on 51% shooting from the field, 46% from three, and 88% from the free throw line. He's also contributing 6.3 assists, and 2.5 rebounds per game. And because of his improved performance, not only for those games, but for the entire season as well, Simons has been included in the Most Improved Player race. His PSA 10 Prizm Silver rookie card has also gone up to $322 in the market.
Dejounte Murray basketball cards
When looking at Dejounte Murray's first year in the NBA, one might think that his numbers then were so far from where they are now. During that time, the San Antonio Spurs' point guard averaged a measly 3.4 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 8.5 minutes per game.
Now, in his sixth year in the league, the first-time All-Star is reaching new heights by elevating his game. In the 52 games he started this season for the Spurs, Murray is posting 19.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 9.3 assists, and a league-leading 2 steals per contest. His ability to lead San Antonio's offense, get a bucket, create meaningful plays, and go hard on defense has set the tone for a young Spurs' squad.
Thanks to his All-Star leap and ascension as his team's number one option, Murray's PSA 10 Prizm Silver rookie card is worth $678 in the market. This is a far cry from the card's value a few years ago when Murray tore his ACL and sat the entire season out.
Ja Morant basketball cards
Leading the pack is no other than the Grizzlies' All-Star Guard, Ja Morant. Even during his rookie campaign, the trajectory and willfulness exhibited on and off the court have made him a favorite in the hobby. From his thunderous dunks and fiery disposition, there's no better guy out there to capture the Most Improved Player award in the coming weeks.
With averages of 26.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 6.9 assists, and 1.2 steals per game, Morant is the engine that's been driving Memphis towards the upper tier of the Western Conference. And with these stats in mind, it's no wonder his PSA 10 Prizm Silver rookie card is now worth $1,675.
Even with Morant leading the race, it's still a good idea to invest in the other players on this list. With their stellar performances this season, who knows what heights these guys can reach in the coming years.
