A Victor Wembanyama rookie card sold for $5.11 million in a private transaction through Fanatics Collect, setting a new record for any Wembanyama trading card and breaking into the top 10 most expensive sports cards in history. The 1-of-1 numbered 2023-24 Panini Prizm Black parallel card was confirmed as sold by Fanatics Collect to ESPN, and the price eclipses the previous Wembanyama record by over 500 percent.
This sale ranks as the fourth-highest in basketball card history and the 11th overall in all sports. It is also the most expensive known transaction for a non-autographed NBA card and the third sports card in 2026 to cross the $5 million threshold. The previous Wembanyama record was $860,100, set in February 2025 at a Goldin auction for a different 1-of-1 parallel from the same Prizm product.
Wembanyama’s card carries a perfect 10 grade from Professional Sports Authenticator. However, the card’s history has raised questions within the collecting community. In a 2024 video, then-owner Thomas Lindenthal thanked Kurt's Card Care for its role in the grading process. The company markets products that clean card surfaces and restore edges. PSA explicitly prohibits grading cards that show signs of cleaning or foreign substances.
Fanatics Collect holds the exclusive NBA trading card license, a position it assumed in October 2024. Panini had the license during Wembanyama’s rookie season. No licensed autographed rookie cards of Wembanyama exist due to his exclusive partnership with Fanatics.
The sale highlights the growing market for elite rookie cards and the intense demand for Wembanyama memorabilia. His status as one of the most hyped prospects in NBA history has driven collectors and investors to pay record sums for his early collectibles.
The next major event for Wembanyama is the start of the 2026-27 NBA season, where he will look to continue his rapid development with the San Antonio Spurs.
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