Victor Wembanyama, the basketball prodigy, has taken the grading world by storm with his exceptional rookie card, setting new records and prompting comparisons to the mass production days of the Junk Wax Era. According to the latest data from PSA in 2024, Wembanyama has not only dominated the grading charts but has also broken a significant milestone with his 2023 Prizm rookie card.
Surpassing all expectations, the 2023 Prizm Victor Wembanyama RC Base card has seen a staggering 24,400+ PSA 10 grades, a number that continues to climb. This monumental achievement has positioned Wembanyama as the holder of the highest PSA 10 population card of all time, a feat previously thought unattainable in the modern hobby.
Drawing parallels to the Luka Dončić craze, where the Slovenian star’s 2018 Prizm rookie card crossed the 20,000 PSA 10 mark, Wembanyama’s rapid ascent mirrors that phenomenon. Within a year, Wembanyama has shattered the ceiling set by Dončić, leaving a lasting impact on the grading landscape.
Joining an elite group of cards with 20,000+ PSA 10 populations, Wembanyama’s Prizm rookie stands alongside the likes of Dončić, Zion Williamson, Ja Morant, Ronald Acuña Jr., Juan Soto, and Fernando Tatís Jr., further solidifying his place in hobby lore.
Panini’s collaboration with Monopoly has only fueled the grading frenzy surrounding Wembanyama, with a special Prizm card set featuring an alternate rookie design. The Monopoly version has garnered over 10,000 PSA 10 grades, supplementing the already staggering numbers from his base Prizm rookie.
Combining the totals from the base Prizm and Monopoly rookies reveals an astonishing figure of 40,788 graded cards, with a 60% gem rate resulting in over 24,000 PSA 10s. While these figures are impressive, they still fall short of the legendary Ken Griffey Jr., whose rookie cards from the late ’80s boast even higher graded counts.
The resurgence of high grading volumes and gem rates in today’s market draws parallels to the overproduction era of the Junk Wax Era. While Wembanyama’s cards may not possess rarity, the emphasis on high-grade PSA 10s reflects the grading frenzy reminiscent of the ’90s, albeit with a modern twist fueled by Panini’s production capabilities.
With over 40,000 graded cards in just a year, Wembanyama stands poised to challenge Griffey’s all-time records, provided Panini’s production output remains steady. Despite concerns about the market entering a modern Junk Wax Era, Wembanyama’s meteoric rise underscores the importance of rarity and condition in determining long-term value for collectors.
In conclusion, Victor Wembanyama’s record-setting rookie card has not only reshaped the grading landscape but also sparked discussions about the hobby’s future amidst escalating numbers and a surge in PSA 10 populations.