By Susan Lulgjuraj | Contributing Editor

The Oklahoma City Thunder are in the NBA Finals for the first time in history. While this young group of stars is making a name for itself on sports highlight tapes and articles, many of the players are no strangers to card collectors.

On the Thunder’s roster, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant immediately jump out. Two of the best players in the league and they’re getting a chance to show it on a national stage against the Miami Heat.

But other guys are helping OKC on this exciting run. Here’s a look at some of the Thunder players and their cards:

Russell Westbrook

It’s hard to think this is Westbrook’s fourth year in the league, but the point guard plays with such poise and leadership, it feels he’s been around a lot longer. Westbrook is one of the main reasons OKC is where it’s at right now. He averaged 23.6 points a game in the regular season and 21.7 during the playoffs.

But the biggest hit has come on his cards. Some of Westbrook’s Rookie Cards have hit ridiculous levels. Westbrook’s 2008-09 Exquisite Collection jersey autograph RC /225 has commanded more than $1,000. Recently, some of these have sold on eBay for around $1,500, but others for as low as $600. (Need a Westbrook OPG or checklist? Click here.)

Kevin Durant

Durant is getting paid more than $16 million this season. If the Thunder win a title, it will likely be considered worth it. He’s averaging 27.8 points and 7.9 rebounds a game in the playoffs.

And if you don’t already have one of his Rookie Cards, good luck getting one without paying a significant amount of money.

His 2007-08 Exquisite Collection jersey autograph /99 is going for thousands of dollars. The high-book value is $3,000 and the autograph patch version (numbered to 35) has a high-book value of $4,000.

If you want a simpler RC of Durant, his 2008 Bowman, Bowman Chrome and Artifacts can be had for $50 or under – although not autographed. (Need a Durant OPG or checklist? Click here)

James Harden

He has gotten better every year he’s been in the NBA. The Arizona State graduate averaged 9.9 points a game his rookie season, bumped it to 12.2 last year and averaged 16.8 this year.

Harden hasn’t slowed in the playoffs either. His 17.6 points a game are third-best behind Durant and Westbrook. His Rookie Cards also rising in value.

Tops on the list is 2009-10 Playoff National Treasures – jersey, autograph, numbered to 99. The high-book value of this card has recently gone up to $700.

However, collectors don’t have shell out that kind of money for other cards. Some of his other autographed Rookie Cards can be had for about $40-$50 such as 2009-10 Rookies and Stars, 2009-10 Timeless Treasures, 2009-10 Donruss Elite and 2009-10 Absolute Memorabilia. Need a Harden OPG or checklist? Click here)

Derek Fisher

Here is the veteran of the group. Fisher has been in the league 17 years, spending most of them with the Los Angeles Lakers. Although he didn’t play most of the regular season, Fisher has seen time in the playoffs. He’s averaging 6.5 points in 21 minutes in 15 games.

Some of Fisher’s best RCs are 1996-97 Topps Chrome and 1996-97 Bowman’s Best.

He has one autograph from this season’s cards on the market, 2011-12 Hoops Autographs.  (Need a Fisher OPG or checklist? Click here)

Serge Ibaka

Another young player trying to leave his mark. Ibaka has upped his production in the playoffs. In 15 games, he’s averaging 10.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.3 blocks.

If you’re looking for one of the Thunder to start collecting, Ibaka isn’t a bad place to start, especially after comparing his prices to some of his teammates.

His most expensive Rookie Card is 2009-10 Classics, an autograph numbered to 99. The card sells for around $80. (Need an Ibaka OPG or checklist? Click here.)

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.

Jrue Holiday, Philadelphia 76ers: The series between the 76ers and the Chicago Bulls was set to be all about Derrick Rose. But in the first game last Saturday, Rose suffered a season-ending knee injury. This has given the 76ers some life with a chance to move on to the next round.

So, who is leading Philadelphia? Holiday. (Need a Holiday-only checklist or OPG? Click here.)

He’s had two very good games against Chicago. In the first game of the seven-game series, Holiday had 16 points and seven rebounds in a loss.

However, in Philadelphia’s 109-92 win, he was better with 26 points, six assists and shooting 11-for-15 from the field.

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Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs: Parker has been in the league for 11 years and might be most famous for marrying and divorcing Eva Longoria. But Parker has shown no signs of slowing down and is leading the Spurs right through the first round against the Utah Jazz.

In the first game of the series, Parker dropped 28 points and eight assists. In Game 2, he had 18 points and nine assists in almost 28 minutes. When Parker is playing like that, it makes the Spurs difficult to beat, especially when you add the help he gives his teammates. (Need a Parker-only checklist or OPG? Click here.)

But with Tim Duncan on his team, Parker hasn’t nearly gotten the hobby love players of his caliber deserve.

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Andrew Bynum, Los Angeles Lakers: Late-night west coast games might be difficult for some fans to take in, but if so, they’re missing a show by some players such as Los Angeles Lakers’ Andrew Bynum.

The Lakers center took a couple of years to adjust to the NBA. He started at just 18 years old, but is a veteran now having been in the league for seven seasons. And he’s just 24.

Bynum has put together his best season yet. He averaged 18.7 points, 11.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks during the regular season. (Need a Bynum-only checklist or OPG? Click here.)

During the playoffs in Game 1 against the Denver Nuggets, Bynum had 10 points, 10 blocks and 13 rebounds. Then in Game 2 of the first-round series, Bynum came back with 27 points and nine rebounds.

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Josh Smith, Atlanta Hawks: The Atlanta Hawks are a formidable team this year and leading the way is Josh Smith. However, he is day-to-day with a strained tendon in his knee.

If the Hawks do miss Smith, they are going to be without one of their best players. In the Hawks’ 83-74 win over the Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs, Smith put up 22 points and 18 rebounds.

The Hawks are going to need Smith if they want get deep into the playoffs. (Need a Smith-only checklist or OPG? Click here.)

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Danny Granger, Indiana Pacers: After just three games, Danny Granger is already having a postseason to remember.

In three games, Granger is averaging 20.3 points and eight rebounds in leading the Pacers to a 2-games-to-1 lead over the Orlando Magic. In Game 3, Granger had 26 points against the Magic.

This was another series where a star player is missing. Orlando’s Dwight Howard is out with a back injury. This will give other players a chance to shine – perhaps it’s Granger’s turn to capture the spotlight (Need a Granger checklist or OPG? Click here.)

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Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder: There had to be one obvious choice in the mix . Westbrook has excited NBA fans in his four short years in the NBA.

At 23, he’s been in the league four years and has gotten better each and every season. This year, he averaged 23.6 points and 5.5 assists in 66 games.

In the playoffs, Westbrook has helped Oklahoma City scrape by the Dallas Mavericks in two games where the Thunder have won by an average of just two points.

In Game 1 (the Thunder currently leads the series 2-0), Westbrook had 28 points and five assists. In Game 2, he had 29 points.

Westbrook is a hobby favorite and he has certainly shown why. (Need a Westbrook checklist or OPG? Click here.)

Susan Lulgjuraj is a contributing editor for Beckett Media. You can email Susan here. Follow her on Twitter here.