Autographs
Cooper Flagg signs his own Rookie Debut Patch Auto card at Fanatics Fest
Cooper Flagg rarely gets nervous playing basketball.
But signing his own trading card is a different matter. Especially his first Rookie Debut Patch Auto.
Flagg signed his first Topps RPA at Fanatics Fest NYC on Friday.
“I was a little nervous,” Flagg said. “I've signed a lot of cards, but that one was a little nerve-racking.”
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The highly anticipated card is already so popular that Fanatics placed it in the hand of a larger-than-life replica of the Statue of Liberty at the entrance to Fanatics Fest at the Javits Center in New York City.
Flagg signed his Rookie Debut Patch Auto on the Topps Stage just before the 1-of-1 card was unveiled to a crowd of hundreds of collectors.
The card will remain on display at the Topps both throughout Fanatics Fest. It will be featured in the 2026 Topps Chrome Updates Basketball, which hits hobby shops and retail stores on Aug. 6. The set will also feature debut RPA of top rookies Kon Knueppel, Dylan Harper, Derik Queen and Ace Bailey.
The card of Flagg, the NBA Rookie of the Year, is expected to be one of the most sought-after basketball cards in years, with some hobby experts predicting it could top $1 million.
When asked if he planned to buy the card from a collector once it's pulled, Flagg joked, “Maybe eventually. I might have to wait until I get my second contract, but maybe eventually.”
