The most hyped rookie in the NBA since Lebron James. Zion Williamson was pegged as a franchise superstar as soon as he began his collegiate career with the Duke Blue Devils.
Although injuries have slowed his career to date. He has shown plenty of signs of being a franchise superstar when healthy.
Williamson’s rookie cards are still highly valuable. Though they have taken somewhat of a hit due to him missing the 2021-2022 season with a right foot injury.
As a result, these cards are a great investment option for collectors. They will most likely see a major increase in value if Williamson can come back with a vengeance during the 2022-2023 NBA season.
Below are the 7 top Zion Williamson rookie cards that collectors should add to their wish list.
7. 2019-2020 Panini Crown Royale Kaboom! #18
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $7,000
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $2,800
First on our list is the Panini Crown Royale Kaboom series. Probably the most creative that Panini has ever designed. The card expertly employs a cartoonish, comic-book design style throughout the entire product.
Both the front and back of the card picture Zion Williamson in a cartoon caricature format. A nice deviation from many of the traditional in-game photos that categorize most sports cards.
Both pictures of Williamson on the front and back of the card are the same. Showing him dunking the basketball with a ferocious one-hand slam.
The background of the card’s front is comprised of a shiny, silvery background with star-shaped outlines.
The word Kaboom is written on the front and back of the card in a bolded, thick-style font.
6. 2019-2020 Panini Select Courtside Gold Disco Prizm #297
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $8,000
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $3,000
Although not as widely recognized as the more popular Panini Prizm series. The Panini Select series produces a stellar product in its own right.
The Panini Select Courtside Gold Disco Prism is no exception. With a shiny-jeweled gold and bluish background covering the card’s front. Along with an in-game action shot of Williamson dribbling the basketball.
The back of the give a brief player bio of Williamson. Noting his widespread fame in high school and collegiate success.
One of just 10 cards in the Gold Disco Prizm parallel, this card is both rare and valuable. It could definitely be a great, if not underrated addition to any collection.
5. 2019-2020 Panini Prizm Blue Prizm, Card #248
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $16,500
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $3,500
As with any modern list of top sports cards. Panini Prizm is destined to make at least a couple of appearances.
While gold prizm cards often get the lion’s share of attention from collectors. The 2 blue variant parallels in the 2019-2020 Panini Prizm set. The blue shimmer prizm and the blue ice prizm, are currently the most desirable.
The 2019-2020 #248 Blue Prizm parallel is a work of art. Featuring a gorgeous deep blue border on the card’s front. With a picture of Williamson going up for a two-handed dunk attempt.
The back of the card contains a brief player bio and Williamson’s stats from his first and only year at Duke.
4. 2019-2020 Panini Prizm Blue Ice #248
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $30,000
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $7,500
The 2nd Panini Prizm card on our list. The 2019-2020 Panini Prizm Blue Ice is a snazzier, rarer, and more valuable blue variant parallel card.
It employs a border comprised of various shades of blue. With the border near the card’s center point containing bright, metallic crystal colors.
The rest of the card is identical to the other blue parallel version. Containing the same picture of Williamson and player bio/statistical information.
3. 2019-2020 Panini Immaculate RPA #136
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $50,000
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $20,000
While there are several different rookie patch autograph (RPA) cards featuring Zion Williamson available. Albeit, in limited quantities. The 2019-2020 Panini Immaculate RPA #136 is probably the best option for collectors.
More valuable than many other traditional RPAs of other top athletes. The #136 card pictures Williamson shooting the ball on the left side of the card’s front. With a jersey patch on the right side, and his signature near the bottom of the card.
While a large portion of RPAs and other relic cards list no player information on the back. This card lists a brief tidbit on Williamson. Noting a stellar performance against the Portland Trail Blazers that season.
2. 2019-2020 Panini Contenders Rookie Ticket Cracked Ice Auto #108
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $65,000
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $20,000
The 2019-2020 Panini Contenders Cracked Ice Autograph card is a thing of beauty. It is probably the best overall Zion Williamson card that a collector can get their hands on.
Much of the card’s front mimics a sports ticket. With the ticket replica itself contained on the left side, with the words “Section 285 Row 67 Seat 1” listed at the top of the card.
The right side of the card’s front contains a picture of Williamson palming the basketball with his arm stretched out behind him, with his signature centered at the bottom.
The background of the card is a white, silvery hue, and contains several ice shapes. The back of the card features some player bio information and lists Williamson’s height, weight, and year of birth.
1. 2019-2020 Panini Select Courtside Black Disco Prizm #297
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $100,000
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $35,000
With only 1 card in existence. The 2019-2020 Panini Select Courtside Black Disco Prizm card is the most valuable Zion Williamson card. It is most likely out of reach to most collectors budgets.
While the 2019-2020 Panini Prizm Black gets more attention as the supposed most valuable Williamson card with a price tag of nearly $100,000 in PSA 10 condition. It has never actually reached the marketplace to date.
The Black Disco Prizm version, on the other hand, has already been sold. Commanding a staggering $111,211 price tag on December 24, 2020.
Because accessing a single-issue card is such a difficult proposition. High-end collectors should probably have at least a few of these types of cards on their wishlist list to increase the likelihood of them being able to access one.
This card contains the same basic player information and design as the gold disco prizm version of this card mentioned earlier at #6. The main exception is the color of the card’s front design, which is much darker.
Bonus Memorabilia Items
Zion Williamson has plenty of great sports memorabilia available for sale other than sports cards. Much of it listed on sportsmemorabilia.com.
Several autographed framed Pelicans jerseys are available, ranging in price from $899.99 to $1,049.99 depending on the product specifications.
An autographed, framed newspaper front of the day after Williamson made his rookie debut can be purchased for $1,149.00.
Several autographed basketballs can be purchased. With one of the best options being a Duke Blue Devils basketball signed by both Zion Williamson and R.J. Barrett, retailing for $1,226.99.
A better option for high-end collectors is an autographed game-used basketball selling for $8,899.99. Unlike many other game-used memorabilia items, which give very little indication about where it was used. This basketball is specifically inscribed in ink with the game the ball was used in, as well as Williamson’s stat line from the game.
When I was just starting out with my card collection, I had lots of questions about authenticity, trading, and card conditions. But with not that much information available online, I felt quite alone in my queries. Some questions still haven’t been answered to this day.
This site aims to rectify this, and now, I am passing on my knowledge!
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