Subscribe
Follow Us
Witnessing an NBA player go off to dominate a game by scoring 50 or more points is truly an exhilarating experience. It’s watching someone get the win for their team by putting up a monster effort on the offensive end of the court. Last Friday was a very special night as this captivating performance didn’t just happen once, but twice. The culprits? Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics and Zach LaVine of the Chicago Bulls.
Tatum, as everyone knows, is one of the premier wings in the league. He combines a well-rounded offensive game with regular flashes on the defensive end in a 6’8” frame. On the other hand, LaVine possesses incredible athleticism and the ability to drain shots from all three levels of the court. We a look at these two stars’ recent big games and examine how it has affected their respective values in the card market.
Tatum’s 53-point outburst against the Minnesota Timberwolves
Just last week, Jayson Tatum held a masterclass in offense against the league’s worst team – the Minnesota Timberwolves. In that game, the 23-year old forward notched 53 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists in 41 minutes. His efficiency was also evident by hitting 64% from the field, 60% from downtown, and 94% from the free-throw line.
While Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart contributed 26 and 24 points respectively, it was Tatum’s incredible performance that turned the contest in the Celtics’ favor. Boston would eventually get the win over the Timberwolves, 145-136, thanks to Tatum’s career-high game.
LaVine’s 50-point eruption against the Atlanta Hawks
While Jayson Tatum’s career-high performance resulted in a win, the same can’t be said about Zach LaVine’s night against the Atlanta Hawks. In that game, Chicago’s premier shooting guard posted 50 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists in 38 minutes on the court. His shot selection also went insane with 58% from the field, 58% from beyond the arc, and 87% from the free-throw line.
Unfortunately, Trae Young doused LaVine’s historic night by leading the Hawks with 42 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists in 37 minutes. Clint Capela and Danilo Gallinari each had 22 and 20 points, respectively, to seal the win with a 120-108 score in favor of Atlanta.
The state of Jayson Tatum and Zach LaVine rookie cards in the market
While Jayson Tatum got the win for Boston, his card value isn't responding accordingly. Last February, his PSA 10 Prizm rookie card was hovering around the $750 level. At the end of March, that price slid down to $610. A couple of days after his career game, his price in the market hasn’t spiked up that much.
As of now, the highest his PSA 10 card has reached is $700 and the lowest is $580. This means that the market hasn’t caught on to Tatum’s true value yet or they’d rather invest in players that have a better chance of making a deep playoff push than the Celtics.
On the other hand, LaVine’s PSA 10 Prizm rookie card has been doing well on the market. Last February, this graded card sold for $424 on eBay and $500 during the last week of March. Now, that price has risen to $649 after the Bulls’ star went off for 50 points. These prices represent a steady upward trend for LaVine and a stagnant one for Tatum on the card market.
Those who are planning to invest in Jayson Tatum rookie cards should enter now, especially with the Celtics stringing a series of victories just recently. Meanwhile, people who want to cash in on Zach LaVine can do so now because his value can potentially go down if the Bulls fail to make the playoffs. In any case, keep a close eye on these two stars and their upcoming games so you can make the most out of their cards this year.
