Why NBA Trading Cards Are the Sports Collectables to Watch

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The NBA’s global reach has propelled its trading card market to unprecedented heights. From rookie autographs to limited-edition inserts, collectors and investors alike are scrambling to get their hands on these prized possessions.

NBA Dominance in the Trading Card Market

The Secondary Market Boom: The worldwide demand for NBA trading cards has skyrocketed, with graded rookie cards, rare parallels, and special inserts setting record-breaking sales figures for some of the most popular players. On eBay Australia, a 2003-04 LeBron James Autographed card fetched over $20,000* in July 2023 and a Kobe Bryant Dual Patch Auto exceeded $28,000*, proving sport collectors were the real deal. However, Jordan took the cake with a 2005-06 Michael Jordan Autographed card, boasting the same grade as the LeBron card, taking home over $31,000 in August 2024.

Rising Stars and Established Icons: Australian NBA players like Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels are making waves on the court. Around 172* Cards of Josh Giddey have been traded in the last 30 days on eBay as he continues his impressive form on the Chicago Bulls. A single Josh Giddey Autographed card sold for almost $14,000* on eBay Australia just two years ago showing collectors are backing this young player.

Meanwhile, superstars like Luka Dončić continue to see growth. A PSA 9 Luka Dončić Rookie Autographed card sold for almost $9,000* and a dual auto Stephen Curry and Luka card sold for over $13,000* last year on eBay Australia. Dual auto and patch cards continue to prove popular with fans who want a piece of the action, not to mention the incredible pairings they showcase! Searches for Dončić on ebay.com.au peaked when he was traded in February this year, pushing his cards into some of the top searched sports cards in the category.

Last month, a 2023-24 National Treasures Victor Wembanyama card sold for over $14,000* – setting a new record for one of his trading cards in the last 3 years on eBay Australia and indicating the immense hype surrounding the next generation of stars.

No. 1 pick and WNBA rookie of the year Caitlin Clark is starting to drive momentum in sales of her cards with a $11,000* card sold on eBay Australia in November last year. Largely thanks to Clark, women’s card prices are surpassing those of their NBA counterparts for the first time ever, meaning we are reaching an unexplored and exciting new chapter in the NBA trading card world.

A huge range of NBA and WNBA collections and cards are available on eBay right now!

A Thriving Marketplace for Collectors of All Levels

Whether you’re a seasoned collector or a newcomer looking to dive in, the trading card market is more accessible than ever with eBay offering a range of cards from local and global sellers. Whether chasing the latest rookies, Hall of Fame legends, or exclusive inserts, eBay is the marketplace offers an huge range of exciting mix of options.

The Future of NBA Trading Cards

According to Basketball Forever CEO Alex Sumsky, who is an avid collector himself, “The growth of NBA trading cards has been nothing short of phenomenal. With new collectors entering the space every day and demand for high-end cards reaching unprecedented levels, this market shows absolutely no signs of slowing down. Platforms like eBay have played a crucial role in fostering this growth by giving collectors easy access to a global marketplace and the unique chance for them to own a piece of the game.”

Our top tips? Look for those rookies, autos and patches of your favourite players – but most of all have fun on the hunt.