Most Valuable Stephen Curry Rookie Cards, Ranked
Stephen Curry Rookie Cards are much more valuable than they used to be. An NBA Championship and a knack for exciting plays will do that. A squeaky clean image, high-profile lineage, an infectious smile and a press conference-stealing young daughter all contribute to the overall package as well.
After a steady rise for a couple of years, Stephen Curry cards skyrocketed in 2014-15 when he helped lead the Golden State Warriors to the NBA’s promised land for the first time.
Stephen Curry Rookie Cards came out in 2009-10. This is the year Panini gained exclusive NBA basketball card rights. However, the outgoing licensees, Topps and Upper Deck, were each able to produce a few sets before their deals ran out.
With 27 total, there’s a fair bit of variety when it comes to Stephen Curry Rookie Cards. Some are basic and, relatively, affordable. Others use autographs and rarity to make them worth hundreds, even thousands, of dollars. A couple are further bolstered by the brands that they come from.
With so many choice, what Stephen Curry rookie cards are worth the most? Let’s count them down.
Most Valuable Stephen Curry Rookie Cards
Values are based on prices in the Beckett Basketball Card Price Guide. Those that have the same book value are ranked equally on this list. If you’re looking to add Stephen Curry rookie cards, you can find a selection from several dealers in the Beckett Marketplace.
20. 2009-10 Adrenalyn XL Stephen Curry RC #67
Sports trading card games have a big following in other parts of the world. In North America, several have been tried but they haven’t caught on in the same way. This has led to to a lot of short-lived brands. When Panini launched their basketball exclusive, 2009-10 Adrenalyn XL was part of those plans. Something like it hadn’t been tried for the sport before. It was affordable from the get go, but its fate was ultimately the same as other similar games in other sports.
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20. 2009-10 Panini Stephen Curry RC #307
2009-10 Panini Basketball is one of their most basic releases of the season. Curry is featured on three different cards in the base set, all of which are among his most affordable rookie cards.
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20. 2009-10 Panini Stephen Curry RC #357
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20. 2009-10 Panini Stephen Curry RC #372
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20. 2009-10 Prestige Stephen Curry RC #157
2009-10 Prestige Basketball falls under the same general category as Panini. First, it’s on the cheaper end of things. It also has multiple Rookie Cards of the Warriors guard.
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20. 2009-10 Prestige Stephen Curry RC #207
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20. 2009-10 Prestige Stephen Curry RC #230
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20. 2009-10 Upper Deck Stephen Curry RC #234
This set marked the end of Upper Deck’s strong and long-running flagship basketball line. Like every Stephen Curry Rookie Card from Upper Deck and Topps, he’s pictured in his Davidson uniform. This card is a short print but it’s not incredibly tough to find.
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18. 2009-10 Upper Deck First Edition Stephen Curry RC #196
This is pretty much the same card as the basic Upper Deck version. Other than the First Edition banner on the side and a different number on the back, there’s not much that’s different with the 2009-10 Upper Deck First Edition Stephen Curry.
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18. 2009-10 Studio Stephen Curry RC #129
2009-10 Studio has one of the cleanest looks of Curry’s basic first-year cards. The 30 rookie cards in the set combine to land 1:3 packs so it’s a short print but not a rare one.
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16. 2009-10 Bowman 48 Stephen Curry RC #106 /2009
Bringing Bowman basketball full circle, the final set under the brand uses the basic design of the first. 2009-10 Bowman 48 takes a simple approach to its look. And while the print run of 2,009 copies isn’t small in today’s market, it does add a small premium over some of Curry’s other early cards.
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16. 2009-10 Topps Stephen Curry RC #321
Topps has come and gone a few times in hoops. 2009-10 Topps Basketball marks their latest exit from the sport. While much of the attention for Curry in this product comes from the Chrome version, there’s a stronger market for this card over most of Curry’s other basic rookie cards.
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15. 2009-10 SP Game Used Stephen Curry RC #133 /399
The card itself might not live up to the “Game Used” aspect of the release, but with 399 copies, the 2009-10 SP Game Used Stephen Curry is one of his rarer Rookie Cards. This gives the card the majority of its moderate value given it doesn’t have any other major inclusions.
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14. 2009-10 Timeless Treasures Stephen Curry RC #106 Autograph /299
2009-10 Timeless Treasures had rookies add their signature to a white piece of material meant to look and feel like a basketball. Although it’s numbered to 299 and rarer than a lot of his other rookies, it doesn’t hold quite the same lasting appeal. Collectors should also take a good look at how the signature is holding up. Many have started to bleed into the material and fade in the years since its release.
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13. 2009-10 Donruss Elite Stephen Curry RC #166 Autograph /499
If you’re looking for a cheaper signed Stephen Curry Rookie Card, you might want to look to 2009-10 Donruss Elite. Numbered to 499, it’s more plentiful than a lot of his other autographs. However, the mid-range brand it comes from keeps it on the less valuable side of things, relatively speaking.
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8. 2009-10 Absolute Memorabilia Stephen Curry RC #144 Jersey Autograph /499
It’s doubtful that anyone will ever use the term ‘subtle’ to describe this card. 2009-10 Absolute Memorabilia sticks with the brand’s history in other sports of using foil and a busy design to deliver a lot of element. The most noticeable of there are a pair of uniform swatches, a piece of a basketball and an autograph.
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8. 2009-10 Court Kings Stephen Curry RC #129 Autograph /649
Taking a page from Diamond Kings’ history, 2009-10 Court Kings has some artistic flair behind it. The sticker autograph is a lot more subtle than some of Curry’s other signed rookie cards. It’s also one of the more plentiful.
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8. 2009-10 Panini Threads Stephen Curry RC #107 Autograph /625
The Rookie Class subset in 2009-10 Panini Threads uses letter patches as a signing canvas. This makes for smaller signatures, even for someone like Curry who already has a fairly compact autograph. The idea behind the cards is that you can build a set that spells out “CURRY” with different cards. Letters do not come from jerseys worn by the players.
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8. 2009-10 Playoff Contenders Stephen Curry RC #106 Autograph
2009-10 Playoff Contenders nails what has made the brand a favorite in other sports, particularly football. Curry’s Rookie Ticket Autograph might not be serial numbered but it keeps with tradition. The large spot for an on-card signature is also a major selling point for the card that’s worth more than some of his other autographs.
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8. 2009-10 Topps Chrome Stephen Curry RC #101 /999
Here’s a card that shows the power of a brand in the hobby and its following. There are plenty of cards that are rarer, signed and still worth less than the 2009-10 Topps Chrome Stephen Curry rookie card. But when it comes to basic Rookie Cards that don’t come with autographs, Topps Chrome has a strong history.
2009-10 Topps Chrome Basketball came packaged with the regular Topps set. Base veterans are short prints to begin with compared to the flagship cards, all are numbered to 999.
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4. 2009-10 Certified Stephen Curry RC #176 Jersey Autograph /399
The 2009-10 Certified Stephen Curry has the same general look and feel as his Limited and Absolute Memorabilia counterparts. The silver foil finish acts as a backdrop for an autographed sticker and a jersey swatch.
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4. 2009-10 Classics Stephen Curry RC #166 Autograph /499
Classics isn’t a brand that lasted long in basketball. The 2009-10 Classics Stephen Curry is numbered higher than a lot of his other signed rookie cards. Yet, it’s worth more than many of his other autographs. Why? The biggest reason is likely that it’s hard-signed. Scan this list and you’ll see that most are on stickers. There’s also something to be said for the simpler design it has over his other autographs.
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4. 2009-10 Limited Stephen Curry RC #156 Jersey Autograph /299
Here’s another one for that uses foil card stock and a busy design. The 2009-10 Limited Stephen Curry Rookie Card is led by an autograph (a sticker) and a memorabilia swatch. However, the smaller print run of 299 gives it a little added pop over comparable cards.
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4. 2009-10 Rookies and Stars #136 Autograph /449
Although the material portion of Curry’s 2009-10 Rookies and Stars card is large, it’s just material. It doesn’t come from a game- or player-worn jersey. The format appeals to some, especially as the material allows for a bigger signature.
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3. 2009-10 Crown Royale Stephen Curry RC #103 Autograph /399
A couple of things make the 2009-10 Crown Royale Stephen Curry stand out. It’s one of his few hard-signed Panini rookies, which is a major selling point for many. The die-cut design also makes its design aspects distinct.
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2. 2009-10 Exquisite Collection Stephen Curry RC #64 Autograph /225
Exquisite introduced the hobby to super-premium products back in 2003-04. And while it had a strong run even after Upper Deck transitioned out of its NBA license and into the NCAA, 2009-10 Exquisite Collection Basketball marks its last run as a pro release. That brand loyalty carries a lot of weight when it comes to Stephen Curry’s rookie card in the product. The print run of 225 makes it lower than most of his other rookies. It also has an on-card autograph, something that not many of his other 2009-10 cards can say. This remains one of the most valuable Stephen Curry rookie cards.
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1. 2009-10 Playoff National Treasures Stephen Curry RC #206 Patch Autograph /99
Without question, the 2009-10 Playoff National Treasures Stephen Curry Rookie Card is his most valuable. And there’s some big reasons why. First, at 99 copies, it’s his rarest. There’s also that jumbo patch piece that takes up a good third of the card’s front. Rounding it out is the on-card signature. While there was the Exquisite release early in the season, doesn’t have the same rarity or the patch piece. Curry is also pictured in his Warriors gear versus his Davidson jersey in Upper Deck’s high-end take.
With Curry, Blake Griffin and James Harden leading the way, 2009-10 Playoff National Treasures has made a lasting impression and will be a set that’s held in high regard for years to come.
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Any prices for above cards or price ranges?
Interesting. I wasn’t even aware that Upper Deck was still making basketball cards at that point.
I just bought the UD 1st edition and would wonder how much of my collection I would have to trade off to get a meaningful auto RC like this one. Most of my collection is just base RCs. I have no meaningful auto cards since Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot is not a starter or gets much playing time.