The Best Basketball Trading Cards To Buy
There’s no shortage of basketball trading cards to choose from because there’s so many basketball card products released each season. Some of the most popular basketball cards to collect are rookie cards because they are the first cards released in a player’s career.
Besides rookie cards, autographed cards or those with unique game-worn patches are also popular. Some products are more valuable than others, so buying cards from releases that aren’t mass-produced is another good route to take.
If you’re trying to decide which basketball trading cards are right for you, the first step is to settle on your goal. Do you just want to have fun collecting basketball trading cards or are you focused on investing in cards and players that will provide a high return on investment?
If you’re looking to have fun collecting, there are a variety of products with affordable base cards for every budget. If you’re focused on investing, there are many rookie cards with low numbered parallels and cards from premium releases that command high values on the secondary market. Whichever route you want to take, there are a variety of basketball trading cards for you.
Ungraded .vs Graded Trading Cards
Buying ungraded trading cards is a bit of a gamble. Unless you’re buying from reputable sellers that provide high-quality photos, there’s a chance you’re buying cards that aren’t in good condition. Additionally, there’s risk that the ungraded vintage basketball cards are altered or counterfeit. If you know what you’re looking for, however, there’s incredible upside in buying ungraded cards, grading them, and then selling them for a profit.
Graded cards are more expensive than ungraded cards. Buying trading cards that are already graded takes away most of the guesswork. A professional grading company has already deemed the card to be authentic and determined a grade based on the condition of the card.
If you’re starting your collection, these are some popular trading cards to buy:
- 1996 Topps Chrome Kobe Bryant #138 Rookie
- 2003 Topps Chrome LeBron James #111 Rookie
- 2009 Topps Stephen Curry #321 Rookie
- 2018 Panini Prizm Luka Doncic #280 Rookie
- 2023 Panini Instant NBA Draft Night Victor Wembanyama #DN-1 Rookie
Buying ungraded vintage basketball cards from reputable sellers is an affordable route for collectors, while investors will benefit from buying vintage cards with high grades from companies like PSA or SGC.
For modern basketball cards, collectors can find both ungraded and graded base cards for an affordable price. Generally, base cards aren’t a good option for investors because there are thousands of copies available. Instead, investors should focus on low-numbered parallels of popular modern rookie cards.
Visit the AA Mint Cards Online Store
AA Mint Cards has a large inventory of trading cards, and we update our online store daily! Whether you’re a collector looking for fun and affordable options or an investor seeking high-end cards, we offer a large selection of cards for collectors and investors.
