Do Basketball Cards Still Have Value in 2024?
As both a passionate basketball fan and trading card enthusiast, this is a question I‘ve researched extensively. In short – vintage basketball cards maintain strong value thanks to an active collector market, while modern releases also command high prices driven more by investor interest. However, the overproduced late 80s and 90s remain nearly worthless except for a select few superstars in perfect condition.
Let‘s jump into the current state of the basketball card market and where the biggest opportunities lie for those looking to sell and invest…
Vintage Basketball Cards Command Big Prices at Auction
Iconic vintage basketball cards have sold for mind-blowing prices at public auction over the last several years. This includes legendary players‘ key early cards:
- 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan PSA 10 Rookie: $840k (Goldin Auctions 2021)
- 1979 Topps Julius Erving PSA 8 Rookie: $456k (Goldin 2022)
- 1996 Topps Kobe Bryant PSA 10 Rookie: $110k (Goldin 2022)
- 2003 Exquisite LeBron James RPA Auto BGS 9.5: $900k (Goldin 2022)
raw rookie and early cards of the games legends that grade well are essentially blue-chip alternative assets akin to art masterpieces or rare coins. Investor interest has also picked up as high net worth individuals look to diversify portfolios beyond volatile categories like equities, real estate, and crypto.
Modern Basketball Card Values Continue March Higher
Today‘s stars have seen their modern rookie PSA 10s and BGS 10s explode in value with huge gains annually:
- 2018 Luka Doncic Optic PSA 10: over $20k (up 100x since 2019 release)
- 2018 Trae Young Optic PSA 10: over $10k (up over 50x)
- 2019 Ja Morant Prizm Silver PSA 10: over $4k (up 8x in 2 years)
Key drivers have been breakers & case openings feeding population reports and big hits going viral on YouTube. Platforms like WhatNot have also made the hobby more accessible – allowing mainstream fans to participate in breaks at lower levels.
| Set By Set Power Rankings | Past 5 Years ROI📈 |
|---|---|
| #1 Prizm | 25-50x |
| #2 Optic | 15-35x |
| #3 National Treasures | 10-20x |
| #4 Select | 5-15x |
| #5 Flawless | 3-10x |
Investor speculation has undoubtedly inflated things in the short-term, but the best modern cards should retain value long-term as iconic early trophies of future legends.
"Junk Wax" Era Offers Little Upside
The over-production basketball card bubble finally burst in late 80s after manufacturers flooded the market 1987-1994. Print runs stretched into the millions vs. tens of thousands for sets like 86/87 Fleer Basketball.
Now PSA 10 Gem Mint Shaquille O’Neal rookies sell for around $750-$1,000 – solid but a fraction of comparable 80‘s icons:
Michael Jordan 1986 Fleer PSA 10: $750,000+
Shaquille O’Neal 1992 Upper Deck PSA 10: $1,000
This vast gulf illustrates the lack of scarcity and surplus of high grade copies available for Depression-era stars. Even Shaq‘s PSA 9 trades closer to $100. Those holding late-80‘s through early 90‘s basketball cards should temper expectations unless crossing the near-impossible PSA 10 or BGS 10 threshold.
Identifying Valuable Basketball Cards
So which basketball cards maintain value in 2024 and beyond? Here are the key traits that signal upside:
| Impact on Value | Details | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 5x+ | Iconic Rookie Card | LeBron Topps Chrome, Luka Optic |
| 10-100x | Early Star Card | 86/87 Jordan Fleer, 96/97 Kobe Topps Chrome |
| 100-500x | GOAT Prospect Auto / Logoman | 03/04 LeBron Exquisite Auto Patch, 18/19 Luka National Treasures Logoman |
| 1000x+ | GOAT Rookie In Pristine Condition | Kobe Topps Chrome PSA 10, Jordan 1986 Fleer PSA 10 |
Beyond keys like rookie status, early release timing, autographed patches, or logging prime swatches – population and condition have an exponential impact on modern card values. The total PSA 10 counts directly drive prices for reasons discussed later.
Selling Basketball Cards in 2024
Those fortunate enough to own valuable basketball cards have several sales outlet options:
| Channel | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| eBay | Huge reach &Prices Realized | High fees & chargebacks |
| Auction Houses | Maximize High Value Assets | Up to 20% seller commissions |
| Dealers & PWCC Marketplace | Quick access to network of vetted buyers + potential consignment deals | Lose 10-15% vs selling yourself |
| Local Card Shops | Build relationships with store owners to access wider collector network | Spotty consistency in stores + average buylist rates |
eBay offers an excellent pricing floor guide via sold listings – allowing you to benchmark your cards‘ values vs. market rate. However, for higher dollar vintage or modern gems, Heritage Auctions provides access to the top end collectors willing to pay a premium for quality. Their sports categories have been white hot lately.
Wherever you choose to sell, remember condition and visual appeal impacts perception of value greatly. Expect to price at a 30-50% discount from the last comp‘s peak price in a downward trending market. As assets, cardstend to mean revert after their explosive runs so short-term holders must set realistic reserves.
I hope this high-level overview has been helpful tracking the current state of basketball cards in 2024. As both a collector and investor, it‘s been incredible watching record prices hit annually, though I worry short-term speculation on modern cards isn‘t sustainable. Feel free to reach out with any other questions!
