Unlike previous NBA Drafts, which featured the likes of Zion Williamson and Luka Doncic, this 2020 class did not have a clear-cut player who could be a bona fide foundational piece for any team. It looks like a lot of people were wrong. As far as this season is concerned, LaMelo Ball is slowly running away as the top rookie. We take a look down below at his recent games, their impact on Ball’s card value, and where they can go from there.
LaMelo Ball’s last three games
Before the All-Star break happened, the Charlotte Hornets faced off against the Minnesota Timberwolves. In that game, Ball tallied 19 points, five assists, seven rebounds, and a steal in 26 minutes on the court. Buzz City came away with a 135-102 win over the Wolves as Ball posted a plus-25 that night, the second-highest behind Gordon Hayward’s plus-30.
Right after All-Star, the Hornets hosted the Detroit Pistons in Charlotte. In that game, Ball was in a slump by notching seven points, nine rebounds, and five assists. He also committed five turnovers and four fouls in 29 minutes. Fortunately, the Hornets narrowly escaped with a 105-102 victory.
Ball’s most recent game had Charlotte facing the Toronto Raptors. After a disappointing performance against Motor City, Ball redeemed himself by recording 23 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and a steal in 31 minutes. He also drained six of his nine attempts from downtown.
LaMelo Ball staring down Toronto's bench after a three! pic.twitter.com/Rj1L7jjSxl
— Basketball Forever (@bballforever_) December 15, 2020
It should be noted that Ball started in each of these games with no fewer than 25 minutes spent on the court. It is expected that the first-year guard will ride off this recent wave of momentum and post impressive numbers against upcoming contests against the Sacramento Kings and Denver Nuggets.
On the season, the stud rookie is now up to 15.1 points, 6.4 assists, and 6.1 rebounds in 28.7 minutes per game. The 19-year-old is shooting a stellar 44.9% from the field and 38.7% on 3-pointers, with that 3-point mark an especially pleasant surprise for the youngster.
The card market
Since there isn’t a slabbed Prizm rookie card of LaMelo Ball available just yet, we take a look at his current offerings: his 2021 Hoops and Donruss rookie cards.
The latter is currently selling for $105 on eBay, while the former is going for $30. These prices are expected to go either way as the season progresses. Some of the factors that can affect Ball’s card value are Charlotte’s chances of nabbing a playoff spot, winning Rookie Of The Year, and, perhaps most importantly, increasing his per-game averages to separate himself from other members of his draft class.
The verdict on LaMelo Ball cards
Ball’s Hoops and Donruss cards present an intriguing opportunity for investors. If he, at the very least, reaches Luka Doncic levels of fame, these cards will certainly shoot up and command a high price. If he doesn’t, the high print run of Hoops and Donruss will slightly pull down the value of his current rookie cards.
Although it can go either way, it’s important to remember that Ball is the top rookie this year and a multiple-time All-Star in the making. Investing in his cards is a sound investment that possesses little risk. Just keep an eye on his upcoming games and a potential playoff run in the coming months to gauge how high LaMelo Ball rookie cards will go.
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