A highly sought-after sports card was sold Thursday, as the unique Cooper Flagg 2026 Topps Chrome Updates NBA Debut Patch autographed card commanded a staggering $8.04 million at a Fanatics Collect auction. Other notable sales included cards of Dylan Harper and Kon Knueppel, which fetched $2.88 million and $2.34 million, respectively.
Fanatics Collect reports the price for Flagg’s card ranks as the third highest ever for an NBA card and the sixth most expensive trading card in history. Topps themselves confirmed it as the priciest single-player NBA card ever sold. Earlier this year, in February, Flagg’s game-worn jersey from his NBA debut sold for $1 million, exceeding the previous record held by Victor Wembanyama’s debut jersey, which went for $762,000 in November 2023.
Before this card was even released, the Dallas Mavericks sweetened the deal by offering a bounty that included two premium lower-level season tickets for 32 years—aligning with Flagg’s jersey number—along with an autographed, game-worn rookie jersey of Flagg and several other exclusive experiences.
Flagg, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, is coming off a standout rookie season where he averaged 21 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists over 70 games, earning Rookie of the Year honors.
Fan Take: This milestone highlights the growing intersection of sports memorabilia and investment, shining a spotlight on emerging stars like Cooper Flagg. For basketball enthusiasts, these record-breaking sales aren’t just about collectibles—they reflect the sport’s expanding cultural and economic influence worldwide.
Source: www.cbssports.com
