Last year, we discussed the new space of digital collectibles in the NBA via the NBA Top Shot platform. But decades before the concept of non-fungible tokens (NFT) came out, people were already investing and collecting players via NBA cards.
The hobby has seen a resurgence over the last few years, particularly during the pandemic. If you have a slight interest in NBA cards, you might have read a news article of Michael Jordan or Luka Doncic cards selling for sky-high amounts. Different investors who are deep into stocks have even moved to cards as a blue-chip investment!
Whether you collected in the 1990s and stopped for many years or have never held an NBA card in your life, there’s never been a better time to join the hobby. And we’re here for you!
Here are some tips to help you get started in NBA card collecting.
Do your research and understand the hobby
The worst thing you can do is jump into the hobby headfirst without a parachute. If you do that, you’re going to get overwhelmed fast!
Much like the NBA season, card collecting is a marathon, with different types of card sets coming out almost monthly. If you can’t tell the difference between Hoops and Prizm or Court Kings and Flawless, your head is going to keep spinning!
Understanding the ebbs and flow of the hobby is so important before starting your collection because you want to be targeted and very strategic about building it. If you don’t, you might find yourself investing in a set of cards only to find yourself longing for a new type a month later yet out of budget.
Here’s the nitty-gritty of what you need to know: Panini is your maker of licensed NBA cards, and the NBA Hoops card set is the first of the new season. It’s in Hoops that you’ll be able to see this batch of this season’s rookies like Cade Cunninghan, Evan Mobley, and Scottie Barnes for the first time in their NBA jersey.
Hoops is a great way to get your feet wet in the hobby because it’s in the affordable spectrum of NBA cards. Following Hoops after a few weeks will be Donruss cards, which have the same set of players but they are cards that look completely different.
After Donruss is the current king of card sets, Prizm. For many newbies into the hobby, Prizm cards are what veterans would recommend really investing in. Prizm rookie cards of stars like Ja Morant and Luka Doncic sell at really high prices, so investing in the right player will really pay off long term.
There is so much more to talk about, and so many more types of cards to showcase. But with Hoops dropping just a few weeks ago, there’s no better time to jump in than now.
Identify your PC
This sounds counter-intuitive, but it’s true: having a strategy and purpose in building your card collection will ensure that you have more in the hobby. Therefore, committing to your PC (personal collection) is very important.
A PC is simply the player that you want to invest in or collect. It can be a legend like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, or Kobe Bryant. Maybe you want a young superstar like Luka, Ja, or Zion. But if you’re high on the new crop of rookies, you can identify one of them and start your collection from scratch.
Now that you have that player in mind, one important fact that you should understand is to begin the hunt by buying rookie cards. Rookie cards (RC) of NBA stars will always fetch a higher price than cards of players in their second year or third year, so you always want to prioritize those RCs when building your collection.
Deciding on a PC is important because it will help guide you through your journey through different types of NBA card sets. Let’s say that you are high on Evan Mobley and you’re convinced he’s going to have a Hall of Fame career. So you’ll be looking for Mobley cards in NBA Hoops, Prizm, and beyond. That will definitely help you become more targeted in your hunt.
Can you collect other players? If you have additional disposable income, definitely! Diversifying your collection is a great thing, particularly if you can balance between investing in young stars and getting cards of legends. But choosing a PC is a great starting point so that you don’t get too overwhelmed and lost in the hobby.
Take your time and enjoy building your collection
The NBA card hobby can be overwhelming at the beginning. But man, is it a blast.
If you’re reading this article, chances are you’re a basketball nut like me. So card collecting is just another extension of your love for the game. Finding the right card of your favorite young player is thrilling while getting the card of your favorite NBA legend is a feeling like no other.
But regardless of which player you’re collecting, enjoy the journey. Getting the cards you want is only one facet of the hobby - what makes it truly enjoyable is doing research, watching videos of the different types of cards, and meeting fellow collectors who share the same passions as you.
You can find several groups dedicated to NBA cards on social media, and most collectors are very welcoming to newbies. They enjoy having new people in the hobby because growing this space is good for everyone.
So jump in by starting your PC, rip some packs, and begin your card collecting journey!
