On the Rise: Cade Cunningham Rookie Card Guide
Being the top pick in any NBA Draft comes with high expectations… and not every player can instantly live up to the hype. The seasoning needed to learn the professional game is catching up with Cade Cunningham in spectacular fashion matching his athleticism and growing skills on the hardwood.
Just as important for collectors, his ascension among the NBA’s best has helped boost his rookie card values and sales.
From Five-Star to NBA All-Star
Originally from Arlington, Texas, Cunningham was a consensus five-star recruit in high school out of Florida’s Montverde Academy. With options to go to any college he wanted, Cunningham enrolled at Oklahoma State.
The Cowboys were instantly rewarded with Cunningham’s scholarship opportunity. During his 27-game freshman season in 2020-21, Cunningham averaged 20.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. At the conclusion of the season, Cunningham joined Michael Beasley (2007-08), Kevin Durant (2006-07), and Marcus Smart (2012-13) as the only players to earn both Big 12 Freshman and Conference Player of the Year honors.
Cunningham was the top pick in the 2021 draft by the Detroit Pistons, earning First Team NBA All-Rookie honors in 2022. Since Cunningham posted 17.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game as a rookie, his statistical averages each season have continued to improve. His scoring totals have risen from 19.9 to 22.7, and 26.1 per game last season.
Being a point guard, the franchise, players on the roster, and fans want to see the dish numbers go up as well – Cunningham has that covered. His sophomore campaign was 6.9 per, followed by 7.5 and 9.1 in 2024-25.
As Cunningham has improved, so have the results for the Pistons on the court. During the 2024-25 season, the Pistons broke a five-year playoff drought.
Helping uneasy collectors hold onto Cunningham’s cards for another season, the Pistons’ 6-6, 220-pound, point guard made his first All-Star team in 2025 and was named All-NBA Third Team.
Card Hobby Excitement Grows
In his fifth year of professional ball, the 24-year-old has it working on all cylinders. Cunningham is among the league leaders in points (26.7) and is second in assists per game (9.7) behind Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic.
Additionally, the Pistons are no longer looking up in the standings, holding a 7.5-game lead in the Central over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Rookie Cards
The Beckett Online Price Guide (OPG) lists 26 Cunningham cards with the RC (Rookie Card) label; this does not include all parallels and inserts that are variants.
As is the case with most sports trading cards, ripping an autographed, memorabilia, or serial-numbered card lends favor at the top of the value listings. Pull an autographed, patched, serial-numbered card, chances are collectors on the secondary market are clamoring for what is in your personal collection.
*All card values are per the OPG.
The Cunningham RC Value Tiers
For fans late to the Cunningham RC collecting express train, the good news is that there are modestly priced cards making it easier to start. Of the 26 Cunningham RCs, 14 are valued from $4 to $20 depending on condition.
Pictured: 2021-22 Court Kings #77 Cade Cunningham RC
- 2021-22 Panini Origins #51 Cade Cunningham RC
- 2021-22 Court Kings #77 Cade Cunningham RC
- 2021-22 Crown Royale #69 Cade Cunningham RC
- 2021-22 Panini Stickers Cards #81 Cade Cunningham RC
- 2021-22 Panini Revolution #120 Cade Cunningham RC
- 2021-22 Panini Prizm #282 Cade Cunningham RC
- 2021-22 Panini Recon #202 Cade Cunningham RC
- 2021-22 Donruss Optic #161 Cade Cunningham RC
- 2021-22 Select #11 Cade Cunningham RC
- 2021-22 Panini Mosaic #203 Cade Cunningham RC
- 2021-22 Hoops #201 Cade Cunningham RC
- 2021-22 Panini Illusions #151 Cade Cunningham RC
- 2021-22 Panini Chronicles #50 Cade Cunningham RC
- 2021-22 Donruss #211 Cade Cunningham RR RC
Next Tier Up
Creeping up in value, $25 to $100 raw, Panini dominates the middle-low value tier with six Cunningham cards. The two most valuable in this bracket are both serial-numbered cards.
*Card values shared are Excellent (EX) to Mint (MT).
Pictured: 2021-22 Panini Noir #142 Cade Cunningham
- 2021-22 Panini Noir #142 Cade Cunningham A RC /99 ($15-$100)
- 2021-22 Elite #248 Cade Cunningham RC /999 ($12-$50)
- 2021-22 Panini PhotoGenic #101 Cade Cunningham RC ($12-$40)
- 2021-22 Panini Obsidian #151 Cade Cunningham RC ($12-$40)
- 2021-22 Panini Black #71 Cade Cunningham RC /149 ($10-$40)
Break Out the Credit Card
The next five Cunningham RCs on the list, one can expect to pay over $100 raw. But each is a beauty.
2021-22 Panini One and One #147 Cade Cunningham RC /99 ($25-$150)
2021-22 Panini Contenders #101 Cade Cunningham AU RC ($100-$600)
* 2021-22 Photo Variation Autographs Premium Green Shimmer
2021-22 Panini Contenders Optic #124 Cade Cunningham AU RC ($120-$800)
2021-22 Panini Impeccable #101 Cade Cunningham JSY AU RC /99 ($120-$800)
* 2021-22 Panini Impeccable Asia /88
2021-22 Immaculate Collection #122 Cade Cunningham JSY AU RC /99 ($250-$1,500)
The Cunningham RC Pinnacle
No surprise to find National Treasures atop a card value list: 2021-22 Panini National Treasures #123 Cade Cunningham AU JSY /99 RC ($2,000-$12,500)
The pictured Bronze /49 variation, BGS 9, sold for $6,000 after 40 bids during an eBay auction on Nov. 27.
Bonus Cards
Not high on the value scale ($3-$20 depending on the variation and release), but a must mention, even though it is outside the OPG Rookie Card label, because they are really cool cards.
Another Bonus Card
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