Latest sentiment on Wembanyama cards

[TheGoatOfLife]

Wemby will be highly collected for a while and over the years if he doesn’t step up as a leader capable of winning a championship(s) then the overall interest will level off and he will never be looked upon as elite or one of the greatest.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Cardsandcoffee]

Just wanted to post an update and to say thanks for everyone who posted their thoughts on this. They are useful and appreciated.

I was able to pick up a Bowman U Chrome Wembanyama auto at a really fair price. Now to wait for a nice Prizm parallel to show up...

Fingers crossed NT and Flawless will have Game Worn stuff to make up for the lack of auto but... that seems far fetched

[cms11]

Originally Posted by Cardsandcoffee

Just wanted to post an update and to say thanks for everyone who posted their thoughts on this. They are useful and appreciated.

I was able to pick up a Bowman U Chrome Wembanyama auto at a really fair price. Now to wait for a nice Prizm parallel to show up...

Fingers crossed NT and Flawless will have Game Worn stuff to make up for the lack of auto but... that seems far fetched

Agree it's far fetched...Panini is in profit-taking mode and won't spend a penny more than they need to.

[rifleman69]

Event worn, not necessarily from him. Will be Kostas event gear most likely on Wemby's card.

[KhalDrogo]

Originally Posted by Cardsandcoffee

Just wanted to post an update and to say thanks for everyone who posted their thoughts on this. They are useful and appreciated.

I was able to pick up a Bowman U Chrome Wembanyama auto at a really fair price. Now to wait for a nice Prizm parallel to show up...

Fingers crossed NT and Flawless will have Game Worn stuff to make up for the lack of auto but... that seems far fetched

What is the last year NT featured game-worn rookie memorabilia?

[Cardsandcoffee]

Originally Posted by KhalDrogo

What is the last year NT featured game-worn rookie memorabilia?

It’s been a several years from my understanding but again in-depth basketball card knowledge is something I’m trying to improve. Regardless I’m not a fan on the non-associated stuff, event worn stuff… and I have to really like something even for player worn. Which is a shame since I really enjoy watching the kid play. I get the hype behind him and Caitlin Clark.

[Soonerkj]

The Topps Now On Card Auto with Suit
Prizm Color
BU Auto

[fishhookgoat]

First time posting here but felt compelled to make a post on this thread. *Pops a Werther’s Original in mouth*. “In my day….”

I was into the hobby big time from 1992 when Shaquille O’Neal got me interested in collecting basketball cards and collected through 2004 LeBron’s rookie year. My early days as a kid I collected strictly for the fun of it then started to view it as part collecting and part investing.

Back then LeBron wasn’t viewed the same as he is now, obviously. There was even a large faction of the card and basketball community that thought Carmelo Anthony was better, should have been the RoY over LeBron and even when Dwayne Wade won a title in 2006 there was talk he was better than LeBron. Again crazy to think about but true. I followed LeBron since he was 16 in 2001 and viewed him as a generational talent but he always seemed to catch hate so it was frustrating being invested in his cards.


Luka, Zion, Giannis, Ant Edwards and a lot of talented players have debuted since I regretted selling those cards. None of them struck me as having the all around potential as LeBron. They were either 1 dimensional players/no defense, personality issues, lacked compelling storylines that would garner media and general public’s interest. Just no one had the same all around potential and package that LeBron had. I hadn’t purchased or wanted to purchase any cards for 20 years, until now.

Victor Wembanyama is that guy.

I first heard of him in 2018, touted as a unicorn and have been following his career closely since. He’s been getting attention at an even younger age than LeBron and like LeBron has handled it well to this albeit early stage in his career. For me he checks all of the same boxes that LeBron did; big name in the basketball community from an early age, talked about as a generational talent, getting tons of media coverage. Driven with a good head on his shoulders, he won’t have any “Ja” moments. He also got a huge endorsement deal with Nike like LeBron and also has Fanatics backing him. Big money behind players is never a bad thing when you want to make an investment in them. All that aside watching him play and what he can do at his age-I’ve never seen anything like it, just like when I watched LeBron his rookie year. Different types of players but Wembanyama has the potential to be an MVP level player within the next few years and stay in the MVP conversation for the next few decades. It also helps that most of the big name players that garner a majority of the general public’s interest now are in the downside of their careers and if Wembanyama can live up to potential, he has a clear path to be the face of the league for years to come.

Wembanyama won’t have any Exquisite rookie patch autos like LeBron and won’t even have any of the Panini options (also, seriously Panini? Upper Deck and Topps lose their license to Panini? Imagine my surprise when looking into the hobby for the first time in 20 years and seeing PANINI?!?!as the dominant producer of cards? I remember them making stickers! anyway…) so his “rookie” auto cards will be limited. From what I’m seeing and what I based my rationale on wanting LeBron’s best rookie cards, to me without any doubt the card of Wembanyama that everyone will want will be his Bowman Chrome University Autographs. On card auto, clean looking card, Bowman Chrome has a precedent in baseball for producing players most valuable cards so it’s a well thought of brand for many years. Fanatics and Topps also had a larger marketing campaign geared towards these cards so there is more general awareness of these cards among non-collectors as well. All the Panini stuff in his Spurs uniform that has been released has been underwhelming and with Topps having exclusive auto rights, Panini won’t be producing a card that comes close to these.

Also helping the case for his Bowman Chrome University Auto is the fact he will have way fewer auto “rookie” variations than LeBron and basically every other rookie the past 20 years. Besides the Exquisite Autos LeBron had Ultimate, SP Authentic, SPx and a few others along with variations I’m probably not remembering. Wembanyama it looks like will have the Bowman Chrome University Auto, Bowman’s Best University(on sticker auto and ugly cards) and Bowman University Inception (ugly card with no brand recognition). There’s also the Topps Now Draft Day auto which I view as his 2nd best option and likely a Rookie of the Year variation that will probably be released in June.

I’d estimate there are probably 750-1,000 of his base autos that were created, /99 for the Green Refractors, 75 Yellow, 50 Gold, 25 Orange and 5 Red. Not sure on the quantities for Bowman’s Best or Inception but including the Topps Now autos there will be significantly fewer options for Wembanyama than LeBron in both variety and quantity. That IMO is also a big plus for the potential of investing in his cards.

I know people will say “TeChnIcalLy tHoSE aREn’T RoOKie” types out there and it’s true he’s not in his Spurs uniform. He’s been known as a French phenom for half a decade before coming to the NBA so I don’t think him not being in his Spurs uniform and in his French league jersey will hurt the value of these cards long term at all. They will be his only licensed autograph cards for 3 years until Fanatics takes over producing cards in 2026. Do you think if the big time, sports card investors, not just collectors want to make an investment in Wembanyama now and in the future they’d be throwing thousands down on a card that pictures him in front of a curtain, not signed because they have a bunch of shiny color variations? Or would they want his on card auto? Hmmmm. I wonder?

If he lives up to his potential, taking it a step further I think the card that could end up being his Exquisite rookie patch auto /99 equivalent could be the green refractor auto out of 99. The event that Fanatics held, him signing the 1/99 “The 1st card I ever signed” and the attention and marketing behind that card got I think that could be viewed as his most coveted card where more than 1 was produced. That to me has the most appeal and could be his “Exquisite” or “THE” card of him.

I saw a lot of people posting Wembanyama will be a bust, sucks, can’t shoot, will get injured etc talk on this board and I remember hearing the same thing about LeBron 20 years ago too. Getting a lot less of the “he sucks” now talk since he’s having probably the best rookie season by someone staring the year as a teen since LeBron. There’s always the possibility he doesn’t live up to his potential for some reason, just like there was for LeBron. There’s also the possibility he does live up to his potential just like LeBron did. I can tell you for a 100% fact that people that took a chance on LeBron 20 years ago are doing better than the haters he had back then.

I know his cards go for what most would consider a lot now, but I saw it with LeBron and I’m seeing it now with Victor Wembanyama as well. In my opinion, if there was a new player where you could be seeing 6 and 7 figure prices on cards like we see with LeBron in 10-20 years, Victor Wembanyama and his Bowman Chrome University Autograph rookie cards give you the best chance of anyone since LeBron.

TLDR: invest in Wemby and hold

[Nomad]

the way the last several super high-profile can't miss prospects have gone, HODL.

[Stats]

Originally Posted by fishhookgoat

First time posting here but felt compelled to make a post on this thread. *Pops a Werther’s Original in mouth*. “In my day….”


TLDR: invest in Wemby and hold

Love this post - way to come out with a bang! I don't know about the Bowman Chrome U auto being the card that catches on, but hey, you never know. Let's just hope that Wemby lives up to the hype 10-15 years from now with the accolades to match and we get to see.

[cms11]

Originally Posted by Nomad

the way the last several super high-profile can't miss prospects have gone, HODL.

Simmons, Fultz, Ayton, Zion, Edwards, Cade...

[Cardsandcoffee]

Originally Posted by fishhookgoat

First time posting here but felt compelled to make a post on this thread. *Pops a Werther’s Original in mouth*. “In my day….”

I know his cards go for what most would consider a lot now, but I saw it with LeBron and I’m seeing it now with Victor Wembanyama as well. In my opinion, if there was a new player where you could be seeing 6 and 7 figure prices on cards like we see with LeBron in 10-20 years, Victor Wembanyama and his Bowman Chrome University Autograph rookie cards give you the best chance of anyone since LeBron.

TLDR: invest in Wemby and hold

Great post. As the Fanatics exclusivity situation unfolded, I really began to think much of this myself. Nice to see someone feel similarly.

Originally Posted by cms11

Simmons, Fultz, Ayton, Zion, Edwards, Cade...

To be fair, as good as they were, I don’t think any of those guys came in with as much hype as Wemby. Never did anyone call them an “alien”, a one-of-kind generational specimen.

[asujbl]

Originally Posted by cms11

Simmons, Fultz, Ayton, Zion, Edwards, Cade...

I’ll give you Simmons and Zion…

I’m not sure any of the rest were “can’t miss”

Definitely not Fultz or Ayton

Maybe Edwards and Cade… maybe…

[anusinha]

Zion was the poster boy for covid era pump and dump cant miss generational prospect.

[The_Reverend]

Originally Posted by jcardstore

Basketball collectors in general don't value non-pro jersey cards.

College cards and non-nba cards are generally junk.

If you're looking for something that's going to hold long term value don't buy anything now and definitely don't buy BCU.

If you don't care about future value just buy what you like

This and this is the reason I cannot believe all the pumping of Bowman U college. It is as if people do not learn. I have not and will not rip anything college. As it relates to Wemby, if the Spurs would feed him in the post he would be averaging 30

[imbluestreak23]

Originally Posted by The_Reverend

This and this is the reason I cannot believe all the pumping of Bowman U college. It is as if people do not learn. I have not and will not rip anything college. As it relates to Wemby, if the Spurs would feed him in the post he would be averaging 30

Agree,

I kinda like mid 90s Press Pass better. 97/98 dual game jerseys and dual on card autos. Way better. Not even close.

[fishhookgoat]

Originally Posted by The_Reverend

This and this is the reason I cannot believe all the pumping of Bowman U college. It is as if people do not learn. I have not and will not rip anything college. As it relates to Wemby, if the Spurs would feed him in the post he would be averaging 30

This is historically correct but Wembanyama’s contract with Fanatics is unprecedented. Cards featuring players in college, or in this case non-NBA pro league jerseys don’t maintain value because all of those players eventually have autograph, patch and autograph patch variations of their rookie cards available to them in their pro uniforms. Wembanyama will be the first big time prospect that won’t have any autographed rookie cards in his pro uniform.

The more appropriate way to think of this would be if Panini had exclusive NBA rights in 2003-04 and LeBron instead signed an exclusive autograph deal with Upper Deck what would be more valuable now: a Panini glitter bomb card with 40 different variations or an Upper Deck Exquisite St Vincent St Mary’s High School patch autographed rookie card?

[cardsin47]

Originally Posted by The_Reverend

This and this is the reason I cannot believe all the pumping of Bowman U college. It is as if people do not learn. I have not and will not rip anything college.

The present lack of NBA Products on the market, yet to be released, have impatient collectors with Wemby Fever lowering their standards, and going Bowman U. I think they’ll be sorry in about 3-5 months, when Bowman quickly drops to the bottom of the demand hierarchy, as gorgeous, high demand Pro cards are everywhere.

Although as the previous post ( Posters 2nd - impressive ) references; BU being the product that will have the AUTOS, I’m not sure how much that offsets the stigma and reduced demand that comes inherent with College Sets. There is a HUGE NBA licensed and uniformed “only” collecting base including myself- HUGE

[fishhookgoat]

Originally Posted by cardsin47

The present lack of NBA Products on the market, yet to be released, have impatient collectors with Wemby Fever lowering their standards, and going Bowman U. I think they’ll be sorry in about 3-5 months, when Bowman quickly drops to the bottom of the demand hierarchy, as gorgeous, high demand Pro cards are everywhere.

Although as the previous post ( Posters 2nd - impressive ) references; BU being the product that will have the AUTOS, I’m not sure how much that offsets the stigma and reduced demand that comes inherent with College Sets. There is a HUGE NBA licensed and uniformed “only” collecting base including myself- HUGE

The price action would suggest that Wembanyama Bowman Chrome Autograph Rookie cards are his most valuable and most coveted already. Their prices have been steadily going up since release and redemptions were first made available for sale. I think it speaks volumes that the price of those cards have gone UP since Prizm and other sets were released and that the prices for his most valuable Prizm card (The National Color Splash) have gone down over the same time frame. I’d expect this trend to continue. Weird and counter to how it’s historically gone with “pro” cards being the most valuable. Just how it is so far and how I’m expecting it to go in the future.

[Cardsandcoffee]

Originally Posted by The_Reverend

This and this is the reason I cannot believe all the pumping of Bowman U college. It is as if people do not learn. I have not and will not rip anything college. As it relates to Wemby, if the Spurs would feed him in the post he would be averaging 30

I don’t think in this instance it’s not people “[not learning]”, but more of people’s acceptance changing for this scenario. For me it’s a bit different since I have a baseball collecting background but the 1rst Bowman and professional French jersey does make a difference in my eyes, when evaluating the card. There’s been plenty of flavor change in the hobby over the years so it is not out of the realm of possibility that this will gather more and more acceptance from the traditional “NBA only” thinkers.

I’ll definitely be on the hunt for some Panini versions but if push came to shove and someone asked which one do I favor, an auto prospect Wemby or a low #d parallel with no auto or game used patch (provided it’s not his 1/1 or akin), it’s gonna be the auto all day.

[eastbayak]

Originally Posted by fishhookgoat

First time posting here but felt compelled to make a post on this thread. *Pops a Werther’s Original in mouth*. “In my day….”

I was into the hobby big time from 1992 when Shaquille O’Neal got me interested in collecting basketball cards and collected through 2004 LeBron’s rookie year. My early days as a kid I collected strictly for the fun of it then started to view it as part collecting and part investing.

The best deal I ever made was in July 2004. I purchased LeBron’s Exquisite 3 color rookie patch auto 84/99 and his Limited Logos 21/75 3 color “S” from James for $2400 total, $1,800 for the RC /99 and $600 for the Limited Logos. Negotiated the price over the phone and bought in a parking lot. Those were the days! With the prices those cards go for now you may think that’s crazy but when Exquisite was released in June 2004 there were quite a few LeBron’s available on eBay. I saw a one color patch auto RC/99 sell for just over $1,000 and his 2 rookie auto patches would routinely sell for $1,500 or less with 3 color going for $1500-$2500 depending on the patch. There would be at least 5-6 for sale at any given time the first few months after release and up to 15 or so listed all at the same time. Literally dozens of now 6-7 figure cards going for around $2,000 or less. Crazy to think about. I also remember his NBA logo 1/1 Ultimate Rookie Auto patch selling for like $15k on eBay. Wanted that one bad but didn’t have the money back then. Imagine that price now?

Back then LeBron wasn’t viewed the same as he is now, obviously. There was even a large faction of the card and basketball community that thought Carmelo Anthony was better, should have been the RoY over LeBron and even when Dwayne Wade won a title in 2006 there was talk he was better than LeBron. Again crazy to think about but true. Holding 2 of LeBron’s best rookie cards it always drove me nuts and also caused some doubt with me about what he could be. I followed LeBron since he was 16 in 2001 and viewed him as a generational talent but he always seemed to catch hate so it was frustrating being invested in his cards.

I sold the Limited Logos “S” patch in May 2006 for $3500 on eBay and the rookie patch auto 84/99 in August 2011 in a parking lot (again those were the days!). Those were the last cards from my collection I held onto and sold them to use towards the purchase of a home and the expenses that come with it and being an adult. I made a decent profit on the 2 cards but obviously seeing what they became and sold for and are worth now made me wish I had held onto them longer. I told myself if another player with LeBron’s talent and upside came along I would consider investing in their cards.

Luka, Zion, Giannis, Ant Edwards and a lot of talented players have debuted since I regretted selling those cards. None of them struck me as having the all around potential as LeBron. They were either 1 dimensional players/no defense, personality issues, lacked compelling storylines that would garner media and general public’s interest. Just no one had the same all around potential and package that LeBron had. I hadn’t purchased or wanted to purchase any cards for 20 years, until now.

Victor Wembanyama is that guy.

I first heard of him in 2018, touted as a unicorn and have been following his career closely since. He’s been getting attention at an even younger age than LeBron and like LeBron has handled it well to this albeit early stage in his career. For me he checks all of the same boxes that LeBron did; big name in the basketball community from an early age, talked about as a generational talent, getting tons of media coverage. Driven with a good head on his shoulders, he won’t have any “Ja” moments. He also got a huge endorsement deal with Nike like LeBron and also has Fanatics backing him. Big money behind players is never a bad thing when you want to make an investment in them. All that aside watching him play and what he can do at his age-I’ve never seen anything like it, just like when I watched LeBron his rookie year. Different types of players but Wembanyama has the potential to be an MVP level player within the next few years and stay in the MVP conversation for the next few decades. It also helps that most of the big name players that garner a majority of the general public’s interest now are in the downside of their careers and if Wembanyama can live up to potential, he has a clear path to be the face of the league for years to come.

Wembanyama won’t have any Exquisite rookie patch autos like LeBron and won’t even have any of the Panini options (also, seriously Panini? Upper Deck and Topps lose their license to Panini? Imagine my surprise when looking into the hobby for the first time in 20 years and seeing PANINI?!?!as the dominant producer of cards? I remember them making stickers! anyway…) so his “rookie” auto cards will be limited. From what I’m seeing and what I based my rationale on wanting LeBron’s best rookie cards, to me without any doubt the card of Wembanyama that everyone will want will be his Bowman Chrome University Autographs. On card auto, clean looking card, Bowman Chrome has a precedent in baseball for producing players most valuable cards so it’s a well thought of brand for many years. Fanatics and Topps also had a larger marketing campaign geared towards these cards so there is more general awareness of these cards among non-collectors as well. All the Panini stuff in his Spurs uniform that has been released has been underwhelming and with Topps having exclusive auto rights, Panini won’t be producing a card that comes close to these.

Also helping the case for his Bowman Chrome University Auto is the fact he will have way fewer auto “rookie” variations than LeBron and basically every other rookie the past 20 years. Besides the Exquisite Autos LeBron had Ultimate, SP Authentic, SPx and a few others along with variations I’m probably not remembering. Wembanyama it looks like will have the Bowman Chrome University Auto, Bowman’s Best University(on sticker auto and ugly cards) and Bowman University Inception (ugly card with no brand recognition). There’s also the Topps Now Draft Day auto which I view as his 2nd best option and likely a Rookie of the Year variation that will probably be released in June.

I’d estimate there are probably 750-1,000 of his base autos that were created, /99 for the Green Refractors, 75 Yellow, 50 Gold, 25 Orange and 5 Red. Not sure on the quantities for Bowman’s Best or Inception but including the Topps Now autos there will be significantly fewer options for Wembanyama than LeBron in both variety and quantity. That IMO is also a big plus for the potential of investing in his cards.

I know people will say “TeChnIcalLy tHoSE aREn’T RoOKie” types out there and it’s true he’s not in his Spurs uniform. He’s been known as a French phenom for half a decade before coming to the NBA so I don’t think him not being in his Spurs uniform and in his French league jersey will hurt the value of these cards long term at all. They will be his only licensed autograph cards for 3 years until Fanatics takes over producing cards in 2026. Do you think if the big time, sports card investors, not just collectors want to make an investment in Wembanyama now and in the future they’d be throwing thousands down on a card that pictures him in front of a curtain, not signed because they have a bunch of shiny color variations? Or would they want his on card auto? Hmmmm. I wonder?

If he lives up to his potential, taking it a step further I think the card that could end up being his Exquisite rookie patch auto /99 equivalent could be the green refractor auto out of 99. The event that Fanatics held, him signing the 1/99 “The 1st card I ever signed” and the attention and marketing behind that card got I think that could be viewed as his most coveted card where more than 1 was produced. That to me has the most appeal and could be his “Exquisite” or “THE” card of him.

I saw a lot of people posting Wembanyama will be a bust, sucks, can’t shoot, will get injured etc talk on this board and I remember hearing the same thing about LeBron 20 years ago too. Getting a lot less of the “he sucks” now talk since he’s having probably the best rookie season by someone staring the year as a teen since LeBron. There’s always the possibility he doesn’t live up to his potential for some reason, just like there was for LeBron. There’s also the possibility he does live up to his potential just like LeBron did. I can tell you for a 100% fact that people that took a chance on LeBron 20 years ago are doing better than the haters he had back then.

I know his cards go for what most would consider a lot now, but I saw it with LeBron and I’m seeing it now with Victor Wembanyama as well. In my opinion, if there was a new player where you could be seeing 6 and 7 figure prices on cards like we see with LeBron in 10-20 years, Victor Wembanyama and his Bowman Chrome University Autograph rookie cards give you the best chance of anyone since LeBron.

TLDR: invest in Wemby and hold

$50 says PBM.

[cms11]

Originally Posted by cardsin47

Although as the previous post ( Posters 2nd - impressive ) references BU as the product that will have the AUTOS, I’m not sure that offsets the stigma and reduced demand that comes inherent with College Sets. There is a HUGE NBA licensed and uniformed “only” collecting base including myself- HUGE

The question is whether collectors will be willing to drop their standards when there is no alternative.

[cms11]

Luka, Zion, Giannis, Ant Edwards and a lot of talented players have debuted since I regretted selling those cards. None of them struck me as having the all around potential as LeBron. They were either 1 dimensional players/no defense, personality issues, lacked compelling storylines that would garner media and general public’s interest. Just no one had the same all around potential and package that LeBron had. I hadn’t purchased or wanted to purchase any cards for 20 years, until now.

Victor Wembanyama is that guy.

Wait until right wingers find out Wemby is a socialist.

[cardsin47]

Do you think 2023 Bowman U is a potential game changer? 5 years from now will we be saying: “ College basketball products were always a big nothing UNTIL … “

[fishhookgoat]

Originally Posted by cardsin47

Do you think 2023 Bowman U is a potential game changer? 5 years from now will we be saying: “ College basketball products were always a big nothing UNTIL … “

I think the “U” products the next few years will be viewed differently than they will be in 5 years. Until the Panini contract is over and Fanatics is producing official NBA cards, anyone they sign to exclusive autograph deal and include in these sets will hold more value than if they also had signed rookie cards in pro uniforms. If Fanatics came out with a Bowman Chrome NBA release this year with Webanyama autograph rookies in his Spurs uniform the U version wouldn’t hold nearly the value it currently does-obviously. Like if some 9th grade kid who’s the future #1 pick in the 2028 draft has a 2028 Bowman Chrome University Auto card and will have a 2028-28 Bowman Chrome Auto the U prices will be suppressed as everyone knows they can wait for the pro versions to come out. That’s not the case here with Wembanyama and I think part of the reason his cards in this set are going up is because people are starting to realize this more and more. That unlike most years the best options for rookie cards came out early instead of late or last.

IMO the fact that these are a Bowman Chrome product helps as well. Bowman Chrome is and has been considered the best RC for most baseball players for 25 years now. I could see Bowman Chrome NBA being the chase set for basketball like with baseball once Fanatics starts releasing the product in 2026. I would be kind of surprised if the U line of these cards is produced in 5 years (but I guess anything to make a buck so possible) but I think this sets up the Bowman Chrome lines to be the most valued line of cards across the Fanatics brand for all sports going forward once they have exclusive pro rights.