The NBA Conference Finals, known for showcasing scintillating dunks, clutch shots, and signature moves, are not just mesmerizing on the court—they’re sending ripples through the sports card market as well. With the Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, Indiana Pacers, and New York Knicks vying for supremacy, their franchise players are not only the toast of the game but also of card collectors everywhere. Graded or raw, their cards, particularly the iconic Downtown, Kaboom, and Color Blast inserts, have become the equivalent of cardboard gold.
Now let’s embark on a whirlwind tour of these players and their prized cards to see what’s brewing in the world of hobbyists.
**Oklahoma City Thunder: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Sharp Like a Thunder Clap**
First up, the Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, often referred to by fans and collectors alike as SGA. His rising NBA status has seemingly tethered itself to a booming card market, conjuring images of a classic underdog story meeting Cinderella magic. The Thunder guard’s 2023 One and One Downtown card has seen a raw card price increase of 7.4% over the last month, most recently selling at the $2,500 mark, a leap from early May’s $1,950. However, when sleuthing more deeply into graded cards, we see a counterintuitive twist—a decline. Specifically, the PSA 10 version has plummeted by 20%, with the last known sale logged at $3,700.
In a delightful zigzag of fortune, SGA’s 2023 Obsidian Black Color Blast card bucks the trend with a raw card up by a striking 22%, sold most recently at $850. Yet, if you have your eyes fixed on a PSA 10, the last sale was $1,170—a potential steal if OKC keeps on thundering through the playoffs.
**Minnesota Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards, the Electrifying Ant-Man**
Meanwhile, Ant-Man, otherwise known as Anthony Edwards, adds vibrance to the Timberwolves’ postseason scenery. Edwards, who seems sculpted straight from an NBA highlight reel, is enjoying heightened attention in the card-collecting universe. His 2020 Crown Royale Rookie Kaboom! card has maintained a steady value, with its last raw sale noted at $2,950. However, the PSA 10 tells a tale of admiration, appreciating by 2.5% with a May 7 sale at $8,923.
When the conversation pivots to his 2020 One of One Rookie Downtown card, collectors witness a marvel in continuity, as the raw has floated at $5,800, while the PSA 10 has soared by a phenomenal 33%, landing a $13,000 price tag. Edwards is exhibiting both superb playoff performance and conference wizardry, with a card market that seems tuned to a long-term investment harmony.
**Indiana Pacers: Tyrese Haliburton, Leading with Card Values Rising**
Next on our exhilarating card chase, we stumble upon the Indiana Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton, who has captured the imaginations of fans and collectors with his leadership and poise. His 2020 One and One Rookie Downtown card is mirroring this flourish in court charisma, with its last raw version being sold for $1,500. In graders’ realms, the PSA 10 has amplified its desirability, vaulting by an impressive 40%, now priced at $4,000.
His 2023 Spectra Color Blast card follows suit, offering tantalizing prospects. While raw cards have popped up at $830, the PSA 10’s last marquee sale was $1,463—an enticing indicator, particularly if Indiana even gets a whiff of the Finals.
**New York Knicks: Jalen Brunson, An Underdog Dribbling Through Waves and Hype**
Finally, we land in New York, where the Knicks’ fairy tale run sees Jalen Brunson taking center stage. Without surprise, collectors have witnessed diverse trends in Brunson’s card market, specifically his 2023 One and One Downtown. While the raw card price slinks down by 14% to $1,100, the PSA 10 gallops ahead with a 35% rise, hitting $2,425.
For the savvy collector, the tactic might be straightforward yet rewarding: acquire a raw card, submit it for PSA grading, and eagerly anticipate Knicks’ potential postseason heroics. Should the underdog squad stun the basketball cosmos, those invested in Brunson’s cards could be in for a treat as sweet as an overtime game-saving three-pointer.
In sum, the Conference Finals not only encapsulate the topsy-turvy thrill of championship basketball but also the intriguing oscillations in the sports card market. As the games progress and stories unfold, collectors, much like the players themselves, must be ready to adjust, anticipate, and ultimately hold tight to moments like shimmering relics, steeped in both sport and Pokémon-like fervor.
