Grading has made a roaring comeback, reminiscent of the mass production days of the Junk Wax Era, and at the heart of this resurgence stands none other than basketball prodigy Victor Wembanyama. According to the 2024 data from PSA, Wembanyama has taken the grading world by storm, with six of his cards ranking in the top 10 most graded cards of the year. However, his true claim to fame lies with one card that has rewritten the record books. The 2023 Prizm Victor Wembanyama RC Base card has shattered all expectations:

With a staggering population count of over 24,400 PSA 10 graded copies, this card has clinched the title of being the highest PSA 10 population card of all time—a feat previously deemed unattainable in the modern hobby. And as the numbers continue to soar, it’s safe to assume that the count has only climbed higher.

Wembanyama’s success in the grading world marks the dawn of a new era in sports card grading. For those who experienced the frenzy surrounding Luka Dončić, the rapid ascent of Wembanyama’s Prizm rookie card may feel eerily familiar. In just under a year, Wembanyama has obliterated the 20,000 PSA 10 threshold previously set by Luka’s 2018 Prizm rookie card, making history in the process.

The Wembanyama Prizm rookie card now stands tall among an elite group of cards with 20,000+ PSA 10 populations, joining the ranks of iconic names like Luka Dončić, Zion Williamson, Ja Morant, Ronald Acuña Jr., and Juan Soto. Even Fernando Tatís Jr.’s 2019 Topps rookie card, teetering on the verge of 20,000 PSA 10s, is poised to join this exclusive club in due time.

In a strategic move to feed the frenzy surrounding Wembanyama’s grading saga, Panini teamed up with Monopoly to create a special Prizm card set featuring another Wembanyama rookie. This Monopoly edition has already witnessed over 10,000 PSA 10 grades, further solidifying Wembanyama’s dominance in his rookie year.

Combining the base 2023 Prizm rookie card with its Monopoly counterpart, the numbers are mind-boggling: over 40,788 total graded base Prizm rookies with a 60% gem rate resulting in 24,000+ PSA 10s, and 17,000 total graded Monopoly rookies with a 61% gem rate yielding over 10,000 PSA 10s. While these figures are impressive, they still fall short of the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card dominance of the late ’80s, with Griffey’s iconic 1989 Upper Deck rookie card leading the pack with 116,000+ graded copies.

For seasoned collectors, Wembanyama’s record-breaking numbers might evoke memories of the overproduction era of Junk Wax, characterized by a flood of mass-produced cards that saturated the market, compromising scarcity but boosting availability. Though Wembanyama’s cards may not be scarce per se, the push for high grades, particularly PSA 10s, bears semblance to the grading boom of the ’90s—albeit with a modern twist. With Panini’s robust production capacities and collectors’ growing reliance on grading companies, the market is experiencing unprecedented submission volumes and gem rates that were unattainable in the ’90s.

With over 40,000 graded cards within a year, Wembanyama is gearing up to challenge Griffey’s all-time numbers if Panini’s production can keep pace. As of now, his 2023 Prizm rookie card has cemented its status as a hobby legend, achieving in months what other cards took years to accomplish.

Wembanyama’s whirlwind expedition in the grading realm signifies both excitement and caution for collectors. On one hand, his cards mirror the surging popularity of basketball and the global allure of emerging stars. On the flip side, the sheer volume of graded cards raises concerns about long-term value, especially as the hobby tiptoes into what some dub the modern Junk Wax Era.

Collectors are reminded that while Wembanyama’s cards are unquestionably historic, the rarity and condition will continue to dictate long-term value. For now, the hobby revels in the aura of a rookie sensation who has etched an unforgettable mark on grading history.

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