Stock Watch: 4 Rising Stars and 4 Fading Figures in NBA

The excitement of the NBA season is ablaze once more, with the 2025-26 schedule tipping off in spectacular fashion. As the spotlight shines on the hardwood, trading card collectors are keeping an eagle eye on which players’ stock is sizzling or fizzling in value.

A glamorous season opener treated fans to a star-studded doubleheader, featuring Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the reigning champion Thunder facing off against the redoubtable Kevin Durant and his new team, the Rockets. Naturally, a clash between icons like LeBron James, Luka Dončić, and the Lakers against Stephen Curry and the Warriors meant entertainment levels were cranked up to eleven. Meanwhile, sharp-eyed collectors have been channeling their attention beyond the marquee matchups, tracking subtler shifts in the player value landscape.

Since late September, astute analysts have been examining the Beckett Online Price Guide, which reveals no fewer than four imperious risers and an equal number of promising prospects encountering unexpected descents as the fresh season dawns.

First, let's talk about risers! The towering Victor Wembanyama is a name that conjures high expectations, and rightfully so. The San Antonio Spurs’ colossus, standing tall at 7 foot 3 inches, is entering his third year with a new focus on snagging the award for Defensive Player of the Year. After a season marred by injuries, Wembanyama seems poised to dominate again, enticing investors to push his trading cards skyward. The revered 2024-25 Panini Hoops Anti Gravity 13 card has seen a notable increase in worth, reflecting the buzz surrounding his potential second coming.

Then there's Matas Buzelis, last season's underdog turned breakout star for Chicago. Having hustled his way into the starting five, Buzelis saw his average points double once he gained more floor time. As expectations recalibrate for his sophomore year, collectors are putting their money where their mouth is, betting big on him. His 2024-25 Panini Prizms Green 252 card is experiencing an uptick reflective of his newfound star power.

Bogdan Bogdanovic has been a key ingredient in the Clippers’ recipe for a competitive squad. His midseason transfer breathed life and points into Los Angeles’ ambitions, raising his profile (and card prices) as a trusty offensive force. Notably, his 2024-25 Panini Mosaic Purple 138 card has appreciated as fans and collectors alike anticipate his future contributions.

In the land of the North Star, Terrence Shannon Jr. gradually proven his mettle with the Timberwolves. His late-season surge cemented his place in their rotation, inveigling collectors to invest in him as Minnesota preps for another campaign. The buzz around Shannon Jr. reverberates in the form of rising interest in his 2024-25 Select Orange Flash Prizms 78 card, a sign of perceived potential and trust in his trajectory.

But as meteoric rises capture the imagination, some narratives introduce an element of caution as others encounter the misstep of decline.

Joel Embiid embodies this conundrum. Though a former MVP contender, injuries have been like an anchor, grounding what could have been a continuous ascent. Philadelphia proceeds with extra caution as he returns post-surgery, causing a pause in fan investment until signs of health shine through. His 2024-25 Donruss Playmakers 5 card reflects this hesitancy in the market—an opportunity potentially ripe for the daring.

The story shifts to Zach Edey, who started as a promising rookie but soon found himself benched due to an ankle injury. With a possible two-month stumble in sight, the all-important collector confidence wavers. Edey’s 2024-25 Panini Prizm Black Purple Ice Prizm 64 card bears witness to the price correction as buyers exercise prudence.

The tale of Jaylen Wells is one of early excitement tampered by the cruel sophomore year syndrome. A surprise package last season as a second-round wonder for the Grizzlies, his once high-flying stock is slowing as some fear the dreaded regression. Yet if he can recapture that initial spark, the market will surely respond with renewed vigor.

Finally, there's Baylor Scheierman with Boston, whose fleeting forays into the limelight have yet to inspire significant investment. Though he had moments of brilliance, particularly in playoff appearances, collectors need more than tantalizing glimpses to rally behind him. Thus, his 2024-25 Panini Mosaic Rookie Scripts RS-BAY has drifted lower as the community collectively waits for a reason to push for higher valuations.

So as jerseys are donned, whistles blow, and tip-offs echo in arenas around the league, the pulse of this dynamic marketplace continues to quicken. Who will continue to ascend to stardom, and who will be left wondering what might have been? Only time and a few spectacular alley-oops will tell.