During the last decade, the one team that paved the way towards the modern era is, without a doubt, the Golden State Warriors.
From 2015 to 2019, the Dubs were able to win three titles on five different occasions. At their peak, Golden State’s roster boasted the likes of Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala, among others. Needless to say, the Warriors were the definitive team of the 2010s.
The same can’t be said about the Dubs at the onset of this new decade. The roster is now filled with new players brought in to keep the ship afloat, such as Kelly Oubre Jr. and Andrew Wiggins. Only a few names are left from their championship core, namely Curry and Green, who are still actively playing for the team. Meanwhile, Thompson, a key piece to the Warriors’ success, has been injured for the past two seasons.
But out of all the players on the Warriors’ roster, there’s no one more intriguing or promising than James Wiseman. This year’s second overall pick possesses an impressive blend of athleticism, elite size, and a jumper that’s steadily improving. We take a look down below how Wiseman has used those gifts for Golden State, specifically the last three contests. At the same time, we examine how his performance has affected his value in the card market after playing 29 games this season.
James Wiseman vs. Best of the West
Golden State last three games had them facing some of the best teams in the Western Conference – The Los Angeles Clippers, Utah Jazz, and Los Angeles Lakers.
The Dubs' contest against the Clippers last Thursday had Wiseman notching 14 points and seven rebounds in 12 minutes from the bench. He also displayed an efficient game by shooting 85% from the field and draining his lone attempt from beyond the arc. Although the rookie played well in the few minutes given to him, the Warriors fell to the Clippers with a 130-104 score.
The Warriors would then face the Utah Jazz three days later and get the W over them with a 131-119 score. Wiseman played from the bench again and posted 16 points, four rebounds, and a block in 23 minutes on the court. He also connected eight of his 11 attempts, which equates to an efficient 72% field goal percentage.
After getting the win against Utah, the Warriors then faced LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers the following night. While Wiseman displayed impressive performances prior to this contest, his stint against the Purple and the Gold is somehow disappointing. In 27 minutes, Golden State’s big man tallied only seven points, eight rebounds, and an assist.
He also committed three turnovers and fouled out during the second half of the game. The Lakers would go on to dominate the contest with a 128-97 blowout victory against Golden State.
The state of his card market
Since Panini hasn’t released this season’s Prizm Basketball set, we’ll take a look at the next best thing – Wiseman’s 2020-21 Donruss Rated Rookie card
This particular product was released at the start of March, hence the hyped-up prices at that time. Proof of this is the aforementioned Wiseman rookie card from that set, which fetched $40. Before Golden State faced the Clippers, that price went down to $25. After that three-game stretch was done, Wiseman’s Donruss rookie card has settled between $8 and $15.
As you can see from the numbers above, Wiseman’s card value started off high and has now corrected itself. What happens now until the end of the regular season will greatly determine whether his stock will improve or fall down further. This especially once his Prizm card comes out within the month and takes up some attention from collectors
The verdict on James Wiseman rookie cards
As the trade deadline approaches, there are rumors coming out of the Bay that Wiseman isn’t seen as a part of the Warriors’ immediate future and can be used to land a star before March 25. Pair that buzz with Wiseman’s inconsistent play and you’ve got something to worry about when it comes to his short term card value.
But where there's fear, there's also opportunity. With James Wiseman's best years clearly ahead of him, collectors can take advantage of the dip in the market by stocking up. The buzz is on his draft mates LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards right now. After Wiseman's injury setback, he could come back strong towards the end of the season once he gets back to playing shape.
You’ll also want to wait for next month’s release of the latest Prizm set. The latest rookie cards in the market, especially those of Wiseman, are expected to drop in price once Panini’s flagship product hits the market. It’s wise to invest in James Wiseman rookie cards from that product as they will retain their value better than his Hoops and Donruss offerings.
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