Steve Dalton

2018-19 Donruss Optic Basketball Retail Mega Box breakdown and review. Includes a full list of pulled inserts and rookies as well as additional analysis.

While much collectors’ focus leans toward shinier, higher profile basketball products such as Prizm, Optic, and Select, two big-time LeBron James inserts have emerged this season from the entry-level 2019-20 Hoops Basketball: 1. 2019-20 Hoops High Voltage LeBron James #2 ($60-$150) This one has been a steady riser due to a combination of appealing design and hobby-only availability. Early sales were consistent in the $20 range, but market activity from the past few months has pushed the value i…

Michael Jordan cards continue to be in high demand, but a few 1997-98 base cards have seen a particularly steep rise in value of late: 1. 1997-98 Metal Universe Michael Jordan #23 ($150-$400) Add this to the list of iconic Michael Jordan cards. The buzz started growing last year as increased collector interest pushed sale prices into the $40-$100 range. “The Last Dance” effect has elevated Jordan’s base Metal Universe issue to even greater heights, quadrupling the value of raw copies and sending high grade slabbed varieties past the $1,000 mark. 2. 1997-98 Metal Universe Championship Michael Jordan #23 ($40-$100) […]

This past weekend, the Toronto Raptors locked up the #2 seed for the Eastern Conference Playoffs, intent on a NBA title repeat even without Kawhi Leonard. Guard Fred VanVleet continues his solid play for the defending champs, and his performance inside the bubble has drawn increased hobby interest. Here are three key VanVleet cards on the rise: 1. 2016-17 Panini National Treasures #207 Fred VanVleet AU /99 RC ($500-$1,000) Though not an RPA, VanVleet makes an appearance in the 16-17 National Treasures set nonetheless. The on-card autograph and serial-numbering to /99 combine to make this his top card, and the […]

A steady dose of Olympic exposure and an appearance by Slovenia in the Bronze Medal game has energized the Luka Doncic card market. More specifically, many of his popular, high population count graded RCs, falling in value for months, are back on the upswing, while the market for his second- and third-year issues remains solid. As 2020-21 basketball product continues to roll out, here are three recent Doncic releases of note: 1. 2020-21 Panini Impeccable #28 Luka Doncic ($50-$120) Released in mid-June, Impeccable is one of the first hobby-only, premium products of the year. The base cards are serial numbered […]

2020-21 Panini Prizm Draft Picks Basketball Target Mega Box break, breakdown and review.

Count the emergence of third-year guard Darius Garland among the reasons Cleveland has been one of the surprise teams from the first half of the NBA season. Garland, center Jarrett Allen, and rookie Evan Mobley have transformed a moribund Cavaliers franchise into a team attracting its fair share of hobby attention. Here are three Garland cards of particular collector interest: 1. 2020 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions Autographs ($75-$200) Like collectors discovered with Miles Bridges earlier this season, Garland also has an exclusive autograph deal with Upper Deck, making his signature cards few and far between. Seeing significant price increases, these […]

The recent release of 2021-22 Panini NBA Hoops saw the return of the popular SLAM inserts that debuted in the previous year’s set. Here’s a quick look at some of the most prized versions and how their values are shaping up in today’s market: 1. 2020-21 Hoops SLAM #19 Kobe Bryant ($25-$60) Among all the SLAM inserts, this Kobe issue continues as the top price getter, with recent strong sales in the $30-$40 range. 2. 2021-22 Hoops SLAM #19 LaMelo Ball ($15-$40) LaMelo slightly edges out LeBron James for top value among the new crop of SLAM inserts. Though most […]

Around the beginning of the NBA Playoffs, collectors were treated to a new 2021-22 basketball product featuring this season’s top rookies – in their college uniforms? Yes, 2021-22 Panini Prizm Draft Picks was a seemingly untimely release, yet anything with the word – ”Prizm” – will draw its share of…

Checking out some of the more interesting hobby items regarding new Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham: 1. Sports Illustrated Magazine (March 25, 1996) Before being named Lakers head coach, Ham was probably best known for his backboard-smashing follow-up dunk in the 1996 NCAA tournament. That play, and Texas Tech’s subsequent romp over North Carolina, landed Ham on the cover of Sports Illustrated. A BAS authenticated autographed version of the magazine was quickly scooped up for a $60 BIN the day reports surfaced of the Ham hiring. 2. 1996-97 Z-Force #148 Darvin Ham RC ($0.75-$2.00) Ham has only a […]