Top Rookie Cards This Season
You’re going to want an Eric Gordon RC“The kids better buy my rookie card now / ’Cause after this year the price ain’t comin’ down”
- “Oh No” by Mos Def, Pharoahe Monch & Nate Dogg
Growing up, I was an avid collector of basketball cards. Buying packs with my hard-earned dough, you could equate my card game to Sonny Vaccaro – always looking to the future. While my buddies were happy to get a Shaquille O’Neal Topps Refractor or an Alonzo Mourning Upper Deck jersey card, I bought crisp packs each Fall looking for rookie cards.
Sort of like buying futures in orange juice, buying and trading rookie cards is an unpredictable market. Sure your Beckett Price Guide will favor lottery picks in terms of value, but oftentimes your placement on Draft Day doesn’t necessarily translate into success in the League.
Nonetheless, below are four rookies that will terrorize the NBA this season, so invest wisely.
Michael Beasley
Already meshing well with Dwayne Wade and Shawn Marion, Beasley looks primed to drop buckets this season – even if he has to come off the bench. In a losing effort to the Magic, Beasley got 13 points and six boards in 27 minutes off the bench.
O.J. Mayo
Of all the rookies on this list, Mayo will probably get the most burn. In a win over the Pacers last week, he dropped 26 points on 10-17 shooting (6-8 from deep) along with four rebounds, three assists and five steals. Established as a starter, look for Mayo to battle for Rookie of the Year honors.
Derrick Rose
Although its just preseason, Rose has been logging minutes like he did at Memphis. While it’s still undetermined whether or not he’s going to be a starter right away, it appears Rose is good for 15 points and five dimes a night.
Eric Gordon
With the possibility of Baron Davis missing time, Gordon could get minutes early for the Clippers. In a win over the Kings last week, he dropped 33 points in 31 minutes. In their last game against FC Barcelona, he dropped 17 points on 6-7 shooting from the field and 2-3 from beyond the arc. Although Jason Hart looks like he’s slated to start in Davis’ absence, look for Gordon to establish himself by Christmas.
October 20th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
DH says:
First! And yeah, I used to collect cards back in the day. I have tons of Zo and Magic cards somewhere at my parents. I need to look some of those up. Thanks for the reminder.
October 20th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
dapro says:
My card collection was crazy I still got the MJ card where he’s dunking the moon
October 20th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Sam I Am says:
I liked the cards with the jersey piece in em
October 20th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
svigi says:
I got a kobe rookie card which come out after the draft. There are his Lower Merion High school stats and he is in high school jersey. Maybe it worth some bucks nowadays:P
October 20th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Drink the Haterade (KB24 Chip 09) says:
My dad and I ate Mcdonalds for like 3 weeks straight back in 92. Just so we could have all the sets of the Original Dream Team. I even have 3 sets of the Sky box version.
October 20th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
rockstar says:
The oh no reference was crazy that song was a classic.
October 20th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Big Sia says:
Two Words
Hamed Haddadi
And Pharoahe Monch is top 10 ALL TIME
October 20th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
ldawg23 says:
The Gred Oden Rookie card should be worth something. Kinda like the David Robinson card….Mainly cause they were draft in one year, and didnt get to play until the next. ONLY if Oden lives up to the HYPE
October 20th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Sho-Nuff says:
I got the holograms, the lockers, clear cars…
Hell I spent $2 on a Todd Day rookie card, he owes me money….
October 20th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Sho-Nuff says:
I meant clear cards, somewhere in my attic these all sit…had visions of cashing in and buying something stupid….
October 20th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Aron says:
@ldawg23
I agreee. Which card do you think will be worth more - last year’s or this year’s?
@Sho-Nuff
Todd Day is the truth!
October 20th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
karizmatic says:
Good Picks though…it doesn’t take a genius to figure these ones though. Who’s your sleeper? I like OJ Mayo myself though he’s the guy I’m watching.
October 20th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Meica says:
Yeah, I just liked trying to complete the sets and get a card of every player. It didn’t matter how bad he was, you know, you’re still part of the set. Can’t do that anymore though; that shit is expensive.