20-24: A Nesmith Odyssey

[Nomad]

Originally Posted by bkcardcollector

dont worry he'll be in Spectra...

That was pretty prescient. As it turned out, Nesmith's one 23-24 appearance was as a sticker auto in Phoenix.

[bkcardcollector]

Originally Posted by Nomad

That was pretty prescient. As it turned out, Nesmith's one 23-24 appearance was as a sticker auto in Phoenix.

[bkcardcollector]

bruv, check out this monster pickup. I went through all the posts and could not find an obsidian collage. Do you have this one?

[Nomad]

Not bad. What I endearingly call the medicine bottle label sticker design, with the Packman likeness.

I have two of the green flood of that, which I love because its one of those unnumbered SSP Asia parallels everyone forgets (I estimate 10 or less). Significantly rarer than the red flood, I think the highest total PSA pop of any rookie is 4.



To be honest, in my own collecting, I passed on those of this design that did not have prime patches, which basically relegated my purchases to floods. Self limiting I know. I see two of the those electric etch purples selling for $20 to $25 on the Bay yesterday. Which seems reasonable and in line with past prices, except now they sell.


Put the green flood RPA as the centerpiece, actually. Now I have a couple yellow etch /10 base, so its been demoted.

I see a /10 yellow went for $59 on May 21 and actually that has one of the most tissue-like prime patches I have ever seen. Basically as an investor, I would hold onto your cards till next season, unless the Pacers win. Those will never be rare, but I could see $50-60 being a reasonable price for someone wanting a respectable low-tier RPA entry, not a bad flip. Probably could execute that in Indiana as soon as the Monster.

Investable Nesmith at a reasonable price point is getting a bit scarce on the Bay actually, something I never thought I'd say. Also you have to assume for the first time ever that any non-graded rarities have condition issues.

[bkcardcollector]

nice those green floods are sick, looks good in that psa case. ya it has to be the most brutal inscription, "this is not in anyway related to any player, game or event" lol

hoping he is full strength in the finals, tough to see him those last few games. can he shut down sga??

[Nomad]

I expect he and Nembhard will share the SGA assignment. It was tough watching the games where he was playing injured, yet he did a capable job and contributed. The Athletic even had a nice article about it. His absence for 20 minutes in Game 3 was a huge factor in that loss.

Walker is a big wildcard. No one noticed it, but he had a serious injury last game, on top of KAT falling on Nesmith's knee.

[Nomad]

So I picked up a lot of Prizm 22-23s for like $240 all-in. The gold shimmer alone doesn't come around that often and will look nice next to my true gold. Actually now have 3 mojos of 111, including the jersey number 23. Almost thinking of going for a GAW (gold and worse) rainbow. Don't know if anyone would be willing to trade a black gold /5 for like a bronze disco /20, a purple scope 20, a mojo /25 and some cash on top. So I could have a BGAW.



Also have a card show penciled in my itinerary for June 14th. Theoretically the Pacers could have a ring by then, but the more likely scenario is that they will be in the thick of it and we will have had several more historic Nesmith sales to go by. I guess the peak is always shortly before the series ends? When fans are feeling historically positive? Or is it in the aftermath of the actual ring....

And I know, the Thunder are really good.

Anyway, I wonder how this will translate in a West Coast setting. Where money exists but it seems like the focus would be on hipper teams, unless the Pacers really do break through as America's team (as predicted).

[PooleParty]

biggest defensive rebound of his life before Hali's game winner

[Nomad]

Doesn't even make the highlights, but yes.

[YeahBuddy]

Originally Posted by PooleParty

biggest defensive rebound of his life before Hali's game winner

hilarious shai didnt just hold the ball and get fouled.

[Nomad]

You're saying that because the remaining time exceeded the shot clock he could have dribbled it out and ultimately got fouled, put on the line?

That doesn't spark great like MJ.

[edit: there was actually more time on that shot than the game clock, they didn't reset it was 14.0. It was after the challenge when ball went off on Siakam. OKC won possession. Nemhard posted up on Shai expertly, Nesmith grabbed the rebound and Ty spread the floor. Uncanny execution on a triple pivot.]

[bkcardcollector]

Originally Posted by bkcardcollector

bruv, check out this monster pickup. I went through all the posts and could not find an obsidian collage. Do you have this one?

quick turnaround

Sold on 6/07/2025. You got
$41.80!

Bought for
$20.50

[Nomad]

Not bad! If you can believe it, I picked up my prime green floods (unnumbered, print run less than 10) for $47.77 PSA 9 and $22.82 raw late 2024. When the /49 napkin hits the mean between those prices, you know hype is real and stock running low.

I am really banking on a Nesmith dominance game, god knows we could use one after all the tentative avoid-paint-at-all-costs play yesterday.

[Nomad]

So I picked up the penultimate penini card produced during the Finals.



And I was like, I can do this. Happened to have a lot of 100 flux target factory pulsar lying around. So yeah, this is not a totally original idea, but each piece is gonna be unique.

[Nomad]

I know Double A is for true collectors only, but on the mercantile side:

A PSA 10 tigerstripe Prizm rookie recently sold for $188 on eBay. Then more recently a PSA 8 white sparkle Prizm rookie sold for same.

How do I value my PSA 9s of these issues?

Is there too low volume in summer and/or a hierarchal flux and best to hold off?

I wouldn't even know how to go about valuing the Flawless diamond /5 RC in US Treasury green I picked up for a hundo but it's got to be worth more than that.


what me worry?

[Nomad]

Interesting to see Myles on the Bucks Summer League broadcast, when asked if the last season was his favorite ever, actually point to two seasons previous: "you had all the Nesmiths and all the Nembhards building something under the radar."

Speaking of which, that current-year Prizm gold Double A went for $382 in organic bidding. Quite a jump from the $69 gold lazer I passed on a month ago and the $40 gold shimmer I simply missed. Nice to see at least a couple collectors vying for the top stuff of a non-rookie year. I guess this is how breakouts in pricing a player start? A few investors willing to do battle for the rarities?

I realize it could always retract, if the Pacers regress.

Haliburton Deca gold went for $911. I know Deca is valued less than true Prizm, but by how much?

[ninjacookies]

Sell a bit now. Secure some prophets. Allah's giving you a second opportunity to capitalize. Don't live with the regerts.

[Nomad]

Thing is, once you have snuck up on the consciousness and are in a zone like Harden or Kawhi, you have no regrets.

Right people just need to see a former scrub at the club or Star Trek convention and start comparing dicks. Sad state of the hobby.

Dayumn... I forgot I did buy the gold shimmer for $40. And have a black gold /8 and green shim /5 as well. Someone looking for that rainbow?

[bkcardcollector]

Originally Posted by Nomad

what me worry?

this a new pickup?

[Nomad]

Yeah. I was never expecting to have one of those 'color of money' diamonds. Never in a million years. Not for a hundred bucks after a break-through playoff.

I know that diamond cards are not as highly collected as say galactic. But what got me back into the hobby and actively searching Nesmith was watching those briefcases get busted. It never escaped me that you have to pay $10-20k for another chance at one of these, so probably 3 of the 5 will be passed on through the generations untouched.

Latest pickup actually another Crown Royale gold auto for $50. Balances out the two CR rookie autos gold.



What I think I like about the transition from Panini from a scarcity standpoint, for any rookie in the last couple years, and any vet who only has one or two issues of a brand, is that there is now a hard (era) cap on cards that have established collector bases.

There is and will only be one Double A Obsidian produced and having two yellow etches /10 of it and whatnot feels really good. Origins, Black, Impeccable, whatever floats your collecting boat. It's all extremely limited and top shelf now.



In actual basketball news, the Locked On Pacers guys talking about adjustments without Haliburton. A key wish is to see Nesmith being bring-up-ball handler and for the Pacers to 'go zany' and experiment with a small lineup with him at the 4.

I actually had to look up the 4. That is power forward:

"The power forward (PF), also known as the four, often plays a role similar to that of the center, down in the "post" or "low blocks". The power forward is often the team's most powerful and dependable scorer, being able to score close to the basket while also being able to shoot mid-range jump shots from 10 to 15 feet from the basket. Power forwards are also very crafty and have to be versatile on both offense and defense, but not as much as a small forward."

My take away is that, if this allows Nesmith to finally graduate to delegating defensive assignments to others and save his ankles, I am all for it. We could see a 20+ point a game average, which actually invites All Star consideration.

Also it indicates Pacers see Double A as a franchise foundation. This is good from a long term collectibility standpoint? I see so many Reddishes and Oladipos (grab him Indy) just floating around the league.

Also, they opine Furphy should get a chance as starting center.

[Nomad]

Originally Posted by bkcardcollector

this a new pickup?

Actually wonder what you think of this Flawless assemblage. It's always nice to finish a series. That /5 was like the missing piece, though I would really like another /5 or a /1 on the other side of the patch.


Took off the Flawless sticker on the mag. I realize now that is what everyone hates about that card. It throws off the symmetry.

This is one of two Flawless sets. The other may be impossible to complete. I should really do an update of the entire collection section by section, It has evolved over the past year, filled in—maybe someone can help me out.

To be precise, where I was in April, 2024. I think what happened was, I looked around and prices had become so cheap on Nesmith, I went back and bought a lot of stuff that had been 4x higher the year he was a rookie.

[bkcardcollector]

very nice assemblage, forget about the reds (xmas theme) but a few golds would be nice gl, that is a perfect storm for you to pick up more of his stuff, some more is probably selling and it didnt go up in price.

nice 100 bucks well spent.

Pacers need a big man...

[Nomad]

I see a gold for $177 on eBay for years. But to be honest, that is out of my price range right now. I am encouraged that Nesmith sells steadily, but not to the kind of collector that does deep dives into investment and hierarchies. I think his cards are actually gonna peak in 10-15 years, as the real fans are those who actually play competitive amateur basketball and copy moves.

I think the Flawless diamond will still be available up until the Monster. I need that Mosaic gold though. I have the gold disco and green swirl 10s, plus a Rookies gold. That piece would complete it.

When I compare the two assemblages, I actually kind of like the old one that combined NT and Flawless. Maybe I will pare back to that as a "hold" core, replacing the /5 for the /20 and adding the two printing plates, which are super sweet in any assemblage.

This is the 2nd Flawless assemblage that is like a life project:



Basically, the printing plate on the left is waiting for the right, which is a "Laundry Tags Autographs" produced only in the 1/1. Barring obtaining that (and I may need to rip mucho briefcase) pp is the only example of that unique image.

[cms11]

"I think his cards are actually gonna peak in 10-15 years, as the real fans are those who actually play competitive amateur basketball and copy moves."

It's lines like this that keep me coming back.

[Nomad]

Well yes, when a young Rick Glitz III waxes poetic about a patented crash-out double A fade, while wiping the floor of Austin Lizards bowling pins, one listens.