The recent Goldin Auctions April Elite sale made waves in the sports collectibles world with record-breaking prices for memorabilia tied to NBA rising stars Anthony Edwards and Victor Wembanyama. The auction, coinciding with Anthony Edwards’ standout performance leading the Minnesota Timberwolves to victory in the playoffs, witnessed a surge of interest in items related to these basketball phenoms.
One of the highlights of the event was an early NBA jersey worn by Anthony Edwards during his fourth career game, fetching an impressive $118,978. This sale established a new record for the highest price paid for any public sale of an Edwards jersey. The jersey, complete with MeiGray/NBA authentication and photomatching, holds particular significance as it was worn by Edwards when he notched his first career block and scored 12 points. Edwards’ stellar rise was further emphasized during the 2024 playoffs, where he emulated basketball legend Kobe Bryant as one of the youngest players to achieve over 40 points in consecutive postseason games.
Another remarkable item was an Edwards 2020-21 Panini National Treasures Rookie Patch Autograph card, graded BGS GEM MINT 9.5 with a Beckett 10 for autographs, which fetched an impressive $85,550 at the auction.
Victor Wembanyama, another highly anticipated basketball prospect, also commanded attention at the auction, with a focus on his rookie cards. A 2023-24 Panini Prizm Green Shimmer First Off The Line rookie card, numbered 1 of 5 and graded PSA 10, sold for a remarkable $113,460. Additionally, a rare Gold Shimmer rookie card numbered 7/10 belonging to Wembanyama fetched $49,410, showcasing the strong demand for memorabilia linked to the young basketball talent.
Beyond the modern basketball stars, the auction featured collectibles related to iconic figures across sports. A 1996-97 Kobe Bryant Topps Chrome Refractor rookie card achieved an impressive $92,720, while a 2018 Panini Prizm World Cup Gold Power Prizm Kylian Mbappe rookie card, graded BGS MINT 9, sold for $92,190.
Former Duke star Cherokee Parks’ NCAA Championship ring garnered significant interest, ultimately selling for $44,320, proving the enduring appeal of memorabilia from past basketball champions.
Photographs capturing seminal moments in the careers of basketball legends Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar also found their way into the auction, with prices reaching $15,982 and $14,640 respectively.
Diversifying the range of sports memorabilia, a jersey from Fernando Tatis’s early MLB career, marking his first away game, fetched $10,098. This extensive array of items demonstrates the enduring popularity of sports collectibles, spanning generations and sports disciplines.
