The groundswell of excitement that accompanies the NBA Conference Finals isn’t confined to the basketball court; it’s reverberating through the collectors’ market like a perfectly synchronized dunk and three-pointer combination. With only four teams—Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, Indiana Pacers, and New York Knicks—left in the chase for the championship, the focus has not only shifted to their shining stars but also to how these players illuminate the parallel universe of sports cards. This particular chase involves some of the most celebrated and coveted inserts that make collectors salivate—Kaboom, Downtown, and Color Blast. It’s a wild ride that mirrors the adrenaline-pumping action on the hardwood floors.
Let’s begin with the Oklahoma City Thunder and their burgeoning star, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The man, affectionately known as SGA, has risen from a promising starter to a major force, much like a previously unnoticed comet suddenly blazing across the nighttime sky. Lovers of the hobby are quick to note the uptick in SGA’s insert cards as the Thunder forge their way through the playoffs. His striking 2023 One and One Downtown card is a testament to his rising star power. The raw version has seen a 7.4% appreciation over the past month, with the last sale fetching a cool $2,500. Although PSA 10s are experiencing a slump, down 20% from their peak, the last reported sale at $3,700 suggests cautious optimism among collectors who are ready to pounce should the Thunder continue their postseason prowess.
Riding parallel to SGA in the Timberwolves’ roster is the intrepid Anthony Edwards. Known equally for his explosive gameplay and magnetic personality, Edwards’ cards are capturing the zeitgeist of NBA card collecting. Among the most alluring is his 2020 Crown Royale Rookie Kaboom!, which sold raw for $2,950 and demonstrated a steady PSA 10 appreciation of 2.5% with its May sale closing at $8,923. Even more mouth-watering is his 2020 One of One Rookie Downtown. Raw sales pegged at $5,800, with PSA 10s up a staggering 33% to $13,000, brandishing Edwards as an indomitable force in the high-stakes arena of collectible investments.
Then we turn with anticipation to the Indiana Pacers and their lynchpin, Tyrese Haliburton. This young prodigy is not only steering his team with an assured hand but is also commanding the attention of the hobby community through his talent and impressive card trajectory. The 2020 One and One Rookie Downtown, sporting a raw last sale of $1,500, has witnessed a PSA 10 surge of 40%, marking its temporal victory with a posting of $4,000. As if Haliburton’s (and his Pacers’) aspirations weren’t already enticing, the 2023 Spectra Color Blast auctioned for $830 raw and nailed $1,463 in a PSA 10 flush—stats that might make even a poker player blink twice. These modern inserts are on the cusp of rocketing to further heights should Indiana make a successful bid to the Finals.
Finally, there’s New York Knicks’ shining knight Jalen Brunson. A catalyst in the Knicks’ underdog march to the Conference Finals, Brunson’s Downtown inserts narrate a tale of fluctuating fortunes. The past month carved out a 14% dip for raw cards, the last being snapped up at $1,100, yet shining brightly amidst the skylines is his PSA 10 card which appreciated by an impressive 35% to a handsome $2,425. For the daring hobbyist, the strategy is clear—searing through the landscape to snag a raw copy, sending it in for grading, and gambling on New York’s underdog story to yield golden returns.
These narratives embed not just scores and percentages, but stories of growth, setbacks, market strategies, and the joy of shared passion. As these players dribble, pivot, and sweat their way through a grueling postseason, they unknowingly drive not only towards an NBA title but also towards new horizons in the hobby world. And as any card collector worth their salt knows, the market can be as unpredictable and exhilarating as a last-second buzzer-beater.
As the playoffs unfold, with heroes suiting up to etch their legacies on the court and in card collections worldwide, fans and hobbyists alike are left captivated. Whether you’re seeking a prized Downtown insert, reveling in the fiery Kaboom, or basking in the glory of a rare Color Blast, this season is shaping up to be a collector’s paradise, and the game—on and off the court—is playing for keeps.