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ONLINE AUCTIONEER: Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum cards getting boost during NBA Finals
With the NBA Finals set to begin June 6, our latest Online Auctioneer Top 10 list is heavy on NBA cards featuring such current stars as Steph Curry and Jalen Brunson and, of course, NBA legend Michael Jordan.
And our “next 10” list of recent eBay sales features even more NBA legends, including Jordan, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant.
But our “next 10“ list also features two hoop stars matching up in the NBA Finals: Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks and Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics.
Doncic, of course, is a regular on these lists. He entered the NBA at age 19 for the 2018-19 season and became an instant star—and hobby favorite. In his six seasons, he has played in exactly 400 regular-season games and averaged 28.7 points per game (including a league-high 33.9 for the 2023-24 season). He has also averaged 8.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists, and 1.2 steals.
Doncic is featured on a pair of Panini Prizm cards below that sold for pieces north of $21,000. Believe it or not, Doncic hasn’t yet hit his prime (he’s only 24), so the sky may be the limit for his cream-of-the-crop collectibles.
Then there’s the Celtics’ Tatum. He also entered the NBA at age 19, though it was a season earlier than Doncic (2017-18).
In his seven seasons thus far, Tatum has risen from a solid player (13.9 points per game in his rookie year) to an electric and versatile scorer (30.1 points and 26.9 points per game the past two seasons). Overall, he has played in 513 regular-season games and put up 23.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game.
As part of the NBA’s most storied franchise, Tatum is overshadowed by the likes of Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, John Havlicek, Larry Bird and Paul Pierce, but he’s been a key cog in the Celtics’ return to NBA Finals play. As such, collectors will open their wallets for such items as his 2017-18 Panini National Treasures autographed card, as the Gem-Mint example below and its $17,168 price illustrates.
TOP 10 CHART
(Through 6/02/24)
1. $51,655 on 67 bids: 2015-16 Upper Deck SP Authentic Connor McDavid Retro, #17/25, auto patch (PSA 10, auto PSA/DNA 10)
2. $36,401 on 106 bids: 1965 Topps Joe Namath (PSA 8)
3. $31,100 on 55 bids: 2018 Bowman Chrome Shohei Ohtani Atomic Refractor, auto (PSA 10)
4. $28,917 on 74 bids: 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle (PSA 5)
5. $25,855 on 38 bids: 2009-10 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Stephen Curry Rookie Autograph, #137/225, auto (PSA 10)
6. $25,105 on 58 bids: 2009-10 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Stephen Curry Rookie Autograph, #75/225, auto (PSA 10)
7. $25,100 on 58 bids: 1978 Topps Rookie Shortstops including Paul Molitor and Alan Trammell (PSA 10)
8. $25,000 on 1 bid: 2018-19 Panini Prizm Jalen Brunson Gold Prizm (PSA 10)
9. $24,150 on 47 bids: 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan (PSA 9)
10. $24,100 on 56 bids: 1984-85 Star Michael Jordan (BGS 8)
NEXT 10
• $23,589 on 73 bids: 2003-04 Upper Deck SPx LeBron James Rookie Autographed Jersey, #324/750, auto patch (BGS 10, auto 10)
• $23,177 on 31 bids: 2023-24 Panini Prizm Luka Doncic Prizms Black, #1/1 (PSA 9)
• $23,123 on 73 bids: 1997-98 Fleer Metal Universe Michael Jordan Precious Metal Gems (ungraded; BGS authenticated).
• $22,100 on 10 bids: 1996-97 Flair Showcase Kobe Bryant Row 1 Seat 31, #68/150 (BGS 10)
• $21,400 on 85 bids: 2018-19 Panini Gold Prizm Luka Doncic Fast Break, #2/10, auto (BGS 9.5, auto 10).
• $20,502 on 41 bids: 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle (PSA 1)
• $20,100 on 71 bids: 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth #181 (PSA 5)
• $18,198 on 60 bids: 1998 Playoff Contenders Peyton Manning Rookie Ticket, auto (PSA 9)
• $18,158 on 86 bids: 2002-03 Upper Deck NBA Ultimate Collection Michael Jordan Game Jersey Patch, auto patch (ungraded)
• $17,168 on 35 bids: 2017-18 Panini National Treasures Jayson Tatum #81/99, auto patch (BGS 9.5)
