It’s often the late bloomers who become the biggest stars. One look at the hottest Anthony Davis rookie cards and it’s clear the New Orleans Pelicans’ wunderkind is entering the realm of superstar. Interest in his future is off the charts both in the league—and in the hobby.
Davis saw an eight-inch growth spurt during an 18-month period in high school, going from lightly recruited guard to the nation’s top recruit. He was the number one pick of the 2012 NBA Draft after leading the University of Kentucky to the NCAA title during his one and only college season.
New Orleans drafted Davis with the hope that he would turn around their franchise on and off the court, and they have not been disappointed as he has lifted the team’s wins total every season. With a seemingly unlimited future, those who missed out on grabbing Davis’ rookie cards earlier in his career are now making sure they acquire them.
The 6’10 Davis’ rapid ascent into the next generation’s Tim Duncan is pushing more defensive scouts to truly “Fear the Brow” as they prepare the game plan.
Since Davis joined the NBA after Panini became the league’s exclusive trading card partner, all of his cards bear their brand. Prices vary based on the product’s price point and of course, it’s the autographed versions that command the most money. It’s now become very difficult to find a quality signed Anthony Davis rookie card for under $175.
High-end Davis cards from products like Flawless and Immaculate with low serial numbers have soared.
Bargain priced autographed Davis rookie cards include Hoops, Threads, Momentum, Brilliant Beginnings, Limited and Marquee.
Certain dual autos that include Davis can be among the lowest prices of all as many will be on stickers. Sometimes the addition of another player on a card can scare away some fans and collectors, like when Darko Milicic would be on a card next to a superstar from the 2003 NBA Draft. Davis cards with players like Brandon Knight or Enes Kanter on them have sold for significantly less than single-signed Davis rookies.
Base cards start at around $2 and include Hoops, Prestige, Prizm and many others. However, the price increase among Davis rookie cards is also evident in those inexpensive, unsigned rookie cards.
Those wanting the cheapest Davis rookie cards can look for Hoops, as well as Past & Present and Prestige. No doubt there are Davis cards sitting ungraded in dealer stock that could potentially be graded and flipped for a profit now—or as his career blossoms.
Second-year Davis cards or even those issued this season can provide a slightly cheaper alternative.
Davis can still improve his game, more range on his shot and more assists are possible, and his team can certainly improve which will get him noticed by more fans and card collectors. He could have a dozen All-Star games ahead of him and will spend at least a couple more years under contract with New Orleans. After that he will sign a maximum contract to stay there or join a high-profile franchise. Being in a major media market would probably mean a boost for his rookie cards but as LeBron James rookie cards have proven, it’s more about the talent than the zip code.
Below is a live list of the hottest Anthony Davis cards on eBay.
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