Grading cards has surged back into the limelight, reminiscent of the mass production days of the Junk Wax Era, with Victor Wembanyama at the heart of this phenomenon. According to the 2024 data from PSA, the basketball prodigy has taken the grading world by storm, accounting for six of the top 10 most graded cards of the year. But his true claim to fame lies in one record-shattering card: the 2023 Prizm Victor Wembanyama RC Base.
With a staggering population count of 24,400+ PSA 10s and still climbing, the 2023 Prizm Victor Wembanyama RC Base has officially become the highest PSA 10 population card of all time—a feat previously thought unattainable in the modern collecting world.
Wembanyama’s rise in the grading world mirrors the frenzy seen during Luka Dončić’s time in the hobby. Luka’s 2018 Prizm rookie card’s surpassing of 20,000 PSA 10s was a monumental milestone at the time. However, fast forward to today, and Wembanyama has shattered that ceiling in less than a year.
Joining an elite group of cards with 20,000+ PSA 10 populations, Wembanyama’s card now stands alongside the likes of Luka Dončić, Zion Williamson, Ja Morant, Ronald Acuña Jr., and Juan Soto. Even Fernando Tatís Jr.’s card sits on the cusp of joining this exclusive club.
Panini’s collaboration with Monopoly on a special Prizm card set featuring Wembanyama has only added fuel to the grading frenzy. The Monopoly version has already seen over 10,000 PSA 10s, solidifying Wembanyama’s dominance in his rookie year.
When combining the base 2023 Prizm rookie card with its Monopoly counterpart, the numbers are staggering: over 40,000 total graded, with a high gem rate producing more than 24,000 PSA 10s for the base card, and over 10,000 PSA 10s for the Monopoly rookie. Despite these impressive numbers, they still fall short of Ken Griffey Jr.’s rookie card dominance in the late ’80s.
Wembanyama’s card numbers may evoke memories of the overproduction days of the Junk Wax Era for seasoned collectors. While his cards may not be rare per se, the emphasis on high grades, particularly PSA 10s, reflects a grading explosion reminiscent of the ’90s—albeit with a modern twist. With Panini’s production capabilities and collectors’ reliance on grading companies, the market is experiencing submission volumes and gem rates that were unimaginable in the ’90s.
Having over 40,000 graded cards in just a year, Wembanyama is on track to rival Griffey’s all-time numbers, provided Panini’s production can sustain it. His 2023 Prizm rookie card has undeniably cemented its status as a hobby legend, achieving milestones in months that other cards took years to accomplish.
Wembanyama’s meteoric grading journey signals both excitement and caution for collectors. While his cards showcase the growing popularity of basketball and global appeal of emerging stars, the sheer volume of graded cards raises concerns about long-term value as some dub this the modern Junk Wax Era. Collectors are reminded that rarity and condition will stand as key factors determining long-term value. For now, the hobby revels in the legacy of a rookie phenom who has already made an unforgettable mark on grading history.
