Best Luka Doncic Cards: Top 5 Mavericks Superstar Collectibles, According To Experts

Luka Doncic is already one of the greatest European players in NBA history. The Dallas Mavericks acquired the Slovenian superstar on an NBA Draft day trade in 2018 from the Atlanta Hawks for Trae Young. Even though Young is a really good player, the Hawks might want a do-over handing Doncic to the Mavs. In his first five seasons, Doncic has garnered four All-Star selections and helped lead the Mavericks to the Western Conference Finals in 2022, losing to the Golden State Warriors in five games. Luka’s popularity has soared, as well as his basketball cards. With so many to choose from, StudyFinds has put together a list of the best Luka Doncic cards every collector needs.

The 24-year-old Doncic is averaging an astounding 27.6 points-per-game in his first five seasons. His five-year, $215 million supermax contract kicked in last season, and with the way he’s been playing, it might be a steal. Doncic’s cards are some of the most-sought after on the market. And even though he’s entering his sixth season in the NBA, he already has one of the highest selling cards of all-time. In February 2021, Doncic’s 2018-19 Panini National Treasures Logoman Autograph 1/1 rookie card sold for $4.6 million — making it the third highest basketball card sold ever! The top two spots belong to Steph Curry’s 2009-10 Panini National Treasures Stephen Logoman Autograph 1/1 rookie card and LeBron James’ 2003-04 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Rookie Patch Autograph card, which sold for $5.9 million and $5.2 million, respectively. Are you ready to diversify your card collection? StudyFinds has found the top five best Luka Doncic cards every collector needs based on the recommendations of 10 experts. Did we miss one of your favorites? Let us know in the comments below!

The List: Best Luka Doncic Cards, According to Collectors

1. 2018-19 Panini Prizm #280 Rookie Card

Coming first on the list of top Doncic cards is his 2018-19 Panini Prizm rookie card. Its popularity is due to its numerous parallels. Despite not being exceptionally rare, the 2018-19 Panini Prizm Luka Doncic rookie card holds significant weight in the world of basketball card collecting. The Cardboard Connection highlights the card’s significance by stating it’s the “base Doncic rookie card to own,” capitalizing on the immense popularity of the Prizm brand. They mention the extensive variety of parallels available, including exclusive editions with potentially staggering price tags.

MoneyMade reinforces the card’s iconic status, mentioning a record-breaking sale of a PSA 10 graded card for $8,000 in 2020. They acknowledge its abundant supply (nearly 20,000 PSA 10 graded cards), yet emphasize its status as the standard for basketball cards, with a base value exceeding most mid-level cards. Despite its widespread availability, collectors are still drawn to this card, possibly due to its accessible price range of $30 to $375, making it an attractive entry point for new collectors.

Beckett adds to the allure by calling Prizm “one of the most popular brands in basketball,” praising its distinctive design and colorful parallels. They acknowledge that while the base Doncic card isn’t particularly rare, it holds a similar significance to Upper Deck Young Guns cards in hockey and flagship Topps cards in baseball. They also delve into the various pack configurations where Prizm cards can be found, including hobby boxes, retail packs, and special Fast Break boxes, with exclusive “Choice” versions limited to international configurations.

2. 2018-19 Panini National Treasures Rookie Patch Autograph (RPA) #127 Card

A must-have rookie card autograph for any Doncic collector is the 2018-19 Panini National Treasures RPA. Graded Card Investor highlights its status as the “highest-selling, most desirable” Doncic rookie card. The base version is limited to only 99 copies, while even scarcer parallels exist, like the “FOTL #/20,” “Gold #/10,” and the coveted “Logoman 1/1” edition. They commend Panini for incorporating on-card autographs and sizable, multi-colored patches into the design.

Among the various Luka Doncic rookie cards, the 2018 Panini National Treasures issue featuring his autograph and a jersey patch reigns supreme. Sports Card Specialist echoes this sentiment, placing the National Treasures card at the pinnacle in terms of “value and prestige.” They emphasize its unique features: being the only Doncic rookie card with a jumbo patch, boasting a genuine, hard-signed autograph.

3. 2018-19 Panini Contenders Autograph #122 Rookie Card

While not reaching the same heights as the National Treasures card, Luka Doncic’s 2018-19 Panini Contenders Autograph remains a highly sought-after collectible. Bargain Bunch describes the card with its image of Doncic focused on a free throw, accompanied by a blue rookie ticket placed strategically on the top left corner. The card’s true value lies in the inclusion of Doncic’s authentic autograph displayed on the bottom left.

CGC Cards acknowledges the card’s significant value, mentioning a recent sale of the base version for $7,000. However, similar to other Doncic rookies, the existence of valuable parallels can significantly inflate the price. They cite the example of a “Cracked Ice Autograph” version that fetched a staggering $111,000 at auction, showcasing the immense popularity and potential investment opportunities associated with these cards.

The Cardboard Connection adds context, mentioning the rising popularity of the Contenders NBA set, even though it hasn’t quite reached the level of its football counterpart. They specifically mention the “Rookie Ticket” subset, which includes the prominent Luka Doncic rookie card with a limited variation offering a unique color scheme for the Dallas Mavericks logo.

4. 2018-19 Panini Select #25 Concourse, #122 Premier, #229 Courtside

For dedicated Luka Doncic collectors, the 2018-19 Panini Select set offers not just one, but three distinct rookie cards to pursue. The Cardboard Connection breaks down the options, each with a diverse selection of parallel variations. They mention the unique features of the “Premier Level” version, including die-cut options, and acknowledge the “Courtside” cards and their parallels as the most challenging to acquire.

Graded Card Investor emphasizes the limited availability of these cards, stating that they were only included in hobby products, unlike other base rookie cards available in both retail and hobby packs. This limited availability, they argue, makes them a potentially valuable investment due to the smaller print run.

Sports Card Specialist offers a detailed breakdown of the three individual cards within the set. They explain that each card features a different design and image, while also varying in rarity. The “Concourse” card, numbered #25, is the most common and technically considered the true “rookie card.” There’s also the less common “Premier Level” card (#122), and the even rarer “Courtside” card (#229). While all three are considered valuable options for Doncic collectors, the “Courtside” card reigns supreme in terms of value.

5. 2018-19 Panini Crown Royale Kaboom! #23

For collectors seeking a unique and visually striking Luka Doncic rookie card, the 2018-19 Panini Crown Royale Kaboom! insert offers an extraordinary option. Bargain Bunch describes the card’s distinct characteristics, highlighting its comic book/superhero style with an action-packed image of Doncic defying gravity to save a ball. They emphasize the card’s rarity, being “SSP inserts” in the Crown Royale set, meaning they are unnumbered but boast a very limited print run.

The Cardboard Connection calls the Kaboom! inserts “anything but subtle” and also acknowledges their rarity. While finding humor in the slightly “goofy” cartoon-style portrayal of Doncic, they acknowledge the significant value associated with these bold cards.

MoneyMade also praises its eye-catching comic book design. They highlight the combination of bold visuals, limited print run, and rookie card status, which contribute to its unique appeal and significant price range, varying from $725 to a staggering $21,600.

Sources:

• The Cardboard Connection
• MoneyMade
• Beckett
• Graded Card Investor
• Sports Card Specialist
• VIP Art Fair
• Sports Card Research
• ClutchPoints
• Bargain Bunch
• CGC Cards

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