He’s become an electrifying scorer and despite his relative youth, he’s now a well-established veteran player. With a new contract and a bright future, Jamal Murray rookie cards have been getting more looks inside the booming basketball card market. To some extent, though, he’s still flying a little below the radar.
The Murray Memoir
A Kitchener, Ontario native, Murray was a standout high school basketball player north of the border.
He was named MVP at a number of high profile showcase games during his high school career, including the Jordan Brand Classic International game in 2013 and the Nike Hoop Summit in 2015.
Murray then took his talents on to the University of Kentucky as a one and done with Coach John Calipari. His freshman average of 20 points per game is the highest in school history by a freshman and a record for a Calipari coached team.
Murray then chose to make the jump to the NBA. He was the seventh overall pick by the Denver Nuggets in the 2016 Draft and appeared in 2016-17 basketball card products. Although he played in all 82 games in his rookie year, he only started in a handful of them. Even with a lack of playing time, he showed enough to be selected as a member of the NBA All- Rookie Second Team.
The Denver sharpshooter’s points per game and assist averages increased in each of the next four years. Big things were clearly on the horizon.
Although he showed marked improvement in each season, he really began to really shine and become a superstar in the NBA Playoff bubble, putting up multiple 50-point games, engaging an all-time scoring duel against Utah’s Donovan Mitchell in an instant classic series and leading the Nuggets to the Western Conference Finals.
Here’s a look at some potential targets for Jamal Murray rookie cards, based on your budget.
Playoff Performance Tier
1. 2016-17 Panini National Treasures #110 Jamal Murray JSY AU/99 RC
This may not be the most aesthetically pleasing high-end card ever produced as there’s a large jersey swatch smack dab in the middle of the card, leaving very little room for an image of the player or a design otherwise. What it lacks in aesthetics, it makes up for monetarily as National Treasures as always in the top tier of basketball releases each season.
2. 2016-17 Immaculate Collection #135 Jamal Murray JSY AU/99 RC
As with most top tier products, this card offers a nice multi-colored Jersey Swatch with the on card autograph. This particular design offers a nice action shot.
3. 2016-17 Panini Grand Reserve #104 Jamal Murray JSY AU/99 RC
It can be a challenge to squeeze four pieces of memorabilia on a card but the Cornerstones card is a great example of it done right. It’s a great inaction picture of Murray, the center of the card surrounded by four pieces of memorabilia and an autograph. It definitely gets bonus points for the design and aesthetics and you can’t beat the price.
Lottery Pick Tier
1. 2016-17 Panini Prizm #175 Jamal Murray RC
This drum has been beaten over and over but we will say it again, the Prizm brand is as hot and can offer as high of an ROI as any product in basketball. Prizm rookie cards are as highly desired as any in the industry.
This is and will likely be one of Jamal Murray’s most significant rookie cards, regardless of quantity produced and/or price. Costs will vary quite a bit based on grading but most are still fairly reasonable.
2. 2016-17 Select #4 Jamal Murray RC
The Select brand is just a single step behind Prizm as far as price desirability and status in the hobby. As with most rookie cards, there are a bunch of parallel versions that are more expensive but the base cards are inexpensive and should have plenty of room to grow.
3. 2016-17 Donruss Optic #157 Jamal Murray RC
As we all know, the Optic brand falls in the same tier as Prizm and Select and it’s a shinier version of its Donruss little brother. The Donruss and Optic brands generally offer a nice photo shoot image of the rookies and this is no different. It’s a nice, clean, uncluttered, traditional looking card that’s currently available ungraded for under $50. Sharp.
One and Done Tier
1. 2016-17 Donruss #157 Jamal Murray RC
As stated above, this is the little brother of the ever popular Optic brand. Again, the Donruss name and brand are still a cornerstone in the hobby and a great option for any collector on a budget.
2. 2016-17 Totally Certified #106 Jamal Murray RC
The Totally Certified base Murray rookie card offers a nice, intricate design with a higher end look and feel to it at a (for now) reasonable price. Pick it up for the price of a decent dinner while you still can.
3. 2016-17 Hoops #267 Jamal Murray RC
This has been a classic brand since it’s inception in 1989-90 and the introduction of the short print of the legendary David Robinson rookie card. Hoops continues to be a flagship brand in the sport of basketball, offering reasonably priced rookies that can be graded and have a chance to dramatically increase in value as the player grows and develops. Ungraded Murray Hoops rookies for just a few bucks.
Below is a live list of the 50 most watched Jamal Murray rookie cards being auctioned on eBay now.
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