Jokic Joins the Million Dollar Card Club. Where Do Other Recent NBA MVPs Stack Up?

Long before the Joker crossed the seven-figure threshold, the Greek Freak set the modern-day basketball card ceiling when his 2013-14 Panini National Treasures Logoman 1/1 hammered for $1,857,300 at Goldin in September 2021. Giannis briefly held the title of most expensive modern basketball card ever sold, knocking The King off his throne. Other cards have since Topp(sed) it, but the Antetokounmpo still owns the title of having the priciest public sale of any active MVP.

1. Nikola Jokic — ~$1.012 million

The MVP-podium fixture finally got a hobby valuation to match his trophy case. The original owner waited nearly a decade to cash in at auction, but now they must be feeling like the three-time MVP and NBA champion himself. Well, maybe not after the star center’s first round playoff exit, but you get the idea.

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — $577k

The reigning MVP is the fastest riser on this list. SGA’s 2019 Panini Flawless Logoman Autograph 1/1 sold for $577,300 at Goldin just last month, the first SGA card to ever clear half a million. If the Thunder PG wins back-to-back MVP awards later this month, that price might look like a steal. 

1. Joel Embiid — $144,000

The Process delivered a 2022-23 MVP, but the hobby never quite trusted his knees. Embiid’s high-water mark is a 2014-15 National Treasures Logoman, which sold for a paltry (lol) $144,000 in January. Given that he’s the only MVP to never reach the Conference Finals, and that the 6ers didn’t put up much of a fight against the Knicks with what might’ve been his best-ever running mates, we might not see Embiid’s cards come close to his MVPeers.

1. James Harden — ~$69,000

2009 National Treasures James Harden RPA

The Beard’s 2017-18 MVP campaign feels like a lifetime ago, and his cardboard footprint reflects it. The most expensive Harden card ever sold was his 2009-10 Panini National Treasures /99, which sold for nearly $69,000 in 2001. With the Cavs taking both games at home against the Pistons, those looking to collect Harden cards might see some serious movement over the coming weeks. Then again, it looks like nobody stands a chance against his debut team, so a first-ever championship still seems unlikely. Even still, prime Harden was electric.

It’s Not Just MVPs

The gap from Giannis to Harden is more than 20x—but maybe there’s more to it than the player himself. In this case, the throughline seems to be the Logoman. Four of these five MVPs have at least one Logoman patch card in circulation, and the four biggest sales on this list (Giannis, Jokic, SGA, and Embiid) are all Logoman 1/1s. Is Harden’s rookie Logoman still floating around—and, if so, what is the owner doing with it? Was one even made way back in 2009?

Either way, the evidence is clear: An MVP trophy carries you to the upper echelon of the Hobby, but a Logoman gets you to seven figures.

Does Joker have a chance at the MVP or is SGA a lock? Let us know on Mantel.

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