Durant’s Deadline Move Shakes Up Multiple NBA Markets
The NBA’s trade deadline had an immediate impact on the sports card market back on Feb. 9, but the hobby is still feeling some ripples nearly two weeks later. The mega trade that sent Kevin Durant to Phoenix has been a massive driver in recent days, and players like Devin Booker and Mikal Bridges have seen their markets reshaped in the aftermath.
Dive into the data for trending players and cards across the basketball market in this week’s NBA Market Movers update.
Cards listed below are PSA 10s with a minimum average of $30 and 10 sales over the last 30 days.
PRICE PERCENTAGE RISERS
1. Mikal Bridges 2018 Prizm Base PSA 10 π 273%
2. D’Angelo Russell 2015 Prizm Base PSA 10 π 153%
3. Mikal Bridges 2018 Prizm Silver Base PSA 10 π 108%
4. Shaquille O’Neal 1992 Stadium Club Base PSA 10 π 79%
5. LaMelo Ball 2020 Mosaic NBA Debut – Reactive Blue PSA 10 π 78%
DEADLINE IMPACT: Big stars like Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were moved at the deadline, but based on early returns there might not be a bigger winner than Mikal Bridges. Swapped for Durant in the Brooklyn-Phoenix trade, Bridges has taken on a much bigger role with the Nets and his results so far look incredible.
Bridges’ scoring has jumped from 17 PPG with the Suns to 25 PPG in Brooklyn, and suddenly he looks like he might be one of the NBA’s best two-way players. His card market has seen a major boost, too, with Bridges’ PSA 10 rookies tracked by Market Movers up 60% collectively over the last 30 days.
As expected, his key cards from Prizm have been the biggest risers so far across his popular rookies, and his Prizm Silver has seen a massive jump with a $90 price increase over the last month alone.
PRICE PERCENTAGE DECLINERS
1. Rui Hachimura 2019 Prizm Silver PSA 10 π 71%
2. LeBron James 2016 Optic Base PSA 10 π 53%
3. Zion Williamson 2019 Mosaic Pink Camo PSA 10 π 49%
4. Larry Bird 1990 Skybox Base PSA 10 π 46%
5. RJ Barrett 2019 Prizm Silver PSA 10 π 44%
LAKER LEFTOVERS: As expected, Rui Hachimura got a massive bump to his card market after the Wizards moved him to the Lakers before the trade deadline. Unfortunately, the hype has died out, and Hachimura seems like even less of a contributor after LA bolstered the roster with D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt.
Those looking to flip Hachimura likely didn’t get a return they were happy with either, as his 2019 Prizm Base PSA 10 started so low that even a massive price percentage increase only drove it up to around $25. His 2019 Prizm Silver PSA 10 saw stronger movement, but that didn’t last long, and is now at a lower average than it was 60 days ago.
DOLLAR AMOUNT RISERS
1. LeBron James 2003 Topps Base PSA 10 π $212
2. Kobe Bryant 1996 Skybox Premium Base PSA 10 π $191
3. Kobe Bryant 1996 Upper Deck Base (Hardwood Prospects) PSA 10 π $130
4. Devin Booker 2015 Prizm Base PSA 10 π $112
5. Anthony Edwards 2020 Prizm Silver PSA 10 π $111
DURANT LIFTS BOOKER: One hobby storyline that has emerged that’s worth monitoring is the market for Devin Booker after the Suns added Durant at the deadline. Players can often cannibalize markets, but that’s likely not a fear with Booker and Durant both establishing themselves separately.
Durant has pushed the Suns near the top of the West when it comes to NBA title odds, and it’s hard to see how teams can effectively guard two scorers as good as Booker and Durant at the same time. It’ll take time for the offense to gel, but having two elite scorers like this could create a deep playoff run.
Overall, Booker’s PSA 10 rookies tracked by Market Movers are up 20% over the last 30 days collectively, and while there hasn’t been a ton of movement across his entire portfolio, his 2015 Prizm Base PSA 10 has gotten a 60% bump over the last 30 days.
DOLLAR AMOUNT DECLINERS
1. LeBron James 2003 Topps Chrome Base PSA 10 π $500
2. Ja Morant 2019 Prizm Silver PSA 10 π $188
3. Kobe Bryant Topps Base PSA 10 π $163
4. Giannis Antetokounmpo 2013 Prizm Base PSA 10 π $158
5. Jalen Green 2021 Prizm Silver PSA 10 π $118
SALES VOLUME LEADERS
1. Ja Morant 2019 Prizm Base PSA 10 π 159 sales
2. Luka Doncic 2018 Prizm Base PSA 10 π 154 sales
3. Zion Williamson 2019 Prizm Base PSA 10 π 144 sales
4. Luka Doncic 2018 Donruss Base PSA 10 π 109 sales
5. LaMelo Ball 2020 Donruss Base PSA 10 π 101 sales
POPULAR SEALED WAX (HOBBY BOXES WITH MIN. 10 SALES OVER LAST 30 DAYS)
1. 2022 Hoops Basketball π 2%
2. 2021 Mosaic Basketball π 2%
3. 2021 Immaculate Basketball π 21%
4. 2021 Contenders Optic Basketball π 10%
5. 2022 Chronicles Draft Picks Basketball π 10%
MARKET PULSE INDEXES OVER LAST 30 DAYS
Basketball 2018-2020: π 4%
- KEY RISER: Luka Doncic 2018 Prizm Silver PSA 10 π 13%
- KEY DECLINER: Ja Morant 2019 Prizm Silver PSA 10 π 21%
Basketball 2010-2017: π 3%
- KEY RISER: Jayson Tatum 2017 Prizm Silver PSA 10 π 21%
- KEY DECLINER: Giannis Antetokounmpo 2013 Prizm Base PSA 10 π 14%
Basketball 2000-2009: π 3%
- KEY RISER: LeBron James 2003 Upper Deck Base PSA 10 π 44%
- KEY DECLINER: LeBron James 2003 Topps Chrome Base PSA 10 π 7%
Basketball 1990-1999: ππ 0%
- KEY RISER: Dirk Nowitzki 1998 SP Authentic Rookie FX PSA 10 π 30%
- KEY DECLINER: Kobe Bryant 1996 Skybox E-X2000 Star Date 2000 PSA 10 π 22%
Basketball 1980-1989: π 2%
- KEY RISER: Bird/Johnson/Erving 1980 Topps Base PSA 8 π 14%
- KEY DECLINER: Michael Jordan 1986 Fleer Sticker Base PSA 8 π 8%
Basketball 1979 & Older: ππ 0%
- KEY RISER: George Gervin 1974 Topps Base PSA 8 π 61%
- KEY DECLINER: Connie Hawkins 1969 Topps Base PSA 8 π 23%
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