Is NBA rookie Victor Wembanyama the hobby’s next big thing?

The NBA’s next big thing — literally and figuratively —is rookie Victor Wembanyama. The 7-foot-4 rookie from France has quickly become the San Antonio Spurs’ centerpiece. He’s only 19, so who knows? He may grow another inch. No doubt he’ll at least add muscle mass.

For now, Wembanyama’s thin frame is encountering lots of traffic in the paint, where the NBA’s wide-body bruisers take up residence. No problem: Wembanyama loves the 3-point line. At this early juncture, he’s been heaving up an average of five 3-pointers per game. He’s making only 27 percent of them, but his inside game is good enough that through mid-December, he is averaging 19 points per game along with 10 rebounds and 2.5 assists.

As Wembanyama fills out and gains more experience, he’ll become a major force. Collectors are confident of that much. Consider the sale of a signed, ungraded 2022-23 Bowman University Chrome Green card for $13,201 on 48 bids. It was marked #46/99.

Also See: Which athletes had the most graded trading cards in 2023?

Then there’s the Panini Prizm “Silver Pack” card of Wembanyama issued at the 2023 National Sports Collectors Convention. One of them, a Gold variation marked #3/10, recently sold for $12,500 on 100 bids. It was graded PSA 10. Another example, this one also graded PSA 10, brought $12,100 on 46 bids.

Consider also the 2023 Sports Illustrated for Kids card of Wembanyama. A PSA 9 example of the perforated card recently sold for $11,100 on 53 bids. Another PSA 9 specimen fetched $10,100 on 48 bids.

Also See: Top 10 Michael Jordan cards for collectors 

Dozens of other Wembanyama cards have sold for prices between $1,000 and $10,000 on eBay in recent weeks. Expect to see him climb into our Top 10 chart within weeks.

By the way, you call him “Wemby” for short — but not at eBay. Searching his nickname only means you’ll end up missing some items. Only one-third of eBay sellers are including “Wemby” in their listing titles. To wit: A current search of “Wembanyama” produced 32,000 listings, while a search of just “Wemby” produced only 11,000 listings. 

(Through Dec. 8) 

1. $71,211 on 90 bids: 2018-19 Panini National Treasures Luka Doncic, #60/99, auto patch (BGS 9.5, auto 10)

2. $48,100 on 84 bids: 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle (PSA 3)

3. $40,500 on 70 bids: 2000 Bowman Chrome Tom Brady Refractor (PSA 9)

4. $31,300 on 50 bids: 2022-23 Panini Crown Royale Stephen Curry Kaboom! Gold, #7/10 (PSA 10)

Also See: Collectors chase new Bowman Tom Brady baseball cards 

5. $31,000 on 1 bid: 2020 Panini National Treasures Football factory-sealed hobby case, four boxes

6. $24,000 on 81 bids: 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle (SGC 1)

7. $23,239 on 77 bids: 2009-10 Panini National Treasures Stephen Curry Gear Prime, #29/49, auto patch (PSA 10)

8. $22,099 on 52 bids: 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan (BGS 9.5)

9. $21,951 on 50 bids: 2000 Playoff Contenders Tom Brady Rookie Ticket, auto (PSA 8)

10. $21,588 on 65 bids: 2022-23 Panini Prizm Stephen Curry Prizms Choice Nebula, #1/1 (PSA 9)

These are the next 10 items outside our Top 10:

• $21,211 on 48 bids: 2022-23 Panini National Treasures Chet Holmgren, #1/5, auto patch (ungraded)

• $20,770 on 41 bids: 2015-16 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Connor McDavid Ultimate Rookie Card, #47/99 (BGS 9.5)

• $20,099 on 67 bids: 2019-20 Panini National Treasures Zion Williamson, #83/99, auto patch (BGS 8.5, auto 10)

• $18,988 on 44 bids: 2020-21 Panini Prizm LaMelo Ball Gold Prizms, #8/10 (PSA 9)

• $19,000 on 43 bids: 1953 Topps Mickey Mantle (PSA 7)

Also See: Juan Soto cards set to soar after trade to Yankees 

• $17,870 on 62 bids: 1963 Topps Willie Stargell (SGC 10)

• $17,800 on 68 bids: 2009-10 Topps Chrome Stephen Curry, #860/999 (PSA 10)

• $17,698 on 79 bids: 1985 Nike Michael Jordan signed promo card, auto (PSA 4, auto 10)

• $17,600 on 56 bids: 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan (PSA 9)

• $17,500 on 29 bids: 1986-87 Fleer Jeff Malone (PSA 10)