Early Impacts: Most Watched 2020-21 NBA Rookie Cards

It was an odd start to their careers, that’s for sure.  No hearing the commissioner call their name, then walking up to a stage and holding up a jersey. No Summer League. A short training camp with little or no preseason competition. Even the best 2020-21 NBA rookie cards won’t likely match the year-long frenzy over Zion Williamson, Ja Morant, Tyler Herro and the rest of the ’19-20 group. 

Still, several members of the 2020 NBA Draft class are making an impact and some will undoubtedly become stars before long. 

LeMelo Ball is already the youngest player in league history (19) to put up a triple double and the Hornets newcomer tops NBA.com’s Rookie Ladder.  He’s the oddsmakers’ choice to win Rookie of the Year.

One and done Kentucky star Tyrese Maxey of the Sixers has already scored 39 in a game, the most by an NBA rookie in their first career start in 50 years.

Sacramento’s Tyrese Haliburton is drawing rave reviews for his passing and can shoot it pretty well, too. 

Top pick Anthony Edwards has brought his scoring ability to Minnesota.

Despite virtually no college experience, seven-footer James Wiseman has stepped into the Golden State Warriors rotation and has a chance to be a force for years to come.  

Versatile Patrick Williams is starting for the Bulls despite never starting in college.

Cole Anthony, Obi Toppin and Deni Avdija will also be on collectors’ radar as the league fights through a challenging season.

While the later than normal start to their rookie campaign resulted in the delayed release of some Panini America products, you can see from the list below that there are plenty of collectors and prospectors chasing 2020-21 basketball rookie cards.  To see the overall most watched basketball rookie card auctions, click here.

100 Most Watched 2020-21 NBA Rookie Card Auctions

	2020-21 Panini Crown Royale KABOOM! #23 LaMelo Ball RC Rookie PSA 10 28 bids - Price: $8,500.00 - Watchers: 147 Item #363423267655
	2020-21 Contenders Anthony Edwards Rookie Auto Gold Prizm Variation #8/10 N146 20 bids - Price: $2,050.00 - Watchers: 131 Item #373606874623
	2020-21 Topps Chrome UEFA Champions League 68 Jude Bellingham Blue Wave RC 47/75 19 bids - Price: $152.50 - Watchers: 83 Item #224494520606
	2020-21 Topps Chrome Bundesliga Youssoufa Moukoko #29 Refractor RC PSA 10 GEM 12 bids - Price: $710.00 - Watchers: 82 Item #284324831399
	2020 Prizm Draft Picks Blue Ice Lamelo Ball ROOKIE CARD AUTO RC #16/75 PSA 10! 33 bids - Price: $1,124.00 - Watchers: 81 Item #154480393850
	2020-21 Contenders Red Shimmer Rookie Ticket #105 Anthony Edwards RC AUTO 1/5 36 bids - Price: $2,550.00 - Watchers: 78 Item #384209939530
	2020-21 Panini Donruss Choice Lamelo Ball Rated Rookie Blue 29/49 HGA 9.5 GEM RC 38 bids - Price: $346.00 - Watchers: 74 Item #133779749485
	2020-21 Panini Donruss LaMELO BALL PSA 10 (GEM MINT) Rookie RC Card #202 Hornets 27 bids - Price: $132.50 - Watchers: 72 Item #133783510052
	2020-21 Panini Prizm Anthony Edwards Fast Break Silver Disco Rookie RC Variation 34 bids - Price: $275.00 - Watchers: 71 Item #194187043194
	2020-21 TOPPS CHROME #CA-JBL JUDE BELLINGHAM REFRACTOR ROOKIE AUTO 13 bids - Price: $102.50 - Watchers: 70 Item #203490847189
	2020-21 Panini Prizm Basketball White Sparkle PATRICK WILLIAMS “RC” 🔥🔥🔥 29 bids - Price: $220.00 - Watchers: 68 Item #284324514483
	2020-21 Contenders RJ HAMPTON Rookie Ticket Cracked Ice Autograph RC Auto #01/25 13 bids - Price: $132.50 - Watchers: 65 Item #203484184358
	2020-21 Panini Black Gold Prizm #288 Patrick Williams RC Rookie 2/5 PSA 9 19 bids - Price: $1,054.00 - Watchers: 65 Item #363423268293
	2020-21 Topps Tier One Bundesliga Florian Wirtz Rookie AUTO #/10 RC! 7 bids - Price: $510.00 - Watchers: 65 Item #174797262533
	2020-21 Panini PRIZM ANTHONY EDWARDS BLUE CRACKED ICE SP /125 ROOKIE RC 24 bids - Price: $446.00 - Watchers: 64 Item #164901455799
	JUDE BELLINGHAM 2020-21 TOPPS CHROME BUNDESLIGA PINK REFRACTOR ROOKIE RC # 22/75 23 bids - Price: $122.50 - Watchers: 64 Item #265190007674
	2020-21 Panini Crown Royale Anthony Edwards Rookie Kaboom ! Timberwolves 32 bids - Price: $1,450.00 - Watchers: 61 Item #304023032153
	2020-21 YOUSSOUFA MOUKOKO Topps Chrome UEFA Champions League Rookie #55 9 bids - Price: $44.00 - Watchers: 61 Item #174798911012
	2020-21 NBA Hoops LaMelo Ball Green Rookie Card RC #223 HGA 9.5 Gem Mint N141 21 bids - Price: $103.50 - Watchers: 60 Item #373606871943
	2020-21 Panini Prizm Fast Break Variation Disco Lamelo Ball RC Rookie 28 bids - Price: $122.50 - Watchers: 59 Item #114841137982
	2020-21 PANINI CROWN ROYALE ANTHONY EDWARDS AUTO PATCH RPA SILHOUETTE SP /199 RC 19 bids - Price: $305.00 - Watchers: 58 Item #313556311996
	2020-21 NBA Prizm Fast Break LaMelo Ball Variation Disco Silver Prizm RC Card 11 bids - Price: $177.50 - Watchers: 58 Item #294214723156
	LAMELO BALL 2020-21 Panini Contenders Rookie Variation Playoff Ticket /99 24 bids - Price: $260.00 - Watchers: 58 Item #373606998609
	2020-21 Panini Blue Prizm #258 Anthony Edwards RC Rookie 63/199 PSA 9 MINT 47 bids - Price: $820.00 - Watchers: 58 Item #373604009806
	2020-21 Panini Prizm Basketball White Sparkle DESMOND BANE Rookie RC - Grizzlies 18 bids - Price: $188.50 - Watchers: 57 Item #353526539050
	LaMelo Ball 2020-21 Panini Court Kings Fresh Paint Violet Auto RC #/35 Hornets 24 bids - Price: $368.00 - Watchers: 56 Item #284323388704
	2020-21 Topps Chrome UEFA Champions League Eduardo Camavinga Blue Wave Auto 1/75 12 bids - Price: $455.00 - Watchers: 56 Item #224494651470
	2020-21 Panini Blue Prizm #258 Anthony Edwards Timberwolves RC Rookie 5/199 41 bids - Price: $740.00 - Watchers: 56 Item #363426646791
	2020-21 Prizm Anthony Edwards Blue Prizm Rookie Card RC #45/199 Twolves N498 18 bids - Price: $201.00 - Watchers: 54 Item #373609295537
	2020-21 Prizm #256 TYRESE MAXEY RC Rookie | Gold Shimmer SSP # 10/10 | 76ers 31 bids - Price: $305.00 - Watchers: 54 Item #114844549508
	20-21 Donruss LaMelo Ball Rc Rated Rookie Signatures Choice Auto Redemption Card 14 bids - Price: $350.00 - Watchers: 54 Item #184878704789
	2020-21 Anthony Edwards Fast Break Blue Prizm Disco Rookie RC /175 PSA 9 MINT 28 bids - Price: $143.50 - Watchers: 54 Item #265189907796
	2020-21 EDUARDO CAMAVINGA Topps Chrome UEFA Champions League ROOKIE #44 10 bids - Price: $20.50 - Watchers: 53 Item #174798922556
	2020-21 Panini Purple Ice Prizm #258 Anthony Edwards RC Rookie 87/175 PSA 10 39 bids - Price: $2,000.00 - Watchers: 53 Item #384214946578
	Lebron James 2020-21 20-21 Prizm NBA Basketball Purple Wave Kobe Tribute SSP SP 24 bids - Price: $136.50 - Watchers: 52 Item #164908654503
	2020-21 Panini Court Kings Rookie Exclusive LaMelo Ball RC SSP CASE HIT 16 bids - Price: $232.50 - Watchers: 52 Item #203487111637
	2020-21 Topps Chrome Bundesliga Jude Bellingham Rookie RC Auto #BCA-JBE N358 12 bids - Price: $315.00 - Watchers: 52 Item #124763686761
	2020-21 PANINI PRIZM CHOICE RJ HAMPTON RED SCOPE REFRACTOR ROOKIE SP /88 🔥RARE 8 bids - Price: $36.00 - Watchers: 51 Item #124760079019
	2020-21 UPPER DECK SERIES 2 YOUNG GUNS CANVAS TIM STUTZLE 21 bids - Price: $40.76 - Watchers: 51 Item #184874499293
	PSA 10 YOUNG GUNS 2020 /21 #451 KIRILL KAPRIZOV PSA 10 YOUNG GUNS PSA 10 46 bids - Price: $670.00 - Watchers: 51 Item #114842108024
	2020/21 Contenders Anthony Edwards Finals Rookie Ticket Auto /49 Timberwolves 33 bids - Price: $787.00 - Watchers: 51 Item #334036037325
	2020-21 Panini Prizm #270 Killian Hayes Rookie RC WHITE SPARKLE SSP /20! MF 21 bids - Price: $102.50 - Watchers: 51 Item #174797626047
	2020-21 Prizm JAMES WISEMAN Golden State RC GOLD PRIZM AUTO 5/10 PSA 10 POP 1!!! 6 bids - Price: $2,550.00 - Watchers: 50 Item #313556188436
	2020-21 Panini Prizm Fast Break Variation Prizm #278 Lamelo Ball Rookie Hornets 16 bids - Price: $177.50 - Watchers: 50 Item #265183441530
	2020-21 UPPER DECK SERIES 1 YOUNG GUNS ALEXIS LAFRENIERE 17 bids - Price: $79.04 - Watchers: 50 Item #184874492643
	2020-21 Panini Chronicles Sergino Dest OPTIC CONTENDERS ROOKIE TICKET Auto /380 31 bids - Price: $187.50 - Watchers: 49 Item #114839876078
	LAMELO BALL RC 2020-21 NO.278 ORANGE CRACKED ICE PANINI PRIZM BGS 9 MINT 29 bids - Price: $197.50 - Watchers: 49 Item #144066049748
	2020-21 Chronicles Optic Rated Rookie Base BILLY GILMOUR autograph auto rc /500 35 bids - Price: $62.00 - Watchers: 49 Item #124760546376
	YOUSSOUFA MOUKOKO 2020-21 TOPPS CHROME UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ROOKIE REFRACTOR SP 14 bids - Price: $132.50 - Watchers: 49 Item #174800001954
	ture 1/1 LAMELO BALL 2020-21 Court Kings First Steps Violet Rookie RC 🔥 Hornets 4 bids - Price: $140.50 - Watchers: 49 Item #203487183325

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About Rich Mueller

Rich is the editor and founder of Sports Collectors Daily. A broadcaster and writer for over 35 years and a collector for even longer than that, he's usually typing something somewhere. Type him back at [email protected]