Victor Wembanyama, the towering 7-foot-4-inch French prodigy, has sparked a frenzy in the basketball card market. With collectors scrambling to acquire any piece of Wemby memorabilia, his cards have become highly sought after. Since his initial card release last spring, eBay alone has witnessed the sale of over 62,000 Wembanyama cards, amounting to an astounding $6.3 million in sales. What’s even more impressive is that eighteen of these cards have fetched prices upwards of $10,000 each. In the past month alone, over 27,000 Wembanyama cards have been sold, contributing to a total of over $2.6 million in sales.
Notable sales include one of the five Bowman Chrome University Red Refractor redemption cards from the 2022-23 season, which commanded an impressive $20,000 in August. Another significant sale was a PSA 10 Gold Refractor autograph card from 2022 Bowman U, limited to 50 copies, which sold for $15,850.
Wembanyama’s rise to stardom has been nothing short of meteoric. Dubbed the “LeBron James of France,” he began his professional career at the age of 15. His exceptional skills, including shot-blocking, agility, and surprising shooting range for his height, have made him the talk of fans and scouts alike. His NBA debut further confirmed his readiness for the league, as he showcased his talents against the G League’s Ignite team, scoring an impressive 73 points across two games. Following a successful tenure with Metropolitans 92, he was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs after their lottery win.
Wembanyama’s playing style is a unique blend of old-school and modern play. His dominance in the interior combined with his three-point shooting creates challenging dynamics for opponents. On top of his physical abilities, his advanced basketball intellect, game-reading skills, and decision-making under pressure further accentuate his on-court presence. With a record of 35+ points, 10+ rebounds, and 2+ blocks in a single game, Wembanyama has already placed himself among elite company, including Kevin Durant and LeBron James.
While collectors eagerly await a rookie card featuring Wemby in a Spurs jersey, his collegiate and other unlicensed cards remain in high demand.
Some of the top cards featuring Wembanyama include the 2022 Bowman University Inception, where his autograph as a redemption is especially prized. The 2022 Bowman University Chrome offers his first base card and chrome autograph, which are highly valued for their “1st Bowman” tag. The 2022 Bowman University Best provides a more accessible base card featuring Wembanyama’s first live autograph.
Both Topps Now and Panini Instant have featured limited-time offers with Wembanyama. Topps Now cards capture special moments such as his draft day and even a pitch at a Yankees game, while Panini Instant showcases him in his Spurs attire. In addition, Wembanyama can also be found in the Allen & Ginter’s 2023 collection, which includes base cards, parallels, and autographs. The availability of these cards helps to maintain their affordability.
With Victor Wembanyama’s arrival, the basketball card market has experienced a surge in both excitement and demand. As collectors eagerly await the release of his highly coveted cards, the competition between card manufacturing giants continues to intensify. Whether it’s his incredible physical abilities or his basketball IQ, Wembanyama has certainly made a name for himself, and the basketball card market is reaping the benefits of his electrifying presence.
