Ask anyone who they're chasing in the hobby and a good chunk of these collectors would respond with LaMelo Ball rookie cards. That's not a big surprise, though, because the Charlotte Hornets' All-Star guard has been showing what he's made of ever since. And now that he's done with half of his sophomore season, more and more hobbyists are flocking to Ball's stock in the market because of his tremendous upside.
But as good as he is, there's no denying his stock is getting hotter and hotter by the day. With that in mind, here are some of the sickest LaMelo Ball rookie cards you can hunt down in the market.
Optic White Sparkle Rated Rookie LaMelo Ball card
There's always something so appealing and endearing about Panini's Optic Rated Rookie set. It can be the classic design that evokes the sports cards of yesteryears or the clean look that emphasizes the player featured on it. All of these things are taken a notch higher when you see a star like Ball on a hot parallel like this one.
The White Sparkle parallel set clearly elevates this Optic LaMelo Ball card. All the glimmer that shines in the back helps the Hornets' star pop out from the card. And thanks to a limited print run and a majestic gem-mint grade, this insane pull is worth $30,000 in the market.
Mosaic Black 1-of-1 LaMelo Ball rookie card
Now in its second generation as a standalone brand, Panini's Mosaic has grown to be a favorite among basketball card collectors. The card's intricate chrome design is paired with a number of eye-catching parallels available. Of course, when you add a player of Ball's status onto a Black 1-of-1 parallel card, things are really going to go on overdrive.
With a shiny black design, this LaMelo Ball rookie card stands out from the crowd. The only thing that isn't going for this marvelous pull is its PSA 9 grade. Even though that's a bummer since it's the only one of its kind, it can't be all that bad because this particular slab is worth $50,000 when it was last sold.
National Treasures Clutch Factor Prime LaMelo Ball Rookie Patch Auto
Without a doubt, National Treasures is among the best and cleanest products Panini has to offer. Its limited print run, smooth design, and high value in the market help elevate any card found from this brand. It also helps that a star of Ball's caliber pairs well with this high-end offering from Panini.
Case in point, this National Treasures Clutch Factor Prime LaMelo Ball RPA. With a three-color patch right in the center, the All-Star's profile right above it, and an on-card signature down below, collectors will find no reason to hate on this card. Add the fact that it got a gem-mint 9.5 and the autograph a perfect 10 from BGS and anyone's jaw will drop after seeing this in person. Of course, one has to shell around $64,000 or more first to have this monster rookie card in their collection since that's the price it's going for on eBay.
Contenders Optic Rookie Ticket LaMelo Ball Auto Blue 09/35
Just like Optic before it, Panini's Contenders Optic is another product that looks good inside a slab. Blame it on the card's clean design that will turn heads wherever it goes. But whatever the case may be, having Ball on one of these cards is surely a clear-cut winner.
Of course, a short-print auto featuring the All-Star point guard is a good example to take. Here, his Contenders Optic Rookie Ticket Blue Auto 09/35 looks to be a surefire winner in the market. Its low population and gem-mint grades to this rookie pull do it a lot of favor. In fact, its $110,000 price tag is justified because of all of these things. That kind of value will certainly make any collection grow better just with the addition of this LaMelo Ball rookie card.
Prizm Gold Shimmer 7/10 LaMelo Ball rookie card
For someone as young as Ball, it's rather surprising his card stock is doing quite well in the market. Apart from the cards stated above, you'll see his more populous offerings, like his Prizms and Optics, are in demand in the hobby. Of course, standing tall upon the rest of these cards are a select few that will surely catch anyone's attention. Among them is this Prizm Gold Shimmer LaMelo Ball rookie card.
For the longest time, Prizm has been the de-facto brand for basketball card collectors. Thanks to its unique chrome design and status as the flagship product from Panini, these cards are often sought after by everyone. In this particular case, Ball's short-printed Gold Shimmer card limited to 10 copies is among the best anyone can get. Its distinct look, especially inside a PSA 10 slab, deserves a lot of second looks and a high price tag. And with a current value of $250,000, it's pretty hard to argue against this card.
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