Rookie patches are about to change the hobby again — only this time in the NBA.
Fanatics recently announced it will include Rookie Debut Patches for players starting with the upcoming NBA season.
Even though the season hasn’t begun yet, the chase is already on for the most coveted of all those NBA Rookie Debut Patch cards — the Dallas Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg.
The Rookie Debut Patch Autographed card has already become one of the most collectible modern cards. In March, the MLB Rookie Debut Autographed Patch card of Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes sold for $1.1 million to Dick’s Sporting Goods.
That sale turned a lot of heads, thrusting modern baseball card collecting into the spotlight — a space long dominated by vintage cards.
The question as we head into the NBA season: Can Flagg’s Rookie Debut Patch card beat that number?
It’s quite possible.
There are a couple of elements that could boost Flagg’s card over the Skenes record.
The first is the international appeal of the NBA. It has a massive global following, especially in Asia, where many of the most sought-after NBA cards have ended up.
The league has held preseason games in Asia since 2004, including two games in Macau this year that coincided with the Asia Sports Collectors Convention (ASCC). The ASCC’s special guest signers were also overwhelmingly former NBA stars, including Dwyane Wade, Stephon Marbury and Kevin Garnett.
Topps added another international layer last week, launching its first NBA product in 15 years — 2025-26 NBA Match Attax — exclusively in China.
Another factor: Many of the top modern card sales have been basketball cards. Of the top five sales in 2025 so far, all have been modern NBA cards, with four of the five sold privately.
Those cards have ranged from $2.3 million to $12.9 million and have featured some of the NBA’s all-time greats, including Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Luka Dončić.
Adding the layers of a robust international market, and private collectors seeking high-end cards, there may well be a person or group willing to take a gamble on Flagg’s Rookie Debut Autographed Patch when it hits the market later this season.
The NBA tips off the 2025-26 season on Oct. 21, with Flagg and the Mavericks’ first game coming on Oct. 22. It’s safe to say many eyes will be on that game as fans wait to see what the newest rookie can do.
If Flagg lives up to the hype, don’t be shocked if his card becomes the most expensive Rookie Debut Patch card ever.
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