Panini Blog
Panini Blog
It’s only appropriate that 76ers rookie guard Michael Carter-Williams wears No. 1 on his boldly colored Philadelphia jersey. After all, that’s where Carter-Williams ranks — on rookie leader boards, on realized auction prices and on trading card Hot Lists throughout the industry after his blistering first week in the NBA.
The 11th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, Carter-Williams has averaged 20.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 9 assists in leading the 76ers to a 3-0 start to the season, including home wins over Chicago and Miami. As a result, his first NBA trading cards from Panini America’s 2013-14 NBA Hoops Basketball release have created a feeding frenzy on the secondary market.
To wit: His first NBA Hoops Signatures autograph card sold on eBay last Wednesday for the respectable price of $55. Of course, that was in the hours before his NBA debut, when he recorded 22 points, 12 assists, nine steals and seven rebounds in a 114-110 win over the defending-champion Heat. Since then, copies of his NBA Hoops Signatures card sold on November 2 for $399 and $380, respectively.
For those counting at home, that’s an increase of roughly 700 percent in the span of four days. And it could go even higher. Currently there are three Carter-Williams NBA Hoops Signatures cards live on eBay — one listed for $499.99 or Best Offer, one that’s already been bid up to $393 with more than two days remaining and one that’s been bid up to $255 with more than four days remaining.
Even Carter-Williams’ unsigned cards from 2013-14 NBA Hoops Basketball are scorching right now. Versions of his Gold-bordered Rookie Card parallel that initially sold for around $2.50 last week are now selling for as much as $60. His base Rookie Card currently is selling in the $15 range after initially selling for as low as 99 cents. And his rare Kobe All-Rookie Team card, which closed last week in the $29 range, has sold for as much as $83 in recent days.
The gallery below features images of the Carter-Williams cards mentioned above, easily some of the most in-demand trading cards we’ve seen in quite some time. Stay tuned to The Knight’s Lance for additional updates on the Carter-Williams frenzy — which could take another dramatic turn soon based on his performance in tonight’s game against Golden State.
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