As the NBA is set to tip off the 2025-26 season Tuesday, the market for basketball cards is picking up right where it left off last season — with hobbyists spending millions on everything ranging from dollar-bin pick-ups of their favorite role players to high-end patch autos of the league’s biggest stars.
Using data from Market Movers, let’s take a look at which active players have seen the most action in their card markets (ranked by sales volume over the past 30 days).
1. Victor Wembanyama
With 9,900 sales across more than 2,300 cards in the past 30 days, it should come as no shock to see the NBA’s brightest young star top this list. The $1.3 million spent on Wembanyama over that period is an increase of 27%. After missing the second half of last season due to a blood clot, the French big man is set to dominate once again on the hardwood and in the hobby.
Wembanyama’s two top card sales of $860,100 and $528,000 both occurred earlier this year. His current trajectory suggests a million-dollar sale is not a question of if, but when.
2. LeBron James
James remains a staple of the hobby, logging more than 6,600 sales across 2,400 cards in the past 30 days for a grand total of $3.2 million spent — up 32%. As questions loom over his impending retirement, collectors may be stocking up on James’ cards anticipating a boom.
James was also featured alongside Michael Jordan on a Dual Logoman which garnered headlines last month in a private $10 million sale.
3. Stephon Castle
The reigning Rookie of the Year will enter his second season with increased fanfare and greater expectations, even as he shares the court with Wembanyama. Collectors picked up more than $260,000 worth of Castle cards over the past 30 days across more than 3,400 transactions.
Each of Castle’s 13 public sales that have cleared $10,000 came after the conclusion of last year’s regular season.
4. Stephen Curry
Curry’s legacy is already written, with any success at this point in his career acting as icing on the Hall of Fame cake. Always a collector favorite, Curry’s market has boomed in the past 30 days, rising a stunning 75% with $2 million in sales across nearly 3,000 transactions.
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5. Matas Buzelis
Perhaps not a name many would expect to make this list, the Bulls small forward is coming off of an All-Rookie season in which he placed 7th in Rookie of the Year voting. It appears collectors are hoping for a breakout sophomore season for the 21-year-old, as his market has seen more than 2,700 sales across 625 cards in the past 30 days.
6. Luka Dončić
Entering his first full season as a Laker, Dončić’s collectibility — while never in doubt — could be poised to reach a whole new level as his star continues to rise in Los Angeles. Over the past 30 days, his volume has risen 62%, notching more than 2,600 sales across 1,200 cards for more than $885,000.
7. Anthony Edwards
Much like Dončić, Edwards is a fan and collector favorite with a proven track record and plenty of potential left to bet on. In the past 30 days, his market has risen 38%, seen more than 2,500 sales across 752 cards and more than $660,000 in sales.
8. Reed Sheppard
The third overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Sheppard’s popularity in the hobby — rising 42% across more than 2,200 transactions — may come as somewhat of a shock considering his rather unremarkable rookie campaign.
But the Rockets guard has a new teammate named Kevin Durant, which can’t hurt.
9. Bronny James Jr.
Bronny continues to have a strong base of collectors, with more than 1,800 sales across nearly 500 cards over the past 30 days. But his less than $70,000 in total volume over that period may suggest there are fewer buyers betting big on James Jr. heading into his second season.
10. Amen Thompson
Rounding out the list is one of the most dynamic players in the league. Thompson, who has seen his sales volume rise nearly 70% over the past 30 days, notched more than 1,800 transactions across 783 cards and a total of $216,000 in sales.
Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct, the premier company for collectible culture.