It has been a wild ride for the NBA card market this season, especially with a couple of nice surprises along the way. But while these guys exceeded expectations, there are some who are shaping up to be the opposite of them in the hobby, one of which is Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans. We take a look at how the All-Star forward and 4 other stars have turned out to be disappointing NBA card investments this season.
Zion Williamson and the 4 biggest disappointing NBA card investments this season, ranked
5. Scottie Barnes
Winning the Rookie of the Year award comes with a set of expectations, much like in the case of Scottie Barnes for the Toronto Raptors. After an impressive first year in the league, Barnes was expected to take a leap in his sophomore campaign and provide his team with a much-needed burst on both offense and defense, given that he has all the physical tools needed for the job. Unfortunately, that isn't the case at all this season.
After averaging 15.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.1 steals last year, Barnes hasn't broken new ground this season as he's currently notching 15.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and a single steal per game. Worse, his defensive box score has gone down from 0.4 to -0.3 in the 68 games he has played. This kind of performance, if it continues, won't give NBA card collectors that much reason to go for him. Much like with the frustrating example of Zion Williamson with the New Orleans Pelicans, Barnes is in danger of going that route if he doesn't explode next season. That's why it doesn't surprise anyone why his PSA 10 Panini Prizm Silver rookie card has gone down to $290 from $350.
4. Cade Cunningham
Injuries aren't really doing Cade Cunningham any favors this year, and even the last. During this rookie season, the number 1 pick notched 17.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.2 steals, even though he started his campaign late because of an injury. This year, though, the Detroit Pistons' star ended his sophomore year on a bad note after injuring his left shin.
Throughout the 12 games Cunningham played this season, the Pistons' guard averaged 19.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 6 assists. But just as things were starting to look up, especially for those in the hobby who invested in his NBA rookie cards, an unfortunate injury ended any chance of Cunningham's stock from surging in the market. At this point in time, his PSA 10 Panini Prizm is valued at $500 over at eBay.
3. LaMelo Ball
Much like Zion Williamson when he first entered the league, LaMelo Ball was the toast of the hobby during a time when NBA cards peaked in popularity and demand. Thanks to this development, Ball's rookie cards garnered a lot of hype. Unfortunately, the same can't be said about his third year in the NBA as constant encounters with various injuries have reduced Ball's effectiveness on the court.
It's a shame, though, because the Charlotte Hornets' All-Star guard showed in the 36 games he played this season that he can take the next leap in his career by averaging 23.3 points, 8.4 assists, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.3 steals. Add the fact that the Hornets are on a downward spiral in the Eastern Conference without Ball, and NBA card collectors will most likely focus on other big names in the hobby. As of now, Ball's Panini Prizm Silver encased within a PSA 10 slab is valued at $600 on eBay after reaching astronomical heights at the peak of the hobby's popularity.
2. Ja Morant
Apart from injuries or a reduced role in a team, a player's extra-curricular activities that may be deemed scandalous can also affect his stock in the NBA card market. This is the case when it comes to Ja Morant as the Memphis Grizzlies' All-Star is currently suspended indefinitely for flashing a gun live on his Instagram account.
Even though Ja Morant has been balling out of his mind this season as he's notching 27.1 points, 8.2 assists, 6 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game, the current issue he's in isn't doing good for his NBA rookie cards. At this point in time, Morant's PSA 10 Panini Prizm Silver is priced at $725 on eBay. With no word yet on his return, there's really no saying where his value can go from this point on.
1. Zion Williamson
Out of all the guys on this list, there's no player who has been more frustrating in the hobby than Zion Williamson. The New Orleans Pelicans' star is undoubtedly loaded with tons of talent and the potential to be one of the NBA's best stars. The thing is, he hasn't been able to play more than 61 games in a single season during the entirety of his four-year career in the league. So much so that he missed all of the 2021-22 season, thanks to a foot injury.
That's why even though he has been a monster on offense and efficiency, Williamson's absence negates the positive impact he brings to the Pelicans. The same can be said too to his stock in the hobby as his potential hasn't translated to on-court success or a big leap in value. As of now, his PSA 10 Prizm Silver NBA rookie card is priced at $631, which is lower than that of his fellow draft classmate, Ja Morant.
It remains to be seen whether Williamson, or others on this list will bounce back hard next season and prove that their NBA cards deserve to rise up as well. In any case, be on the lookout for these players as there can be great deals to be made on the market, especially now that they aren't on the radar of most collectors.
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