Grading in the hobby world has seen a resurgence, reminiscent of the mass production days of the infamous Junk Wax Era. At the forefront of this resurgence stands Victor Wembanyama, a basketball prodigy whose rookie card has taken the grading charts by storm. According to the 2024 data from PSA, Wembanyama dominated the grading scene, with six of his cards ranking in the top 10 most graded cards of the year. However, it’s one particular card that has set a new benchmark in the world of grading.
The 2023 Prizm Victor Wembanyama RC Base card has soared to unprecedented heights, boasting a staggering population count of over 24,400 PSA 10s. This number continues to climb, with each day seeing more cards achieving the perfect grade. Surpassing all previous records, Wembanyama’s card has officially become the highest PSA 10 population card of all time, a feat once thought unattainable in the modern hobby.
The frenzy surrounding Wembanyama’s Prizm rookie card harkens back to the days of the Luka Dončić craze, where the Slovenian star’s 2018 Prizm rookie card became a milestone with over 20,000 PSA 10s. Wembanyama has now shattered that ceiling in less than a year, ushering in a new wave of grading achievements. His Prizm rookie card joins an elite group with 20,000+ PSA 10 populations, including stars like Luka Dončić, Zion Williamson, and Ja Morant, solidifying his place among the greats.
Panini further fueled the Wembanyama grading frenzy by partnering with Monopoly to create a special Prizm card set featuring another Wembanyama rookie. This Monopoly version has already seen over 10,000 PSA 10s, reinforcing Wembanyama’s dominance in his rookie year. Combining the base Prizm rookie card with its Monopoly counterpart, the numbers are staggering, showcasing the immense popularity of Wembanyama’s cards.
While these numbers are impressive, they pale in comparison to the domination of Ken Griffey Jr.’s rookie cards in the late ’80s. Griffey’s iconic 1989 Upper Deck rookie card remains the all-time leader with 116,000 total graded copies, followed by his 1989 Topps Traded card and 1989 Fleer rookie card. Wembanyama’s cards may not boast the same rarity as Griffey’s, but the push for high grades, particularly PSA 10s, echoes the grading explosion of the ’90s.
Wembanyama’s rapid rise in the grading world has sparked discussions about whether he could break Griffey’s records, given the current pace of over 40,000 graded cards in just one year. The question remains whether Panini’s production volume can sustain such growth. Nevertheless, his 2023 Prizm rookie card has already cemented its status as a hobby legend, achieving milestones in a fraction of the time other cards took to accomplish.
As Wembanyama’s cards continue to captivate collectors, his unprecedented grading numbers signal both excitement and caution in the hobby world. While his cards showcase the growing popularity of basketball and the global appeal of rising stars, the sheer volume of graded cards raises concerns about long-term value, hinting at the dawn of the modern Junk Wax Era. Collectors are reminded that rarity and condition will always be crucial factors in determining a card’s lasting value, amidst the historic moment created by a rookie phenom leaving an enduring mark on grading history.
