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Not only did Pelicans superstar Zion Williamson take the league by storm during his first year in the NBA, but his rookie trading cards have also been a driving force in the recent market surge.
Panini America’s national treasures are some of the preeminent products coming out in the NBA and, in terms of sales, generate some of the most mind-blowing numbers for beginner cards.
Williamson, the overall number 1 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, has a National Treasures card with the NBA logo embedded in a jersey, as well as Williamson’s autograph. Blowout Cards has offered to pay a $ 500,000 bounty for the “Logoman” version of Williamson’s Rookie Patch Autograph, which is currently hiding somewhere in one of thousands of hobby boxes around the world, according to Jason Howarth, Vice President of Marketing of Panini America.
Panini Prizm Rookie Card by Zion Williamson. (Courtesy of Panini America)
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“I haven’t heard anyone found that card yet,” Howarth told FOX Business Wednesday. “But it’s possible they could hold him back or negotiate with that company about the size.”
Howarth, who has been working with Panini America for 10 years, joined the company just when it entered the US market. Panini, which has been in business for over 60 years, is mainly known around the world for its stickers, but in 2009 it entered the US market and bought Donruss Trading Cards in Texas, and won the exclusive license for the NBA, and has been the exclusive trading card partner of the league for the past 10 years. Panini America is also exclusive to the NFL and NASCAR, among other sports.
Rookie cards are what tend to lead the trading card category. So, according to Howarth, Panini America is very busy with rookies early on and are already well underway in the process of closing exclusive deals with rookies for the 2021 NBA Draft class.
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“There’s always this desire to go out and get as many rookie cards as you can because you can end up getting guys you think are going to be great, who end up not being that great. And then there are guys that you have no expectations for and they end up turning out great, ”Howarth said.
Howarth talked about the rise of Golden State Warriors superstar Steph Curry, and when he walked out of Davidson, everyone loved what he did in the NCAA tournament, but no one thought he would become the player he is today. Another situation Howarth recalled involved former New York Knicks player Jeremy Lin, who actually wasn’t drafted in 2010. Lin’s rookie cards initially sold between $ 1 and $ 3 in high-end brands like National Treasures, but when “Linsanity” came out a few years later, those cards were on fire, Howarth said.
“They were going from $ 15,000 to $ 20,000 during Linsanity’s peak, when it was just crazy,” Howarth added.
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Right now, Williamson’s shares are higher than ever. For some, he’s already crowned the next face of the NBA, hence the outrageous bounty for his ultra-rare rookie card. Right now on the Blowout Cards website, National Treasures boxes cost over $ 4,000 each. So if you are in the market to try and get lucky, you will also have to spend a lot of money.
“Seeing the cards of guys who are just playing their first year in the league, selling for those numbers, is amazing,” Howarth said. “It’s amazing to think about it. This is what is so intriguing about these rookies. “
