Grading Frenzy: Victor Wembanyama’s Record-Breaking Rookie Card

Grading in the sports card hobby has taken a spotlight reminiscent of the mass production era known as Junk Wax, with Victor Wembanyama at its center. The basketball prodigy’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric, dominating PSA’s 2024 data and claiming six spots in the top 10 most graded cards of the year. However, it’s one particular card that has set the hobby world on fire: the 2023 Prizm Victor Wembanyama RC Base.

With a rapidly climbing count of over 24,400 PSA 10 grades, Wembanyama’s rookie card has officially become the highest PSA 10 population card of all time. This achievement was previously thought unattainable in the modern hobby, marking a new era in the world of card grading.

Reminiscent of Luka Dončić’s card frenzy, Wembanyama’s Prizm rookie card has shattered records in less than a year. Joining an elite group of cards with 20,000+ PSA 10 populations, Wembanyama’s card stands alongside renowned names like Luka Dončić, Zion Williamson, Ja Morant, Ronald Acuña Jr., and Juan Soto. Even Fernando Tatís Jr.’s card is on the cusp of joining this exclusive club.

Panini’s collaboration with Monopoly to create a special Prizm card set featuring Wembanyama has only intensified the grading frenzy. The Monopoly version has seen over 10,000 PSA 10 grades, solidifying Wembanyama’s dominance in the rookie card market.

When combining the base Prizm rookie card with its Monopoly counterpart, the numbers are staggering. The total graded count exceeds 40,000, with a high gem rate resulting in over 24,000 PSA 10s for the base card and more than 10,000 for the Monopoly edition. Nevertheless, these figures fall short of the record-breaking dominance seen with Ken Griffey Jr.’s cards in the late ’80s.

Longtime collectors may draw parallels between Wembanyama’s surge and the overproduction of the Junk Wax Era. While his cards are not scarce, the emphasis on high grades like PSA 10s mirrors the grading frenzy of the ’90s. Yet, with modern production capabilities and collectors’ reliance on grading companies, the market is witnessing submission volumes and gem rates that were previously unattainable.

The question arises: will Wembanyama challenge Griffey’s all-time records with his PSA 10 surge? With over 40,000 graded cards in just a year, the basketball phenom is on track to rival the iconic numbers set by Ken Griffey Jr. Given Panini’s production volume, Wembanyama’s rookie card has cemented its place as a hobby legend.

Wembanyama’s rise signifies both excitement and caution for collectors. While reflecting the growing popularity of basketball and the global appeal of rising stars, the high volume of graded cards prompts concerns about long-term value. As the hobby navigates what some call the modern Junk Wax Era, collectors are reminded that rarity and condition remain key determinants of a card’s lasting value. For now, the hobby revels in a rookie sensation who has etched his name in grading history.

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