Back in Jalen Brunson's rookie year, collectors could grab some of his biggest cards for prices that look unreal today.
Now, heading into his first NBA Finals appearance with the Knicks against the Spurs, those same cards are selling for eye-popping numbers as collectors and investors race to secure key pieces of his rookie portfolio.
Brunson's rise from a second-round pick to the face of one of basketball's most iconic franchises has been one of the NBA's best stories. And as Madison Square Garden prepares for its biggest stage in decades, the sports card market is reflecting just how far Brunson has come.
The numbers are staggering.
A 2018 National Treasures Rookie Patch Autograph graded BGS 8.5 with a Beckett 10 autograph was purchased for just $2,012. Today, that same card is valued around $153,080, representing a gain of more than $151,000.
Another premium National Treasures Emerald Rookie Patch Auto /5 graded BGS 9.5 changed hands for only $450. Its current value sits at approximately $31,120, a return that would make even Wall Street jealous.
Collectors who took a chance on Brunson's lower-population rookie parallels have been rewarded as well. A 2018 Prizm Gold PSA 9 that once sold for $120 is now valued around $16,768, while a 2018 Donruss Optic Gold Auto PSA 9 jumped from $66 to roughly $7,252.
What makes the surge even more impressive is the timeline. These were not purchases made decades ago. Most of these sales occurred while Brunson was still viewed as a promising role player in Dallas. Fast forward a few seasons and he has become the engine behind a Knicks team battling for an NBA championship.
But there is another angle that often gets overlooked: grading.
When cards appreciate this dramatically, every half-grade matters. In some cases, the difference between an 8.5, 9, 9.5, or Gem Mint 10 can mean thousands, or even tens of thousands, of dollars in value. A card that is undergraded could leave significant money on the table, while an overgraded card can create headaches when it is time to sell.
That is why accurate grading has never been more important for collectors. As card values continue climbing, consistency and precision matter just as much as the card itself.
This is where AGS Robograding stands apart. By using AI-powered technology to evaluate cards, AGS removes much of the subjectivity that can come with traditional grading. Every card is analyzed using the same standards, helping collectors better understand the true condition of their cards and reducing the risk of costly grading inconsistencies.
Imagine pulling a Brunson rookie years ago and sending it in for grading. If that card was misgraded, the difference today could be worth thousands of dollars. In a hobby where championship moments can send prices soaring overnight, having confidence in your grade can make all the difference.
The Finals spotlight only adds fuel to the fire. Every clutch shot, every fourth-quarter takeover, and every Knicks victory puts more eyes on Brunson and, by extension, his rookie cards. Collectors have seen this story before: when a star reaches the sport's biggest stage, demand tends to follow.
Whether the Knicks bring home the trophy or not, Brunson has already cemented himself as one of the hobby's biggest success stories of the modern era. For collectors who believed early, the payoff has been championship-level.