As we open the book on the 2025-26 NBA season, basketball fans are already glued to their screens, thrilled by the drama of star-studded matchups that seem straight out of a Hollywood script. On opening night, the Oklahoma City Thunder, armed with their silky playmaker Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and seasoned veteran Kevin Durant, welcome the new-look Houston Rockets. Afterwards, our channels will sizzle with the excitement of seeing the Lakers’ titan duo of LeBron James and Luka Dončić square off against Stephen Curry’s Golden State Warriors. Drink it in, folks; it’s the stuff dreams are made of. Yet, there’s another storyline buzzing beneath the courtside hush—an electrifying dance taking place not on the hardwood but in the world of collectibles: basketball cards.
Card collectors and NBA enthusiasts know well that just like the stocks on Wall Street, player card values are often as volatile as a three-pointer at the buzzer. Over the past month, as gleaned from the Beckett Online Price Guide trends since September 21, four players have seen their stock rise higher than an Ariza alley-oop, and four others have experienced a tumble reminiscent of a disastrous shorts-falling-down mishap. As the NBA fever spikes, these shifting values offer a fascinating glimpse into the league’s undercurrent narratives defined by prospects, potential, and present performances.
First off, let’s talk Victor Wembanyama. The seven-foot-three French phenom from San Antonio has bounced back from a health hiccup that dashed half of last season’s hopes and left his defensive prowess untested. But now, the buzzword is ‘redemption,’ with fans and collectors alike dreaming of Defensive Player of the Year accolades for the towering Spur’s star if he stays robust. This optimism has predictably upped the ante on his cards, with any of his tangible treasures turning into gems wanted by enthusiasts—and rightfully so. Playing like a human skyscraper, Wembanyama’s presence on the floor promises nothing short of an exhilarating defensive show.
Matas Buzelis is another baller taking upward steps in the hobby world. Last season, he modestly dipped his toes into Chicago’s starting lineup, transforming his game and market perception. From a benchwarmer with 5.8 points in 14 minutes, he evolved to a crucial starter, clocking 13 points over 26.8 minutes. This rapid ascension, set against the backdrop of his sophomore season, has encouraged collectors to gamble on his expanding role. Like the Windy City itself, Buzelis’s career seems swept by winds of change, injecting needed dynamism into Chicago’s roster.
For Los Angeles Clippers fans, the name Bogdan Bogdanovic spells momentum. After a midseason shift, he bolstered the Clippers’ score sheet, pushing them foot-first into the playoffs. As his Clippers comrades line up to begin this new season, Bogdanovic, the coveted marksman, has seen his card prices rise with the same precision he uses to target the net. Collectors seem to believe, and rightfully so, that Bogdan’s capacity as a consistent and shooting savant will only amplify in this re-energized lineup.
Meanwhile, Terrence Shannon Jr. took the slower, more scenic path to acclaim. Initially maneuvering through a sluggish start with the Minnesota Timberwolves, he eventually soared higher, as though channeling his inner Timberwolf. Now, Shannon, with his formidable 6’6″ physique, has rightly nudged collectors to lean in and look ahead optimistically to his contributions on the court.
On the flip side, it’s not rainbows and victories for every player. Joel Embiid, for example, finds himself under the cloud of uncertainty. Injuries have stunted his presence to a mere 58 games over two years, and a recent knee surgery has tweaked the collective enthusiasm. His career resurgence remains a question hanging—much like his near-perfect jump shots—on how quickly he can bounce back to seize his MVP memories.
Zach Edey, the towering newcomer with Memphis, appears to be subjected to more than just teething issues, as an unfortunate ankle injury sees him hobbling into the new season. With an additional two-month healing pause, his collectible stocks have subsequently taken a timeout, as buyers gingerly wait for tangible evidence of his court comeback.
Further down the pop chart, Jaylen Wells has surfaced as a surprising yet curious case. Despite impressing during his rookie minutes with the Grizzlies, sophomore years can be tricksome; the shadow of regression looms like an overcast sky, causing a dip in his card prices. What the future holds for this young gun rests on his ability to buckle under pressure and shine once more.
Lastly, there’s Baylor Scheierman, Boston’s beacon of potential players to keep your Third Eye trained on. His late-season flourishes and playoff cameos may have hit thrilling highs, but without an expanded role in the competitive Boston landscape, skepticism drapes over his collectible allure, causing some of his cards to descend gently in value.
For fans of both basketball and its collectible paraphernalia, these shifts in player dynamics offer a narrative saga unrivaled in its unpredictability. As the season advances valiantly with its twists and turns, we’ll be watching closely how these profiles, and many others, shape-shift once again on courts across the nation—and of course, how these changes fare in the passionate world of basketball cards.
