In a hotly-debated draft about who should go #1 overall, it seems like the Magic landed on the right choice. A budding star with the ability to score from anywhere, it seems that he’ll be a force in the hobby for awhile.
But which of his cards should you be going after?
Some of these will be great for a PC (personal collection) while others are good long-term investments.
We’re not going to list a bunch of base cards here…except for one notable exception. The all-powerful Prizm Rookie. Let’s dive in.
9 Best Paolo Banchero Rookie Cards
I developed these rankings from a mix of desirability, value, and eye appeal. I mostly grabbed PSA 10 values, but not all had sold comps yet.
1. 2022-23 Panini Prizm Silver #249
PSA 10 Value: $275
Silver prizms are probably the closest thing there is to a flagship rookie in the hobby. When people are ripping Prizm, that’s the card most people are looking for (that’s also not crazy hard to obtain).
In fact, silvers are so popular that they commonly outsell other color parallels that are rarer (except the numbered ones, of course).
While a PSA 10 is starting to get pricey, it’s still got room to grow. Zion, who never plays, still has silvers selling for over $700.
2. 2022-23 Panini Flawless Collegiate /25
Raw Value: $300
I’m putting the college Flawless RPA in here because it’s not insanely priced like his pro uni one is!
However, it’s not all bad. With a numbered, on-card auto and a sweet patch, even this college card can carry some value. We know Duke has a big following as well.
This is a better PC card than a long-term investment, as the pro uniform cards will likely make this one fall in value. But if you want the best RPA out there and you want it now, this is probably it.
3. 2022-23 Panini Prizm #249
PSA 10 Value: $50
Is this a little boring? Sure. Is base dying? Absolutely.
But, if you’re wanting to get in on Paolo Banchero, you can do worse than his Prizm base, if you’re grabbing a PSA 10.
Again, Zion’s are sitting around $70, and Paolo by the end of next year could be seen as a more reliable star than him.
If you can afford something better, you can find more sure investments, but it’s still a good-enough card to have.
4. 2022-23 Prizm Rookie Signatures #RSI-PBN
PSA 10 Value: $285
It’s unfortunate to slap a sticker auto on a prizm rookie card, but most of Paolo’s are stickers. Here, you get the Prizm name, with a signature from a #1 draft pick. It’s hard to get a whole lot better than this PSA 10 rookie auto without dropping $500+.
5. 2022-23 Panini Select Light Blue Prizm /299 #72
PSA 10: $90
Honestly, I was a bit surprised when I saw the $90 price tag here. I’d much rather have this one than the Prizm base for just $40 more, but some collectors will never choose Select over Prizm.
But, to get a color match (blue card with blue uni…even if it’s not exactly the same shade), numbered, and from one of the better brands, is hard to beat.
6. 2022-23 Optic Premium Box Set /249 #221
PSA 10: $125
If you take out the super premium brands (National Treasures, Flawless, etc.), then Optic is generally considered second to only Prizm.
Again, we get a numbered card of a high quality brand, but it’s also just a really snazzy looking card! You can’t go wrong here for either a PC or as an investment.
7. 2022-2023 Panini Optic Holo #221
PSA 10 Value: $275
While it’s obviously not in the same class as the revered silver prizm, going with the Optic Holo (basically their version of a silver) isn’t a bad choice! These cards have a beautiful shine to them, are always going to be popular, and don’t carry quite the hefty price tag of the silver prizms.
8. Panini NBA Hoops Rookie Ink #RI-PBC
PSA 10 Value: $415
If you’re wanting to get in on a Paolo auto, Hoops is a good lower-end option. You get the nice color-blast background, with a great action shot of him (presumably) dunking, and only have to fork out barely 50% of the Prizm auto price listed above.
Sure, it’s a sticker, which is a bummer. If you’ve got the cash, you can wait to buy his pro uni stuff out of Flawless or National Treasures.
9. Panini Prizm Red /299 #249
PSA 10 Value: $295
This one is here as a personal favorite. I’ve always loved red cards, and you get the added bonus of it being numbered out of /299. If you want something even rarer and more sought after than the silver, go ahead and grab any of the numbered color parallels. You’ll also have a card always in high demand.
