Victor Wembanyama Rookie Card Sells for Record at Auction After Season-Ending Injury

Following his season-ending injury, a Victor Wembanyama rookie card sold for $860,100, setting a new record for the highest public sale of a Wembanyama card.  

The 2023 Panini Prizm Nebula Choice 1/1 card, auctioned by Goldin, surpassed his previous record— a 2023 Prizm Black Shimmer 1/1 rookie card that sold for $516,000 last April, per The Athletic’s Brooks Peck.  

For reference, the most expensive NBA card ever sold was Stephen Curry’s 2009-10 Panini National Treasures Rookie Logoman Autograph 1/1, which sold for $5.9 million.

Despite his injury, which will sideline him for the remainder of his sophomore season, bidders appear confident in the 21-year-old’s future.  

The Spurs announced Thursday that Wembanyama had been ruled out for the season due to a medical condition.  

"Victor Wembanyama has a form of a blood clot in the right shoulder," ESPN's Shams Charania reported. "He is out for the season. The Spurs believe this is an isolated condition."  

Prior to his injury, Wembanyama was the frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year after a dominant season. In just 46 games, he totaled 176 blocks—74 more than any other NBA player—along with 52 steals.  

However, he will fall 19 games short of the minimum eligibility for postseason awards.  

With Wembanyama out of contention, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is now the betting favorite at -475 odds to win the award, with Nikola Jokić second at +330.  

Wembanyama will finish his season averaging 24.3 points, 11 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 3.8 blocks, and 1.1 steals per game.