Story by
Why Your Childhood Sports Cards Might Be Worth Less Than This $5M Rarity
- Story by
- Why Your Childhood Sports Cards Might Be Worth Less Than This $5M Rarity
Victor Wembanyama's rookie cards have become sought-after pieces in modern basketball collecting. In little more than a year , two rare cards featuring the San Antonio Spurs star set sales records, showing how quickly the market has changed around the French center and rising demand for rare memorabilia.
The first milestone came in February 2025, when a one-of-one 2023-24 Panini Prizm Nebula Choice rookie card sold for $860,100 at Goldin. The card received a PSA 9 grade, making it a standout.
Advertisement
That price did not hold the record for long. In May 2026, a different one-of-one card, the 2023-24 Panini Prizm Black parallel, sold for $5.11 million in a private deal brokered by Fanatics Collect. Graded PSA 10, it became the most expensive known sale of a non-autographed NBA card.
The transaction was a major leap for Wembanyama's card market. The price was nearly six times the record set by the Nebula Choice card, and it placed the Prizm Black among the most expensive basketball cards ever sold.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
There is an unusual detail behind the market. Panini held the NBA trading-card license during Wembanyama's rookie season, while the player had an exclusive autograph deal with Fanatics. As a result, his licensed Panini rookie cards did not include official autographs, giving rare unsigned parallels added importance for collectors.
Advertisement
The Prizm Black card was originally pulled by collector Cavelle McDonald at NorCal Sports Cards before it was graded and sold. The sale also drew attention to questions and discussion in the hobby surrounding the card's grading and handling.
As Dexerto reported , the record-setting deal became a major talking point among collectors.
For Wembanyama, the sales reflect the expectations surrounding his career. For the hobby, they show how one-of-one scarcity, grading and a rising star can turn a rookie card into a multimillion-dollar collectible.
This story was originally published by Athlon on Nov 3, 2026, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
