Grading in the world of trading cards is like a rollercoaster ride – full of ups, downs, and unexpected twists. In a groundbreaking turn of events, Victor Wembanyama, the basketball prodigy, has set the hobby abuzz with his record-breaking rookie card. The card in question, the 2023 Prizm Victor Wembanyama RC Base, has taken the grading world by storm, shattering previous records and inviting comparisons to the Junk Wax Era.
With a staggering population count of over 24,400 PSA 10s, and continually climbing, Wembanyama’s card has clinched the title of the highest PSA 10 population card in history. This accomplishment catapults the young athlete into a stratosphere previously unseen, standing tall amidst the titans of the trading card world.
Drawing parallels to the Luka Dončić craze of yesteryears, Wembanyama’s rapid ascent evokes a sense of déjà vu for seasoned collectors. The surge of his Prizm rookie card mirrors the milestones set by Dončić’s card, heralding a new era of grading in the hobby. Wembanyama now joins the elite ranks of cards with 20,000+ PSA 10 populations, a feat previously thought unattainable.
As the numbers continue to swell, fueled further by Panini’s collaboration with Monopoly on a special Wembanyama Prizm card set, the magnitude of Wembanyama’s rookie year dominance becomes crystal clear. Combining the base Prizm rookie card with its Monopoly counterpart unveils a staggering total graded count, painting a portrait of market saturation reminiscent of the Junk Wax Era.
While the spectacle of Wembanyama’s grading frenzy may seem like a blast from the past, it bears the unmistakable marks of a modern-day phenomenon. The convergence of Panini’s production scale and collectors’ affinity for graded cards has ushered in an era of unprecedented submission volumes and gem rates, reshaping the landscape of the trading card market.
With over 40,000 graded cards within a year, Wembanyama stands at the cusp of challenging the all-time records set by baseball legend Ken Griffey Jr. The pace at which Wembanyama’s cards are flooding the market raises the question of whether he will dethrone Griffey’s iconic cards and etch his name in the annals of trading card history.
The meteoric rise of Wembanyama in the grading world serves as both a beacon of excitement and a cautionary tale for collectors. While his cards symbolize the growing allure of basketball and the universal appeal of rising stars, they also prompt reflections on the balance between scarcity and value in the hobby. The legacy of rarity and condition remains paramount, even as the hobby dances on the edge of what some dub the ‘modern Junk Wax Era.’
As collectors navigate the currents of this ever-evolving landscape, one thing remains clear – Victor Wembanyama’s rookie cards have left an indelible mark on the world of grading, a testament to his extraordinary talent and the enduring allure of trading cards.
