Auctions
Multimillion dollar 1/1 Cooper Flagg Rookie Debut RPA headed to auction at Fanatics Collect
The multimillion dollar #1/1 Cooper Flagg NBA Rookie Debut Patch Auto card, which launched a bidding war in the hobby, has been consigned to Fanatics Collect and will be up for bid in its September Premier Auction Sept. 10-24.
The Flagg Debut RPA was pulled from a box of Topps Chrome Updates Basketball on Aug. 10 during a box break at a local card shop in Rhode Island, setting off a wild and unprecedented bidding war for one of the most coveted chase cards ever to hit the hobby.
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The 1/1/ RPA, which features Flagg’s autograph and a patch from his very first NBA game jersey, was the prize of the new set and is expected to be one of the most valuable basketball cards in hobby history.
The auction will also feature 1/1 Debut RPAs of 2025-26 rookies Dylan Harper and Kon Knueppel, pairing three of the top NBA rookie cards in one auction.
Collector Jason Williams, who pulled the card after purchasing a Dallas Mavericks spot in a box break for $515, immediately received multiple offers for the card, including a $1.5 million Auction Cash Advance from Goldin and $3.6 million from alternative asset company Alt.
Even Flagg’s own Dallas Mavericks entered the bidding war, offering premium season tickets for 32 years and a package of Flagg collectibles and other team perks.
With those offers pushing the estimated value of the card to $5-$6 million, Williams declined all the offers and announced he was keeping the card.
Meanwhile, Fanatics Collect VP of Marketplace Kevin Lenane attempted to contact Williams through the Rhode Island card shop. Unsuccessful, Lenane traveled by ferry and Uber from Connecticut to Rhode Island while another Fanatics Collect team member flew to Rhode Island from Los Angeles.
After speaking with Williams via phone, the collector agreed to come to the shop and meet with Lenane and the Fanatics Collect team. According to Fanatics, after roughly 12 hours of discussions, Williams finally agreed to consign the card to Fanatics Collect.
The Flagg card received a PSA Gem Mint 10 grade.
Cards of star rookies Flagg, Harper and Knueppel have already set records on the red-hot basketball card market. All three Debut RPA could top $1 million, according to hobby experts.
Jeff Owens is the editor of SCD.
