The Oklahoma City Thunder led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander etched their names in the history books Wednesday night, as they clinched a spot in the NBA finals. With their 129-94 win over the Timberwolves, the Thunder will be heading back to the finals for the first time since 2012, when Kevin Durant led the charge, averaging 29.5 points in the series.
The Thunder have turned back time and it seems that they have found their new franchise superstar in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. SGA dropped 34 points last night, and has been the face of Oklahoma City all year, averaging 32.7 points per game
Likewise, he has been dominating the sports card market, while his card continues to trend upward. Even base cards like his Optic Rated Rookies and Prizm rookies are up significantly (5%-20%). As he heads into the finals, we can dive into some of his most popular cards that may be smart investment pieces.
One of SGA’s top cards is his 2023 Panini One and One Downtown, which has also seen a price bump over the past month. This card, raw, has a 10% ($245) increase over the past month, and last sold for $2,500 on May 16th. Although PSA 10s are slightly down for the month (3%), recent sales show a potential rebound, with one selling last for $4,328 on May 21st. As the Thunder look to be an unstoppable force, now may be the time to buy a PSA 10 and invest before they win the championship.
2022 Spectra Color Blast (SSP)
While this card does not have the same pricepoint as the Downtown, it may be more aesthetically pleasing, while featuring an earlier year, which collectors look for. In raw form, this card last sold for $1,426 in April, and a PSA 10 sold for $2,800 in November of last year. If anyone can find this card close to those price points today, then it would be a solid investment, with the knowledge that his market has risen since those sales dates.
Both of these cards would be excellent investments for any collector looking to jump in the hobby. However, other cards like his rookie autographs may fluctuate more over the course of the next few weeks.