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

	2021 National Treasures CADE CUNNINGHAM Rookie Patch Auto Black Box 1/1 PSA 10 27 bids - Price: $3,450.00 - Watchers: 158
	2020-21 Contenders Anthony Edwards Premium Variation Rookie RC Auto #105 PSA 10 30 bids - Price: $1,280.00 - Watchers: 119
	2020 Immaculate Triple Auto Lamelo Ball Anthony Edwards James Wiseman /25 33 bids - Price: $870.00 - Watchers: 115
	ANTHONY EDWARDS 2020-21 Panini Contenders Optic PRIZM ON CARD AUTO RC VARIATION 17 bids - Price: $275.00 - Watchers: 92
	TYRESE HALIBURTON 2020-21 PANINI CONTENDERS OPTIC 125 ROOKIE BLUE PRIZM AUTO /49 20 bids - Price: $204.69 - Watchers: 91
	TYRESE HALIBURTON 2020-21 PANINI PRIZM ROOKIE GOLD WAVE SIGNATURES AUTO RC  35 bids - Price: $167.00 - Watchers: 91
	2020-21 Contenders LaMelo Ball CRACKED ICE Rookie Ticket AUTO RC # /25 PSA 10 30 bids - Price: $4,250.00 - Watchers: 81
	LAMELO LONZO BALL 2020-21 PANINI IMMACULATE #DA-LLA ROOKIE DUAL AUTO 13/25 RC 20 bids - Price: $100.00 - Watchers: 77
	2020-21 National Treasures Devin Vassell ROOKIE PATCH AUTO /99 BGS 8.5 RPA RC 20 bids - Price: $1,250.00 - Watchers: 70
	2020-21 PANINI CROWN ROYALE KABOOM! RC #21 ANTHONY EDWARDS BGS 9 24 bids - Price: $948.00 - Watchers: 70
	2020-21 Immaculate Anthony Edwards #137 Laundry Tag RPA RC Auto /5 PSA 9/10 SM 18 bids - Price: $383.00 - Watchers: 62
	2020-21 Black Anthony Edwards RC Rookie Dual Patch Signatures Auto RPA /25 17 bids - Price: $202.50 - Watchers: 61
	2020-21 Panini Contenders LaMelo Ball Playoff Ticket Variation Auto RC /99 10 bids - Price: $200.50 - Watchers: 61
	2020-21 Contenders LaMelo Ball Variation Rookie Ticket On Card Auto RC PSA 10 38 bids - Price: $330.00 - Watchers: 59
	2020-21 Panini Crown Royale KABOOM #23 LaMelo Ball RC Rookie SSP PSA 10 10 bids - Price: $2,513.88 - Watchers: 59
	2020-21 Panini Impeccable Orange Anthony Edwards RC Rookie AUTO 8/25 17 bids - Price: $200.00 - Watchers: 58
	2020-21 Absolute Memorabilia Glass #23 LaMelo Ball RC Rookie BGS 10 BLACK LABEL 21 bids - Price: $166.50 - Watchers: 58
	2020-21 Impeccable Rookie Autographs Tyrese Haliburton Auto RC /99 PSA 8 16 bids - Price: $53.00 - Watchers: 55
	2020-21 Panini NBA Hoops Anthony Edwards RC Rookie Ink Auto CSG 9.5 18 bids - Price: $140.50 - Watchers: 53
	2020-21 NATIONAL TREASURES RPA ROOKIE PATCH OBI TOPPIN RC AUTO /99 PSA 10 Q0902 19 bids - Price: $113.50 - Watchers: 53
	2020-21 Panini Select Tie-Dye Prizm Jaden McDaniels RPA RC Rookie Patch AUTO /25 15 bids - Price: $77.00 - Watchers: 51
	2020-21 Donruss Optic Rated Rookie Auto Holo #171 Tyrese Maxey RC PSA 9 14 bids - Price: $100.00 - Watchers: 50
	2020-21 Tyrese Maxey RC Tiger Stripe; Panini Prizm basketball 21 bids - Price: $450.00 - Watchers: 49
	2021 Donruss Optic Rated Cade Cunningham Holo #161 PSA 10 Rookie 6 bids - Price: $32.00 - Watchers: 47
	2021 Mosaic Fast Break Auto Cade Cunningham 8 bids - Price: $138.05 - Watchers: 45
	LAMELO BALL 2020/21 DONRUSS OPTIC RC RATED ROOKIE BLUE AUTOGRAPH SP AUTO #35/49 31 bids - Price: $202.50 - Watchers: 45
	2020-21 Panini Mosaic Anthony Edwards RC Rookie Signatures Auto #RA-AED Red Gold 11 bids - Price: $118.50 - Watchers: 44
	2020-21 Revolution Anthony Edwards Chinese New Year Holo Gold Rookie RC #6/8 20 bids - Price: $148.25 - Watchers: 44
	2021-22 IMPECCABLE ROOKIE HOLO GOLD TREY MURPHY III RC AUTO /10 BGS 9 Q0902 7 bids - Price: $14.50 - Watchers: 42
	2020-21 Panini Mosaic Anthony Edwards RC Rookie Signatures Auto #RA-AED 17 bids - Price: $67.00 - Watchers: 41
	2020-21 PANINI SELECT ROOKIE RC COURTSIDE COSMIC SSP ANTHONY EDWARDS PSA 9 MINT 5 bids - Price: $168.50 - Watchers: 40
	2020-21 Donruss Optic Anthony Edwards RC Rookie RC Fast Break Silver Disco Auto 15 bids - Price: $145.50 - Watchers: 39
	2021 IMMACULATE FRANZ WAGNER RC ROOKIE RPA 25/50 SSP SP PPA-FZW MAGIC 5 bids - Price: $79.00 - Watchers: 39
	2020-21 Panini Contenders Optic Tyrese Maxey Silver Prizm Rookie Ticket RC Auto 9 bids - Price: $103.61 - Watchers: 38
	2020-21 Panini Prizm LaMelo Ball Silver Prizm Rookie RC #278 PSA 10 34 bids - Price: $660.00 - Watchers: 37
	2020-21 Panini Prizm Blue Wave #LMB Lamelo Ball RC Rookie Auto HORNETS 9 bids - Price: $103.50 - Watchers: 37
	2020-21 Panini Mosaic LaMelo Ball RC #202 Rookie Lucky Envelope 8/8=1/1 9 bids - Price: $110.50 - Watchers: 33
	JOSH GREEN 2020-21 PANINI FLAWLESS ROOKIE SIGNATURE PRIME GU PATCH AUTO GOLD /10 10 bids - Price: $66.00 - Watchers: 33
	Anthony Edwards 2020 Panini Donruss Optic Rated Rookie Red Choice /88 PSA 8 9 bids - Price: $30.00 - Watchers: 33
	2021-22 Jonathan Kuminga Panini One & One Rookie Patch Auto Dual Red /25 21 bids - Price: $232.50 - Watchers: 33
	2020-21 Panini Noir Tyrese Haliburton Rookie Autograph /99 RC On-Card Auto PSA 8 18 bids - Price: $206.74 - Watchers: 32
	Anthony Edwards 2020-21 Panini Obsidian RC Rookie Silver Prizm#152 11 bids - Price: $76.00 - Watchers: 32
	2021 Evan Mobley Panini Flawless Auto Diamond 10/10 1/1 RC#62 11 bids - Price: $127.50 - Watchers: 32
	JOSH GREEN 2020-21 PANINI FLAWLESS ROOKIE GAME-USED PATCH AUTO EMERALD 4/5 RC  19 bids - Price: $122.50 - Watchers: 31
	2020-21 Panini Prizm Lamelo Ball #278 Blue Wave Prizm Rookie RC Hornets PSA 10 8 bids - Price: $51.14 - Watchers: 31
	ANTHONY EDWARDS 2020-21 PANINI IMMACULATE #INI-AED ROOKIE AUTO 78/99 TWOLVES RC 4 bids - Price: $4.25 - Watchers: 30
	2021 Panini NBA Prizm Franz Wagner Rookie Silver Cracked Ice Prizm 310 PSA 10 RC 8 bids - Price: $31.00 - Watchers: 30
	2020-21 Panini Instant Kira Lewis Jr. RC Rookie Nike Swoosh Sneaker Patch 1/1 10 bids - Price: $26.69 - Watchers: 30
	2020-21 Panini Spectra 1/1 BLACK Prizm #107 rookie RC Desmond Bane 8 bids - Price: $122.50 - Watchers: 30
	2020-21 Contenders Optic Red Prizm Rookie Ticket Jaden McDaniels RC AUTO /149 26 bids - Price: $93.00 - Watchers: 29
	2020-21 Contenders LaMelo Ball Playoff Ticket Variation Rookie Auto RC #11/99 11 bids - Price: $113.25 - Watchers: 29
	2020-21 Immaculate Immanuel #’d 3/5 Quickley Logo Rookie Patch Auto RC 15 bids - Price: $160.50 - Watchers: 29
	2020-21 Panini Prizm LaMelo Ball RC Rookie Signatures Auto #RS-LMB 6 bids - Price: $32.00 - Watchers: 28
	Jonathan Kuminga 2021 Impeccable Blue Stainless Stars Auto 6/49 Rookie RC PSA 8 10 bids - Price: $23.50 - Watchers: 28
	Lamelo Ball 2020-21 Panini Flawless AUTO #D 3/5 3 bids - Price: $1,034.00 - Watchers: 28
	2020-21 Panini Prizm Tyrese Maxey Rookie Signatures Auto RC 4 bids - Price: $7.50 - Watchers: 27
	2020-21 Panini Crown Royale Rookie Silhouettes #123 Anthony Edwards AUTO RC /199 9 bids - Price: $18.50 - Watchers: 27
	2020-21 Panini Prizm Tyrese Maxey RC Sensational Signatures Auto Rookie 76ers RC 6 bids - Price: $32.00 - Watchers: 27
	2020-21 Donruss Optic Tyrese Haliburton Choice Prizm Rookie Auto RC SSTYH PSA 10 18 bids - Price: $101.00 - Watchers: 27
	2020-21 Prizm Tyrese Maxey Ruby Wave Prizm Rookie RC #256 PSA 10 76ers 17 bids - Price: $53.03 - Watchers: 26
	2020-21 Panini National VIP Tyrese Haliburton Black Shimmer Auto RC Rookie 05/10 18 bids - Price: $62.00 - Watchers: 26
	2020-2021 Select Basketball Immanuel Quickley Gold Rookie auto PSA 10 POP1 12 bids - Price: $143.50 - Watchers: 26
	2021 PANINI BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE DAY JUMBO PATCH DARIUS GARLAND #/53 5 bids - Price: $15.50 - Watchers: 26
	2020-21 Panini NBA Hoops Anthony Edwards RC Rookie HOT Auto GBTC 9 Auto 10 25/25 10 bids - Price: $71.00 - Watchers: 25
	Tyrese Maxey 2020-21 Panini Spectra Silver Prizm Rookie Patch Auto RC #127/149 18 bids - Price: $57.00 - Watchers: 25
	2020-21 PANINI SELECT ANTHONY EDWARDS SILVER PRIZM COURTSIDE RC PSA 9 JP4 19 bids - Price: $750.00 - Watchers: 25
	2021-22 OBSIDIAN ROOKIE ERUPTION YELLOW JALEN GREEN RC AUTO /10 PSA 9 Q0902 10 bids - Price: $26.00 - Watchers: 25
	2021-22 IMPECCABLE ROOKIE HOLO SILVER ALPEREN SENGUN RC AUTO /25 BGS 9 Q0902 7 bids - Price: $9.50 - Watchers: 25
	2020 National Treasures Horizontal 59/75 Aaron Nesmith RPA Rookie Patch Auto RC 7 bids - Price: $62.00 - Watchers: 25
	2020-21 Panini Obsidian LaMelo Ball RC #210 Rookie Jersey Patch Auto Red RJA 20 bids - Price: $71.00 - Watchers: 24
	TYRESE HALIBURTON 2020-21 PANINI PRIZM #262 ROOKIE FAST BREAK BLUE /150 RC NRMT  5 bids - Price: $11.50 - Watchers: 24
	2020-21 Panini Prizm TYRESE MAXEY Penmanship Auto RC Rookie 76ers 11 bids - Price: $26.00 - Watchers: 24
	2020-21 Select Desmond Bane Orange Pulsar Prizm Rookie Auto RC #22/30 BGS 9/10 12 bids - Price: $67.00 - Watchers: 24
	2020-21 Panini Mosaic Reactive Yellow #201 Anthony Edwards ROOKIE RC PSA 10 GEM 32 bids - Price: $71.00 - Watchers: 23
	2020 Panini National Treasures 19/24 Isaac Okoro RPA Rookie Patch Auto RC READ 7 bids - Price: $78.00 - Watchers: 23
	Anthony Edwards 2020-21 Panini Prizm Red White Blue Rookie Card (RC) #258 PSA 9 3 bids - Price: $3.25 - Watchers: 23
	2020-21 Panini Crown Royale LaMelo Ball RC Rookie Jumbo Jersey AUTO 56/199 3 bids - Price: $147.50 - Watchers: 23
	2020-21 Panini Green Prizm #258 Anthony Edwards RC Rookie PSA 10 GEM MINT 14 bids - Price: $280.00 - Watchers: 23
	2020-21 Panini One & One Anthony Edwards Timberwolves RC Rookie 49/99 BGS 9.5 7 bids - Price: $69.00 - Watchers: 23
	2021 Panini Flawless Collegiate Tyrese Haliburton Auto SSS-THA #d 4/25, Iowa ST. 5 bids - Price: $13.50 - Watchers: 22
	2021 Panini Contenders Optic Auto SSP Blue /75 Austin Reaves No. UCA-ARV 7 bids - Price: $82.00 - Watchers: 22
	2020-21 Panini Mosaic IMMANUEL QUICKLEY 5/10 Rookie Green Fluorescent Knick PSA9 4 bids - Price: $7.50 - Watchers: 22
	2020-21 Panini Flux ANTHONY EDWARDS RC Supernova Prizm /75 SGC 10 GEM #202 7 bids - Price: $49.00 - Watchers: 22
	2021 Panini Prizm Rookie RC Auto Signatures Trey Murphy III #SSTMU PSA 10 3 bids - Price: $8.50 - Watchers: 22
	2020-21 Immaculate Collection Red #105 Deni Avdija Rookie Patch Auto /49 RC #X14 6 bids - Price: $8.50 - Watchers: 22
	2020-21 Contenders Optic LaMelo Ball Up And Coming Auto Gold /10 Rookie RC 11 bids - Price: $305.00 - Watchers: 22
	2020-21 Panini Contenders Finals Ticket LaMelo Ball RC /49 SGC 9.5 w/ 10 AUTO 4 bids - Price: $6.50 - Watchers: 22
	2020-21 Donruss Optic Lamelo Ball Blue Velocity Prizm Rookie Card RC #153 5 bids - Price: $13.50 - Watchers: 21
	2020-21 Prizm Draft Picks Tyrese Haliburton Downtown SSP Rookie RC #D-13 PSA 9 8 bids - Price: $67.00 - Watchers: 21
	2021 Jalen Green Rockets Panini Crown Royale Rookie Crown Auto RC /75 #RC-JGR 16 bids - Price: $21.50 - Watchers: 21
	2020 Panini Hoops HOT SIGNATURES ROOKIE AUTO LaMelo Ball ROOKIE PSA 10 HORNETS 20 bids - Price: $107.50 - Watchers: 21
	EVAN MOBLEY 2021 CROWN ROYALE /199 RPA ROOKIE SILHOUETTES ON CARD AUTO SGC 10/9 15 bids - Price: $52.77 - Watchers: 21
	2020-21 Panini Obsidian Tyrese Maxey Rookie Patch Auto RC RPA Green Flood SSP 21 bids - Price: $129.50 - Watchers: 21
	2020-21 Panini Prizm Anthony Edwards RC Rookie Fast Break Silver Disco 9 bids - Price: $23.50 - Watchers: 21
	2020-21 Panini Immaculate Tyrese Maxey Jersey Numbers RC Patch /50 3 bids - Price: $18.26 - Watchers: 21
	2020-21 Panini Prizm - Silver Prizm #258 Anthony Edwards (RC) 6 bids - Price: $68.00 - Watchers: 21
	2020-21 #/5 Panini Spectra Tyrese Maxey Aspiring Rookie Auto Marble #ASP-TYM 7 bids - Price: $45.00 - Watchers: 21
	Anthony Edwards 2020-21 Panini Obsidian RC Rookie Silver Prizm#152 -1 2 bids - Price: $1.25 - Watchers: 21
	2020-21 Panini One And One LaMelo Ball RC Rookie Dual Jersey AUTO /99 21 bids - Price: $99.00 - Watchers: 21

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About Rich Mueller

Rich is the editor and founder of Sports Collectors Daily. A broadcaster and writer for over 40 years and a collector for even longer than that, he's usually typing something somewhere. Type him back at [email protected].