Luka Dončić getting traded to the Los Angeles Lakers shocked the basketball world and it’s had an on the spot influence on his buying and selling playing cards. However the place does it go from right here?
Dončić was one of many darlings of the pandemic-era sports activities card increase. After making his NBA debut within the 2018-19 season, he was quickly ascending to grow to be among the finest gamers within the league and basketball card collectors have been driving up the values of his playing cards simply as quick. In March of 2021, that hype peaked when his one-of-a-kind Panini Nationwide Treasures autographed logoman card (that means it options an NBA emblem jersey patch embedded within the card) reportedly bought privately for $4.6 million, which was a report sale for a basketball card on the time. That very same card bought publicly in Nov. 2022 for $3.1 million. In response to CardLadder, which tracks buying and selling card gross sales throughout main marketplaces, there have been 11 different gross sales of Dončić playing cards for greater than $500,000 between 2020 and 2022.
Since that interval, Dončić’s card values have come again all the way down to Earth (together with the remainder of the buying and selling card market) as he’s failed to attain the milestones that preserve that early hype burning, like successful MVP awards or championship rings. In June of final yr there was a little bit of a spike again up when he helped the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals and completed third in MVP voting, however for the reason that Boston Celtics handily dispatched the Mavericks to win the title, that burst didn’t final lengthy.
This season, with the Mavs hovering round .500 and Dončić battling accidents which have saved him from enjoying since Christmas day, it appeared like it might be a quiet yr for his card values. However that every one modified late on Saturday night time with the information that he was traded to some of the fashionable franchises within the NBA. His 2018 Panini Prizm Silver rookie card (a well-liked parallel that’s in shorter provide than the bottom model) in a gem-mint PSA 10 grade, which has a inhabitants of two,370, went from promoting for round $1,000 earlier than the commerce to round $1,900 within the hours after the deal, in line with CardLadder. As large of a shift as that’s for such a short while, it’s price noting that it bought for greater than $9,000 in the course of the loopy pandemic-era highs 4 years in the past.
Predicting the place Dončić’s card costs go from right here depends on just a few elements, although. Whereas it appears possible that this preliminary increase might proceed as he makes his first few appearances alongside LeBron James with the Lakers, and their large fan base excitedly buys in on their new star, he’s going to must ship what he couldn’t with the Mavs to ensure that it to hold on indefinitely. He’s going to must win MVPs and championships.
GO DEEPER
Contained in the top-secret negotiations that made Luka Dončić a Laker
How fashionable is Luka Dončić amongst collectors?
In response to eBay, the highest 5 energetic NBA gamers with essentially the most gadgets bought in the course of the 2023-24 NBA season on their platform have been Victor Wembanyama, LeBron James, Anthony Edwards, Luka Dončić, and Jayson Tatum. Dončić additionally ranks among the many prime 10 in NBA jersey gross sales (his new Lakers jersey is already on sale). So he’s positively some of the fashionable gamers within the league and enjoying for the Lakers will give him an opportunity to develop that recognition in new methods.
Are there any Luka Dončić playing cards that might decline in worth due to the commerce?
Once more, long-term values will rely on what he can obtain in LA, however it will likely be fascinating to see what occurs with Dončić’s Dallas-era Downtown inserts going ahead. Downtowns, that are semi-rare playing cards that characteristic creative representations of gamers and landmarks of the town they symbolize, have been a few of Panini’s hottest playing cards lately and carry premium worth consequently. However will collectors nonetheless pay prime greenback for playing cards of Dončić alongside coated wagons and horses now that he’s in LA? Now is likely to be the time to promote these playing cards specifically.
Beware the “Lakers rookie card” spin
When LeBron joined the Lakers in 2018, some sellers tried to capitalize on the excited LA followers by framing his first playing cards in his new uniform as “Lakers rookie playing cards.” So, seven years on, have these playing cards retained any distinctive stage of worth?
Briefly: no.
As of this writing LeBron’s 2019 silver Prizms in a PSA 10, his first in a Lakers uniform, are promoting for round $40-$60, and his 2018 silver Prizms — his final in a Cleveland Cavaliers uniform — are promoting for…round $40-$60.
Don’t be shocked if this framing is tried once more with Dončić when subsequent season’s NBA playing cards drop.
Luka Dončić’s key rookie playing cards:
2018 Panini Prizm SilverPSA 10 inhabitants: 2,370Recent gross sales: $1,900All-time excessive: $9,098
2018 Panini Optic HoloPSA 10 inhabitants: 365Recent gross sales: $995All-time excessive: $7,711
The 2018-19 Nationwide Treasures Luka Doncic Rc Auto Logoman 1/1 simply bought for $4.6 million.
That is the very best value ever paid for a basketball card.
(Purchaser: IG/shyne150) pic.twitter.com/FoTjV3GcBD
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) February 28, 2021
2018 Panini Nationwide Treasures RPAs (rookie patch autograph playing cards)Numbered to 99 and lowerRecent gross sales fluctuate primarily based on rarity and gradeAll-time excessive: $4.6 million
Different cool (and cheaper) Luka Dončić playing cards:
2019 Panini Internet Marvels
A enjoyable, comedian e book impressed insert from Panini’s Donruss set. Will enjoying for the Lakers get Dončić a job in a Marvel film?
2022 Panini Choose Courtside
OK, so Dončić isn’t identified for his dunks, however that is such an important {photograph}. It’s only a handsome card.
2023 Panini Noir Classic Artwork
Panini’s Noir product options among the prettiest basketball playing cards of the extremely trendy period and this version of the Classic Artwork inserts is true up their with its best designs.
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(High picture: Ezra Shaw/Getty Photographs)
