Anthony Edwards and Victor Wembanyama are not just making waves on the basketball court; their memorabilia is also causing quite a stir in the collectibles world. Goldin Auctions’ April Elite sale was the stage for a frenzy of bidding, setting record prices for items associated with the NBA stars.
One of the most remarkable sales of the event was an early NBA jersey worn by Anthony Edwards in just his fourth career game, fetching an impressive $118,978. This jersey, bearing MeiGray/NBA authentication and photomatching, witnessed Edwards making his mark with his first career block and adding 12 points to his tally. The significance of this jersey was further accentuated by Edwards’ outstanding performance in the 2024 playoffs, where he joined the elite club of young players scoring over 40 points in consecutive postseason games, a feat only matched by the legendary Kobe Bryant.
Another sought-after item was Edwards’ 2020-21 Panini National Treasures Rookie Patch Autograph card, graded an exceptional BGS GEM MINT 9.5 with a Beckett 10 for autographs, which commanded a hefty price tag of $85,550 at the auction.
Victor Wembanyama, the rising basketball sensation, also drew substantial interest, especially for his rookie cards. A standout piece was the 2023-24 Panini Prizm Green Shimmer First Off The Line rookie card, numbered 1 of 5 and graded PSA 10, which sold for an impressive $113,460. Additionally, a rare Gold Shimmer rookie card numbered 7/10 belonging to Wembanyama closed at $49,410.
The auction didn’t solely focus on current basketball stars, as evidenced by the sale of a 1996-97 Kobe Bryant Topps Chrome Refractor rookie card, which fetched $92,720, and a 2018 Panini Prizm World Cup Gold Power Prizm Kylian Mbappe rookie card, graded BGS MINT 9, selling for $92,190. Furthermore, former Duke standout Cherokee Parks’ NCAA Championship ring from 1994 achieved a noteworthy price of $44,320.
Iconic moments captured in photographs featuring basketball legends Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar were also key attractions, with respective sales of $15,982 and $14,640.
Not to be outdone, a jersey from Fernando Tatis Jr.’s early MLB career, capturing his first road game, found a new owner for $10,098. This wide array of memorabilia, spanning different sports and eras, highlights the enduring allure of collectibles in the sports world, uniting fans across generations.