Everyone wants the hot rookie. Everyone’s chasing Flagg and Wemby. But while the herd is overpaying for hype, smart money is buying underrated cards at a discount.
These are the cards you should be loading up on right now — before the market wakes up.
7. 2017 Jayson Tatum Prizm Silver PSA 10
Current Price: $850 Why It’s Underrated: Tatum is a 5x All-Star, NBA champion, and perennial MVP candidate. He’s one of the best players in the league, and his cards are priced like he’s a role player.
Compare:
- Luka 2018 Prizm Silver PSA 10: $1,850
- LaMelo 2020 Prizm Silver PSA 10: $525
Tatum is better than LaMelo and nearly as good as Luka, yet his card is half the price.
Why the Discount?
- Tatum plays in Boston, not a huge market like LA or NY
- He’s never won MVP (yet)
- His playstyle is boring to casuals (efficient, not flashy)
Investment Thesis: Tatum is 26 years old and entering his prime. If the Celtics win another championship and he wins Finals MVP, this card hits $1,500+.
Buy Now: $850 → Sell at $1,400+ in 2-3 years
6. 2019 Ja Morant Prizm Silver PSA 10
Current Price: $385 Why It’s Underrated: Ja won ROY, is a 2x All-Star, and is one of the most electric players in the NBA. His cards have crashed due to off-court issues, but his on-court talent is undeniable.
Why the Discount?
- Legal troubles and suspensions scared off casual buyers
- The Grizzlies are in a rebuild
- Market overreacted to negative headlines
Investment Thesis: Ja is 26. If he stays healthy and stays out of trouble, he’s a top-10 player. His cards are at a 3-year low.
Risk: High. Off-court issues could continue. But risk = opportunity.
Buy Now: $385 → Sell at $700+ if he bounces back
5. 1996 Topps Chrome Kobe Bryant Base PSA 10
Current Price: $125,000 Why It’s Underrated: Wait, $125k is underrated?
Yes. The Refractor PSA 10 sells for $485,000. The base PSA 10 is the exact same card, just without the rainbow foil. It’s 26% of the price for the same iconic image.
Investment Thesis: As Kobe’s legacy grows, the base PSA 10 will close the gap. In 10 years, this will be $300k+.
Who Should Buy: High-net-worth collectors looking for a trophy piece that’s more affordable than the Refractor.
Buy Now: $125k → Sell at $250k+ in 5-10 years
4. 2020 Tyrese Haliburton Prizm Silver PSA 10
Current Price: $75 Why It’s Underrated: Haliburton is a 2x All-Star, elite playmaker, and the best player on a Pacers team that made the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals. His cards are criminally underpriced.
Compare:
- LaMelo 2020 Prizm Silver PSA 10: $525 (7x more expensive)
- Ja Morant 2019 Prizm Silver PSA 10: $385 (5x more expensive)
Haliburton is as good as LaMelo and more durable than Ja, yet his cards are a fraction of the price.
Why the Discount?
- Small market (Indiana)
- Didn’t win ROY (LaMelo did)
- Plays “boring” point guard basketball (pass-first, not highlights)
Investment Thesis: If the Pacers make a deep playoff run and Haliburton makes All-NBA, this card hits $250+.
Buy Now: $75 → Sell at $200+ in 2 years
3. 2015 Devin Booker Prizm Base PSA 10
Current Price: $220 Why It’s Underrated: Booker is a 4x All-Star, NBA Finals participant, and one of the best scorers in the league. His cards should be $500+.
Compare:
- Tatum 2017 Prizm Silver PSA 10: $850
- Luka 2018 Prizm Silver PSA 10: $1,850
Booker is only slightly worse than Tatum and Luka, yet his base PSA 10 is 1/4 the price of Luka’s.
Why the Discount?
- Booker’s teams have underperformed in the playoffs
- He’s never won MVP
- The Suns are in flux (KD is aging, roster turnover)
Investment Thesis: If the Suns win a championship and Booker is the Finals MVP, this card 3xes overnight.
Buy Now: $220 → Sell at $600+ if he wins a ring
2. 2013 Giannis Antetokounmpo Prizm Base PSA 10
Current Price: $1,200 Why It’s Underrated: Giannis is a 2x MVP, NBA champion, Finals MVP, and the best two-way player in the league. His cards should be $3,000+.
Compare:
- LeBron 2003 Topps Chrome Base PSA 10: $4,500
- Luka 2018 Prizm Silver PSA 10: $1,850
Giannis has accomplished more than Luka (MVP + ring) and is a top-15 all-time player in the making, yet his Prizm base PSA 10 is only $1,200.
Why the Discount?
- Giannis’s 2013 rookie class was weak (no other stars)
- He plays in Milwaukee (small market)
- International player (less hype from US collectors)
Investment Thesis: When Giannis retires, his cards will be re-rated as all-time great cards. This will hit $3,500+.
Buy Now: $1,200 → Sell at $3,000+ in 5-10 years
1. 2018 Luka Doncic Prizm Base PSA 10
Current Price: $420 Why It’s Underrated: “Wait, Luka’s Silver is $1,850. How is the base underrated?”
Because the base PSA 10 is the same card. Same image, same year, same player. The only difference is the Silver has a chrome finish.
The Math:
- Silver PSA 10: $1,850
- Base PSA 10: $420
- Gap: $1,430 (4.4x difference)
That gap is too large. Historically, the base PSA 10 trades at 50-60% of the Silver. Right now, it’s at 23%.
Investment Thesis: The base will close the gap as collectors realize they can own a Luka PSA 10 for 1/4 the price of the Silver.
Buy Now: $420 → Sell at $900+ in 3-5 years
Why These Cards Are Underrated
1. Market Inefficiency
The market overvalues hype (rookies, flashy players) and undervalues proven stars.
2. Small Market Bias
Players in small markets (Milwaukee, Indiana, Phoenix) get less attention than LA/NY stars.
3. Recency Bias
Collectors chase the newest thing (2025 rookies) and ignore 2017-2020 stars.
4. Boring ≠ Bad
Efficient scorers (Tatum, Booker) aren’t as exciting as dunkers (Ja, LaMelo), so their cards are cheaper.
How to Spot Underrated Cards
✅ Compare Stats to Comps
If Player A has better stats than Player B but costs half as much, that’s an opportunity.
✅ Look for Dips
Cards often dip during off-seasons or when a team misses the playoffs. Buy the dip.
✅ Buy Proven Stars, Not Hype
A 5x All-Star at $850 (Tatum) is safer than a rookie at $320 (Flagg).
✅ Ignore Market Size
Small market stars (Giannis, Haliburton) are often underpriced. That’s your edge.
The Underrated Portfolio ($5,000 Budget)
If I had $5,000 to deploy right now, here’s what I’d buy:
| Card | Cost | 3-Year Target | Expected Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tatum 2017 Prizm Silver PSA 10 | $850 | $1,400 | +65% |
| Giannis 2013 Prizm Base PSA 10 | $1,200 | $2,500 | +108% |
| Haliburton 2020 Prizm Silver PSA 10 x 5 | $375 | $1,000 | +167% |
| Booker 2015 Prizm Base PSA 10 x 3 | $660 | $1,800 | +173% |
| Luka 2018 Prizm Base PSA 10 x 4 | $1,680 | $3,600 | +114% |
| Cash reserve | $235 | $235 | N/A |
Total Portfolio Value in 3 Years: $10,535 Expected Return: +111% (+27% annually)
Compare to S&P 500: ~12% annually
This portfolio would outperform the stock market by 2.25x.
Final Thoughts
The market is inefficient. While everyone chases Cooper Flagg and Victor Wembanyama, you can buy proven all-stars at a discount.
These cards won’t 10x overnight. But they’re safe, undervalued, and positioned to outperform over the next 3-5 years.
Buy boring. Buy proven. Buy underrated.
And when the market wakes up, you’ll already be up 50%+.