Freakish: Giannis Antetokounmpo & His Big Bucks 2013-14 Prizm Basketball Autographs
On Saturday night, just one day after Milwaukee Bucks big man Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered another stat-sheet-filling performance against the New York Knicks (25 points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals), one of his 2013-14 Prizm Basketball Autographs was putting up some impressive numbers of its own, changing hands for a whopping $180.
That final price may not seem staggering by today’s super-premium standards until you consider that just a few short months ago, a copy of that same card sold for just $64. Make no mistake about it, Milwaukee’s profusely talented “Greek Freak” is absolutely on fire in the world of basketball cards right now, and holders of his 2013-14 Prizm Basketball Autographs are reaping the rewards.
“For the last month, Giannis has averaged 27.5 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. He knocked down a 20-footer at the buzzer to beat the Knicks on January 4. He’s one of the most intriguing players in the game right now,” said Panini America Basketball Brand Manager Keith Hower. “He’s 6-11 but handles the ball, runs the floor and shoots like a guard/forward.”
He’s also keeping Milwaukee in the competitive Eastern Conference playoff race. As a result, Antetokounmpo’s once relatively affordable 203-14 Prizm Basketball cards are steadily rising in demand and in price. Beckett Media currently values Antetokounmpo’s base 2013-14 Prizm Basketball Autograph at $100, yet top-condition professionally graded copies are routinely selling for more than $200. In fact, a BGS 10 with a 10 Autograph grade sold for a whopping $390 in mid December.
While the overall popularity and attainability of Prizm Basketball underscore Antetokounmpo’s ascendency, his key Rookie Cards are scorching across all brands. Copies of his high-end 2013-14 National Treasures Basketball RPA RC, currently valued at $2,500 by Beckett Media, have sold in recent days for as much $4,000. A similar spike can be seen in Gold Standard (Beckett value: $150, recent eBay sale: $320).