Chicago Bulls rookie and 4th overall pick Patrick Williams is having a solid under-the-radar season. He hasn't had any flashy moments like LaMelo Ball, the highlight reel plays like Anthony Edwards, or the all-around display of skill like Tyrese Haliburton. That's contributed to the price of his rookie cards remaining tepid, but recent price movements in the market that coincide with the release of 2020-21 Prizm means that now might be the time to jump in on the Patrick Williams bandwagon before it leaves the station for the greener pastures.
Here are three (3) reasons why a Patrick Williams rookie card is the next NBA rookie card you need to invest in.
Unique Skillset
Unless you're Luka Doncic or Zion Williamson, team fit is a big indicator of how a rookie will do in his first season in the NBA. That's especially true if the rookie is drafted by a team laced with veterans that play similar positions. That's why Coby White, hasn't had the breakout sophomore season many thought he'd have with the Bulls. For someone who needs the ball in his hands to be effective, having Zach Lavine on the team has, in some parts, stunted White's growth.
That's not a problem with Williams. In picking the former Florida State Seminole and last year's ACC Sixth Man of the Year, the Bulls drafted Williams from a position of need. The rangy 6-foot-7 19-year old forward made his bones as a prototypical 3-and-D forward to go with a budding offensive skill-set that doesn't require him to have the ball in his hands all the time. He's a smart player who picks his spots well, whether it's creating space for others or filling gaps quickly to keep defenses on their heels.
His numbers don't jump off the page — he's averaging 12.4 points, six rebounds, and 1.7 assists per 36 minutes — but his shooting splits — 48 percent from the field, 39 percent from 3, and 76 percent from the free-throw line — reflect a player who understands that efficiency is better than volume. Those figures should trend up once his usage rate — an insignificant 15.2 percent — increases moving forward.
The LeBron James Stamp of Approval
A LeBron James stamp of approval is like a rookie's version of a golden ticket. You just get noticed more when the King showers you with praise, as James did to Williams after the Lakers played the Bulls in early January.
From Rob Schaefer of NBCChicago:
“I think he is going to be an exceptional talent,” James said of Patrick Williams. “[He has] long arms. He has Kawhi-type of hands that I noticed out on the floor so I knew I couldn’t play with the ball much. You can tell he is just laser-sharp on just trying to get better and better. He has a great in-between game but if you notice his hands, like I said, he has Kawhi-type of hands that is going to benefit him a lot throughout the course of his career. I think Chicago has a good one.”
Patrick Williams rookie card prices could spike soon
Several of Williams' 20-21 Prizm Silver rookie cards have sold on eBay at an average price of $240. That's on-par with the Prizm Silver rookie cards of Emmanuel Quickley, the flashy guard who's also having an excellent rookie season with the New York Knicks. The current rate of his Prizm Silvers feels like a premium price, but it's still a lot cheaper compared to the Silver Prizm rookie cards of LaMelo Ball ($900), Anthony Edwards ($700), and Tyrese Haliburton ($300).
The price of Williams' rookie cards also hinges on whether he gets a taste of the playoffs. As it stands, the Bulls currently sit 10th in the East, putting them in play for the play-in games for the playoffs. If the Bulls hold on to that spot, Williams will have a bigger platform to showcase the skillset that has drawn praise from the NBA's elite. If the rookie balls out for the Bulls when the lights are brightest, the price of his rookie cards could go the moon before you get a chance to latch on for the ride.
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