Post-COVID Influx of Non-Ball Knowers?

[mwf94]

After COVID, Pokemon cards got a lot of sports people who knew jack #@#@#@#@ about the meta-game, the set release history, the theatrical releases, etc.

Now basketball cards could be a niche knowledge base... But the sport itself?
At card shows I noticed there are guys selling Basketball cards (and nothing else) who barely know the history of the game. Pronounce Malik Sealy wrong, never heard of Shammgod, unfamiliar with Sprewell choking his coach, and so on...
I thought the entire gateway for basketball cards was basketball?

What's been the biggest tell at a card show you've seen where someone has zero clue about the basketball in their case?

[MavsRChamps]

Card show demographic is much different than a few years ago ... There's lot of guys looking to buy/sell basketball who don't even know the sport, purely flippers.

This may be a unique/unexpected take - But a big sign that a dealer may not really know about basketball cards or cards in particular is if they price all of their cards at EXACTLY last comp or comp overall. To explain further, 90's/2000's basketball cards NEVER have 1 "comp" for raw cards - the sold listings are highly dependent on seller selling, picture quality, condition of cards, etc. I find many newbies to cards or basketball cards simply do not understand this. Pick any 1998 Kobe card for example & "comps" are all over the place. If a seller doesn't have the card knowledge to accurately assess condition or true comp/value of a card, and simply prices it as "last sold" it shows inexperience in my opinion. I've found so many great deals this way getting cards at pretty much the lowest possible comp, even if cards are sharp.

My latest example was getting a Magic Johnson card, actually was a newer Noir autograph card, for a great price because dealer priced it at "last comp". Not understanding this sale was 1) From China (scares away some buyers) 2) Card was poor condition & beat up in picture 3) Autograph quality not great .... True value is prob 20% over this sale

[ThatGuyPal]

To be fair a lot of younger/more recent fans (doesn’t mean they just came for cards) prob don’t know the legend Shammgod or Sprewell choking his coach lmao

But yes like anything people see $$ and come over, as a multi-sport fan it’s happening in hockey too as Macklin Celebrini is going crazy….all of a sudden everyone is a hockey fan.

[coltsnsox07]

I like seeing guys posting expensive box breaks asking if they have anything good.

[spurs50fan]

Originally Posted by ThatGuyPal

To be fair a lot of younger/more recent fans (doesn’t mean they just came for cards) prob don’t know the legend Shammgod or Sprewell choking his coach lmao

But yes like anything people see $$ and come over, as a multi-sport fan it’s happening in hockey too as Macklin Celebrini is going crazy….all of a sudden everyone is a hockey fan.

I see it a lot on the breakers channels too. Can’t pronounce recent players names and really only care what the “hits” are. But to your point, it’s just another person seizing on the opportunity to make money. Similar to so-called fans just wanting a player to hit their stats for payouts. It’s just about money. I’m curious if we can still classify this as a hobby.

[hermanotarjeta]

With today’s auction/sales information at the palm of our hands, we could all be one piece/pokemon flippers with zero experience.

[CardClub2Elect]

Getting back into cards, basketball specifically has got me back into basketball now. Used to watch a ton from mid 90's to early 2000's. I would still watch a few layoff games every year, maybe the occasional regular season game. So I guess basketball cards was a gateway back to the NBA for me.

Used to love the Jazz as a kid so now I've got a league pass and have been watching the Jazz again. Slowly been PC'ing the Jazz the last few years now. Been picking up some of the new Chrome stuff but it's been tough as I assume those prices will come way down in time.

[ThatGuyPal]

Originally Posted by spurs50fan

I see it a lot on the breakers channels too. Can’t pronounce recent players names and really only care what the “hits” are. But to your point, it’s just another person seizing on the opportunity to make money. Similar to so-called fans just wanting a player to hit their stats for payouts. It’s just about money. I’m curious if we can still classify this as a hobby.

All facts, I just meant the points were abit obscure imo to say it’s a non-fan, now if someone says Steph CAREY card woohoo! Def have a problem lol

Sad though as someone who got back in right before Covid what it’s become in a few years. I remember when scumbags didn’t stalk Walmarts for anything good and you could find some cool stuff on clearance etc.

[Archangel1775]

I dont think it matters if they know basketball or not. They just have to be a collector.