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Category Archives: Basketball
NBA Rookie Cards finally arrive … well, sort of
05.17
By Chris Olds | Beckett Basketball Editor | Commentary
With the arrival of 2011-12 Past & Present from Panini America today, the hobby finally has its first Rookie Cards for this season’s young stars.
Well, sort of.
As previously announced, the rookies are found via redemption cards and there are three types of cards to chase — all looking pretty similar to each other. (Need a checklist or OPG when available soon? Click here.)
First, there are autographed redemptions for the 2011-12 NBA Draft class, capped by Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers. There are 35 cards in that one — but all redemptions are blind. There will be a “draft” assigning players to the redemption cards (letters A-Z and then AA-II) live and online in late October. The company has not announced whether all cards were created in the same quantities.
Readers Write: A creative and thoughtful collector
05.15
By Chris Olds | Beckett Basketball Editor
We get a lot of emails with ideas, questions and comments about the hobby, but the above video letter from basketball collector Folkert Leffring, who is from the Netherlands but living in Spain, was one of the more memorable and thoughtful ones we have received recently.
The challenges of collecting American cards overseas is one thing to consider. The challenges of collecting NBA autographs is even bigger.
Despite this, he crafts his own cards to send off to players for signing — and he had an idea about a potential charity auction that he wanted to share. We want to know what you guys think.
You can watch a second video he made showing off some of his other card creations he has made and had signed after the jump.
Avery Bradley basketball cards heat up
05.10
By Susan Lulgjuraj | Contributing Editor
Secondary players often get lost on a team full of stars, but occasionally one breaks through to let fans know there is more to a basketball team than just the usual five.
Second-year player Avery Bradley recently made his presence known on the Boston Celtics. The 6-foot-2 guard finished the regular season hot for the Celtics and has played well during the first round of the playoffs.
One of the big beneficiaries of Bradley’s recent performances are his collectors. With the elevation of his game, his basketball cards are also seemingly on the rise.
His most popular – and hardest to attain – card is the 2011-11 Playoff National Treasures autographed/jersey card numbered to 99. The high book value in Beckett is $200 with the value increasing as recently as April. (Need an Avery Bradley OPG or checklist? Click here.)
Preview Gallery: 2011-12 Panini America Gold Standard Basketball
05.08
By Susan Lulgjuraj | Contributing Editor
Gold Standard Basketball is coming back for its sophomore campaign.
With Panini America’s release of 2011-12 Gold Standard Basketball just a couple of months away, it’s time to get a closer look at some of the cards in the product.
Collectors can expect some of last year’s features back such as 14K gold discs embedded in cards or 14K gold trading cards. But Panini is offering even more to make 2011-12 Gold Standard Basketball even more successful. (Need a checklist for last year’s set or an OPG? Click here.)
Beckett had a first look at Gold Standard in April. But here are more preview pictures to enjoy.
Memory Lane auction brings in more than $2M
05.07
By Susan Lulgjuraj | Contributing Editor
The auction blocks have been hot and heavy with Honus Wagner‘s famous card, but that doesn’t mean the price has come down.
The hobby’s Holy Grail seems to be popping up a bit lately with the most recent auction of a T206 Wagner going for more the $650,000.
Memory Lane‘s Holy Grail Auction brought in $2 million with several sought-after cards and memorabilia pieces hitting the auction block.
The Wagner – a PSA 2 – went for $654,400. Last month, the hobby’s most iconic card sold for $1.23 million, which was graded an SGC 40. (Need a Wagner checklist or an OPG? Click here.)
BGS-graded Michael Jordan tops $41,000 at auction
05.04
By Chris Olds | Beckett Basketball Editor
A BGS 9.5 copy of Michael Jordan‘s 1997-98 Metal Universe Precious Metals Gems Red, a card (above) that is limited to just 90 copies and is the highest grade of its kind according to the BGS Population Report, sold for $41,825 through Heritage Auctions.
The card was one of more than 50 lots of graded Jordans sold via Heritage this week, each professionally graded by Beckett Grading Services or PSA. (Need an MJ-only checklist or OPG? Click here.) The Gems card was a runaway winner bidding-wise, but it wasn’t the only one to grab the attention of bidders. Get a rundown of a few other notable sales after the jump.
Panini America teams up with Dallas Mavericks
05.03
By Chris Olds | Beckett Basketball Editor
Panini America, the NBA’s lone licensee of basketball cards, is teaming up with the reigning league champion Dallas Mavericks for something new.
A game-used memorabilia and marketing program.
As part of its Panini Authentic line of memorabilia offerings, the Texas-based collectibles company will be creating limited edition memorabilia pieces from last year’s NBA Finals while also selling game-used memorabilia and promoting NBA cards and memorabilia at American Airlines Center where the team plays. It’s the first team-focused deal for the memorabilia company. (Need a checklist of every Mavericks card ever made or an OPG? Click here.)
Six players to watch in NBA Playoffs
05.03
By Susan Lulgjuraj | Contributing Editor
The NBA Playoffs have a way of bringing out some unlikely stars, reminding fans of aging ones or getting recognition to those who have deserved it.
With some high-profile players getting hurt and missing the rest of the postseason such as Chicago’s Derrick Rose and New York’s Amare Stoudemire an opportunity has been created for others to get some much-needed attention.
A great postseason has a way of inflating card values. It’s the way Boston’s Rajon Rondo finally got attention a few years ago.
Here’s a look at six players in this year’s NBA playoffs that collectors should keep an eye on.
Massive graded Michael Jordan card stash hits auction block via Heritage
05.02
By Chris Olds | Beckett Basketball Editor
A massive haul of professionally graded Michael Jordan rarities and high-condition cards could heat things up on the auction block through Heritage Auctions with the final buzzer set to sound on Friday here in Dallas.
It’s not often that modern graded cards have such a presence through major auction houses — that’s often the domain of vintage graded baseball and other memorabilia — but nearly 50 lots of MJ cards, each professionally graded by Beckett Grading Services or PSA, are up for grabs right now. (Need an MJ-only checklist or OPG? Click here.)
The leader in the clubhouse as part of the Internet bidding thus far is a BGS 9.5 copy of Jordan’s 1997-98 Metal Universe Precious Metals Gems Red, a card (above) that is limited to just 90 copies and is the highest grade of its kind, according to the BGS Population Report. It’s already attracted 17 bids and sits at $13,145 including the buyer’s premium — with plenty of time to go before it closes.
But that’s not all that’s apparently grabbing the attention of Jordan collectors, who have been paying record amounts for MJ items of late. Among the highlights? A mere 24 cards with BGS 10 grades for starters. Here are a few more notables from the bidding so far:
Your Take: Derrick Rose’s cardboard future (w/POLL)
04.30
By Chris Olds | Beckett Basketball Editor
Derrick Rose is done for the year with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, prematurely ending the reigning NBA MVP’s chances of being Like Mike anytime soon.
That also means that he’s done for the rest of the year, out for the Summer Olympics and probably for another nine months.
“Derrick’s not only a great player, he’s a great teammate, he’s a great person, but it’s not a death sentence,” Bulls Coach Tom Thibodeau told ESPNChicago.com. “It’s not a death sentence for him, it’s not a death sentence for our team. He’s going to come back. He’ll come back better than ever. It’s just the way it is and we’ve got to deal with.”
The coach is perhaps optimistic, but perhaps not. The real question for collectors is how the injury might affect Rose’s basketball cards moving forward. (Need a Derrick Rose checklist or OPG? Click here.)
In short, one must wonder … is the injury a death sentence for his pricey cardboard?