February 2026 has been wild. The rookie class is heating up, vintage is on fire, and grading companies can’t keep up with demand. Let’s break down what’s moving, what’s stuck, and where the smart money is going.
Rookie Market: Flagg Fever
The 2025-26 rookie class is carrying the modern market right now. Cooper Flagg’s dominance in San Antonio has sent his cards into orbit.
Cooper Flagg — Key Cards (Last 30 Days)
| Card | Jan 15 Price | Feb 15 Price | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Prizm Silver Raw | $210 | $320 | +52% |
| 2025 Prizm Silver PSA 10 | $650 | $875 | +35% |
| 2025 Select Courtside Tri-Color /149 | $325 | $510 | +57% |
| 2024 Bowman Chrome Auto /99 | $950 | $1,280 | +35% |
Flagg is the story. His cards are climbing weekly, and there’s no ceiling in sight if the Spurs make the playoffs.
Other Rookie Movers:
- Dylan Harper (Memphis) — Prizm Silver up 28% to $145
- Ace Bailey (Portland) — Prizm Silver up 18% to $95
- Trey Oden (Miami) — Breaking out late; Prizm Silver +42% to $78
The lesson: rookie cards in February are still buyable. ROY winners typically peak in June-August. There’s still room to run.
Sophomore Slump? Not for Wemby
Victor Wembanyama is in year two, and his cards are acting like he’s a 5x MVP. His 2023 Prizm Silver PSA 10 hit $2,400 last week — up from $1,850 in January.
Why?
- All-Star starter
- DPOY favorite
- Spurs are 4th seed in the West
- Playing with Flagg creates hype synergy
Wemby’s cards are not slowing down. If you didn’t buy in year one, you’re priced out. If you did, hold tight.
Graded Market: PSA 10 Premium Exploding
The gap between raw and PSA 10 cards is getting absurd.
Example: 2018 Luka Doncic Prizm Silver
- Raw (pack fresh): $320
- PSA 9: $480
- PSA 10: $1,850
That’s a 5.8x multiplier for a PSA 10. A year ago, it was 3.5x.
Why?
- PSA backlog = less supply of graded cards
- More buyers demand “investment grade” slabs
- Raw cards are viewed as risky (centering, edges, corners)
Takeaway: If you’re sitting on raw cards of stars, get them graded. The premium justifies the wait and cost.
Vintage Alert: 1990s Inserts Are Back
It’s happening. The cards we ripped as kids are now 25-30 years old, and they’re being treated like vintage.
Hot 1990s Inserts (February Sales)
- 1997 Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems Michael Jordan /100 — $18,500 (up from $12k in 2023)
- 1996 Topps Chrome Kobe Bryant Refractor — $6,200 PSA 10 (was $3,800 last year)
- 1997 Skybox E-X2001 Kobe Bryant /999 — $2,100 PSA 9 (doubled in 6 months)
- 1998 SPx Finite Tim Duncan /3,600 — $850 (up from $420)
The ’90s insert market is being driven by nostalgia and scarcity. These cards were pulled and destroyed by kids. Clean copies are rare.
What to buy: Look for graded ‘96-‘98 Chrome, Metal Universe, E-X, and SPx inserts of HOF players. Mintage under 1,000 = strong bet.
Modern Stars: Stagnant or Declining
Not everything is up. Some modern stars are flat or falling.
Underperformers (Last 30 Days)
- Anthony Edwards 2020 Prizm Silver PSA 10: $725 → $680 (-6%)
- LaMelo Ball 2020 Prizm Silver PSA 10: $580 → $525 (-9%)
- Ja Morant 2019 Prizm Silver PSA 10: $420 → $385 (-8%)
Why?
- These players are established but not MVP-level dominant
- The hype cycle moved on
- Rookie card premiums fade after 3-4 years unless you’re generational
Strategy: These are value buys if you believe long-term. LaMelo at $525 could be a steal if he wins MVP someday.
Set Market: What’s Selling?
Hot Boxes (Secondary Market)
- 2025 Prizm Hobby: $425 (was $350 retail)
- 2025 Topps Chrome Hobby: $360 (was $310 retail)
- 2020 Prizm Hobby (sealed): $1,850 (was $600 pre-pandemic)
Sealed boxes are treated like stocks. Rookies drive the value. Strong draft class = box prices surge.
Cold Boxes:
- 2025 Revolution Hobby: $140 (was $150 retail) — losing value
- 2024 Donruss Hobby: $165 (was $180) — weak class killed demand
Grading Company News
PSA — 45-60 day turnaround for standard ($25/card). Still the king. BGS — 30-40 day turnaround. Black Label 10s are ultra-rare and command 5-10x premium over PSA 10. SGC — 20-30 day turnaround. Growing acceptance but still 20-30% discount vs PSA.
Read our full grading comparison
February Buying Opportunities
Here’s where I’m putting money this month:
- Cooper Flagg Prizm Silver PSA 10 — $875 now, could be $1,500+ if Spurs make WCF
- Trey Oden raw rookies — Late bloomer, still underpriced
- 1996 Topps Chrome Kobe Refractor PSA 9 — $2,400 now, heading to $4k+
- LaMelo Ball 2020 Prizm Silver PSA 10 — $525 is a dip-buy
- Wemby 2023 Prizm Silver raw — $850, get it graded, flip at $2k+
What to Avoid
- Overpriced RPA cards — Rookie Patch Autos are lottery tickets, not investments
- Ungraded vintage (pre-1980) — Condition is everything; raw = risk
- 2024 rookie class — Weak year, prices falling
Final Thoughts
February 2026 is a buyer’s market for long-term holds and a seller’s market for Flagg and Wemby. If you’re flipping, focus on rookies. If you’re investing, hunt undervalued stars and vintage inserts.
The market is hot, but it’s also getting smarter. Do your homework, buy slabs when possible, and don’t chase hype.
See you next month.