Remember, I’m focusing on hobby winners here.

I know McCollum has been amazing, but a 34-year-old who’s never been an All-Star and won’t make the Finals isn’t really a big hobby winner.

Let’s jump in:

If you look at his stats, he’s been very up-and-down in the playoffs so far. His team isn’t going to advance.

But you know what? For a top rookie, it’s a big deal to get exposure in the playoffs. It’s an even bigger deal that he had a 30-10 game and hit 6 threes. That’s hobby catnip.

His career isn’t made or lost in a first-round series, but the narrative here is driving interest.

It’s not just that he returned so quickly from the Achilles tear….

It’s that he’s looking this good, on a team that seems like the clear favorite to make the Finals.

It’s been a steadier climb for him, but playing like this into the next few rounds will see him continue to rise.

Admittedly, I hadn’t seen much of him during the regular season. I love how he played in this series (and I’m not alone). He led a team that put up much more of a fight than people thought against a juggernaut defensive team.

We’ve seen a bit of a spike over the past few weeks, and I think even as they bow out, his floor is raised, and there will be hype going into next season.

I’ve been super high on him lately, and he’s doing enough to keep generating buzz. Like Edgecombe, no one really expects a rookie to be awesome in the playoffs. But his 27-point, 10-rebound game, where he went off for about 10 minutes, is all collectors need to see.

And unlike Edgecombe, he’s going to keep advancing in the playoffs. I’ve already flipped several cards of his, and I’m still buying more. I love him both short and long term.

Yes, yes, he’s amazing. We all know it. He knows it. The Blazers know it.

And his pricing is sky-high. Interestingly, most of his lower end cards (which are still expensive) have dropped or stayed roughly the same. There’s a bit of an opportunity to buy now before he drops massive stat lines on a team like the Thunder in a couple of rounds.

If he keeps playing like this, and especially if they get to the Finals, his pricing will get downright silly.

I know it’s only one sale, but it’s kinda funny on the chart:

Unfortunately, that kind of sums up this series for the Pistons. Long-term stud though - will be buying the dip.

No, he’s not ready to throw on his superstar cape. He’s obviously a good player, but I think he’s been overhyped as a top-tier player. Maybe he gets there, but he’s not that close ATM.

We’ve seen this year that he can’t really run a team yet. He’s more of an athletic marvel at this point than a refined basketball player. With few good defenders on the Lakers, this would’ve been a great “throw the team on your back” type series.

If you follow basketball, you don’t need me to tell you that he’s an enigma. He’s a great “good stats, bad team” guy… but who happens to be on a good team.

He’s INSANELY talented and puts up good stats, yet everyone seems to feel like he just doesn’t quite have it. Been feeling that more in this series, for some reason, despite the team’s success.

If you want to see:

I break all of that down in this Saturday’s paid newsletter:

+ Nothing of note this week!

*Release dates can (and often do) change as products get delayed 🙄. It’s possible some notable sets are being released this week that I covered in previous editions.

**Pricing taken from active eBay listings. Items ordered from links will result in a small affiliate commission at no cost to you.

News From Around the Hobby

+ Topps Signature Class - Full review of one of the next releases for Topps baskeball. I don’t love the look of the product, but a signature-heavy focus makes for a run fip. Pre-ordered boxes are selling for $150 higher on eBay. (also, here’s a breakdown for Topps Signature football)

+ Take a Bow, Man - “Early performance data from Triple-A and the Big Leagues has sent 2026 Bowman Baseball surging prospects into a valuation frenzy. “

+ What Card Buyers Look For - “Hobby Education: What Smart Buyers Look for Before Buying Cards.” My favorite on the list are cameos - like a Kobe card but LeBron’s on it, too.

While there are more options than ever for selling your cards now, there’s still one monster who remains supreme: eBay!

So unless you’re a big influencer who can sell cards at ease to their FB or IG audiences, you’re likely going to do the bulk of your selling there… [Keep Reading]