Cooper Flagg’s recent emergence as the top overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks was already a high-voltage drama that NBA enthusiasts couldn’t stop talking about. But the excitement didn’t end on draft night; it spilled into the world of card collectors with a sizzle that could potentially rival that of Broadway premieres. If there was ever a moment to highlight the intersection of sports and collectibles, this is it.
By scooping up Flagg, a blazing young talent, the Mavericks weren’t just reshaping their roster following the headline-making departure of Luka Doncic. They were igniting an inextinguishable flame among collectors and fans—a marriage of the NBA’s brightest upcoming talent with the storied tradition of collecting sports memorabilia. Topps NOW, a cornerstone of collectible cards, seized the day with the exhilarating release of Flagg’s first professional card.
But because this is no ordinary sports card, let’s delve into why collectors are practically sprinting to grab it. Topps NOW operates on a brilliant premise: capturing historic moments in sports as they happen and releasing limited-edition cards to commemorate them. Cooper Flagg’s entry into the professional basketball arena warranted such a release and turned heads across the sports card world. For collectors, these cards are akin to golden tickets—a unique blend of sport, history, and scarcity.
Offering a little extra magic, the release includes a tantalizing 1-of-1 autographed card featuring an inscription declaring Flagg as the “1st Overall Pick.” It’s practically the Holy Grail for collectors. But you say you want more? How about a tiered system of autographed cards, each rarer than the last, with numbers running /25, /10, /5, and even another singular 1-of-1 gem. Dripping with allure, the two autographs in the /10 category even come with an inscription: “My First Pro Auto.” Now that’s a memento not just of Flagg’s personal milestones, but of sports history itself.
Like any treasure worth its weight, scarcity often breeds a parallel pursuit hotter than summer in Texas. Collectors can chase down foil parallels of the base card, which are short printed in variations numbered to 99, 75, 50, 25, 10, 5, and another ultimate 1-of-1 FoilFractor. These variants ensure that while the masses might covet them, they remain in the hands of the few—ergo, driving up desirability and, potentially, value.
Prior to his draft, Flagg had already cemented his reputation as a soon-to-be basketball star in the trading card universe. From his Bowman cards stirring up talk to the Topps Basketball McDonald’s All American issues becoming must-haves, the buzz was almost deafening. Earlier this year, Flagg aligning himself with Topps and Fanatics through an exclusive deal was the icing on the cake, underscoring his significance not just on the court but in the sphere of collecting.
With the launch of this Topps NOW release, Flagg’s presence in the world of professional collectibles grows ever more pronounced—and desirable. Whether it’s for a personal collection or as a calculated investment for the future, this card embodies the beginning of what could very well be an NBA career destined for greatness.
A word to the wise: collectors have only a sliver of time to secure their piece of this history-making memorabilia. The card is available until June 29 at precisely 8:10 PM EST. Given the frenzy already surrounding Cooper Flagg’s first professional footsteps, this card is poised to be one of the standout collectibles of the 2025 draft class. Hop on the train if you dare—the ride promises to be as thrilling as Flagg’s burgeoning career and as competitive as a playoff game buzzer-beater.
