Ultimate Luka Doncic Rookie Card Price Guide and Values
Luka Doncic hasn't quite put all his tools together yet, but he has already emerged as one of the best players in the NBA. NBC Sports has him ranked #7 in the league, while Sports Illustrated places the Slovenian even higher at #6. But the values of his cards are even higher than that ranking would suggest. Why? Because his upside is so high, Luka is expected to rank at #1 within a couple of years.
Doncic isn't much of an athlete, though he is big and strong at 6" 7 and 230 pounds. What really sets him apart is an impeccable basketball IQ. It appears the Mavs star is always in the right place, at the right time, elbowing everyone else out of the way. And that is why at age 23, Luka is already averaging over 28 points and 10 rebounds per game.
So, when a player shows the potential to be the best player in the league, collectors stand up and notice. As a result, Luka Doncic cards are more valuable than those of any recent rookie. And if you look at sealed wax products from 2018-19, his rookie year, they come at a severe premium. Often these boxes cost twice as much as in other years. It is all due to the tremendous power Luka has in the hobby. And because of his top-notch tools, the card companies knew his cards would be ridiculously popular, and they printed a staggering variety of Doncic rookie cards.
But worry not. We are here to separate the wheat from the chaff. Here are the most important Luka Doncic rookie cards and their current market values.
2018 Panini National Treasures 1/1 Logoman Autograph
The card is a BGS 9 and has a $4,600,000 value.
This card is the most expensive Luka card and currently the third most valuable basketball card ever. The Logoman cards have emerged as the most prestigious basketball cards of all. They feature the logo from a game-worn uniform and also feature an auto. And when you pair this prestigious card with a rookie card for a player with Luka's unfathomable potential, you get a multi-million dollar card. An action photo also distinguishes the 2018 Panini National Treasures 1/1 Logoman Autograph by showing the Slovenian in point guard mode, organizing a play.
2018-19 Panini Flawless Luka Doncic Rookie Card #81 /20
A PSA 10 has a $30,000 value
The 2018-19 Panini Flawless Luka Doncic Rookie Card #81 /20 has an incredible value for a non-auto card. There are four reasons for that. First, the prestige of the Flawless brand has been on a sharp upswing for years now. Second, there are only twenty copies of this card on earth. Third, this card is gorgeous. They combined the full-body visage of the player seamlessly with the background, so it looks like Luka is emerging from the cardboard. Finally, the card has a small diamond embedded at the bottom. And as we know, diamonds are a girl's best friend. So this card will make you irresistible.
Luka Doncic 2018 Crown Royale Kaboom! #23
A PSA 10 has a $25,200 value.
Kaboom! is the no. 1 insert in the business, and Panini was far-sighted enough to give Luka one in his rookie year. And they also didn't give him another, guaranteeing this baby a special status. We won't be seeing Kaboom! cards in licensed NBA cards for very much longer. So, when all is said and done, this Luka may be the top-rated and most valuable in the entire set because it will be a rookie for (more than likely) the greatest player of his generation. And while the illustration makes it look like Luka is in severe mental distress, that will not stop people from throwing heaps of money at anyone lucky enough to own a Luka Doncic 2018 Crown Royale Kaboom! #23.
2018-19 Panini Cornerstones Downtown Luka Doncic #11
A PSA 10 has a $15,250 value
The Downtown cards are among the two most beloved Panini inserts, eclipsed only by their Kaboom! And this is the only Luka Downtown from his rookie season. Now, the truth is that the One and One Downtown from 2021-22 is nicer. But it isn't a rookie, so it has a lower value and doesn't belong on this list. Nevertheless, the Downtown designs are so evocative that it's a safe bet the 2018-19 Panini Cornerstones Downtown Luka Doncic #11 will maintain value well after Panini loses its NBA rights.
2016-17 Upper Deck Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Autograph Luka Doncic #23
A PSA 9 has a $10,000 value.
Americans are so darn self-absorbed that they call Luka's 2018 issues rookie cards. Yes, I know I just did that, but I live in California, so I ain't immune. But Doncic was a pro well before that. He played for Real Madrid, the most prestigious team on the continent, starting in 2014-15. And there is an excellent selection of his cards from his European era. The 2016-17 Upper Deck Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Autograph Luka Doncic #23 is easily the most impressive since it features one of his earliest autos and an American-style design (it is Upper Deck, after all), which appeals to collectors. Since these Euro cards are printed in smaller volumes, this auto may outperform many of the U.S. ones in the long run. Take that American imperialism!
2018-19 Panini Contenders Luka Doncic RC Autograph #122
A raw version has a $4,650 value.
Not everyone loves it, but the Contenders Rookie Ticket has carved out a niche as one of the most beloved rookie cards in the biz. And if you like that style, they don't come any bigger than the 2018-19 Panini Contenders Luka Doncic RC Autograph #122. The card is also the first Luka auto to feature him in a professional uniform, beating out the competition. And unlike many of those other autographs, this one is an on-card beauty. Featuring Luka about to make a free throw (I think), it is one of the better designs of this beloved series. We guarantee this will always be one of his top rookie cards.
2018-19 Immaculate Collection Luka Doncic RC Auto Patch #124 /99
A raw version has a $3,851 value.
We can't all afford a Logoman. It is what it is. So, if you want a more affordable Luka RPA, you will want to consider the 2018-19 Immaculate Collection Luka Doncic RC Auto Patch #124 /99. And aside from the patch, which is usually a less eye-catching piece of fabric, the card is no less attractive than the highly vaunted Logoman. A rookie card should feature the player in question looking impossibly young, and this one shows Doncic looking like a clueless teenager. Well, a teenager making over $200,000 a year in salary alone.
2018-19 Panini Court Kings Luka Doncic RC #117, #145, #177, #201
The Highest PSA 10 sale of one of these was $3,100
Court Kings is a series with roots in the junk wax era of cards. At that time, Donruss (still a separate company back then) pioneered the series to showcase hand-painted images of the most sought-after athletes. The paintings were lots of fun, although the quality was often crummy. But the newer Court Kings have much better artwork. And, of course, the value has skyrocketed accordingly. Knowing that Luka was the guy to watch, Court Kings issued no less than four 2018-19 Panini Court Kings Luka Doncic RCs, numbered #117, #145, #177, and #201, respectively. They come with completely different artwork and population levels, so shop carefully.
2018-19 Panini Prizm Luka Doncic Rookie Card #280
A PSA 10 base card has a $405 value
A PSA 10 of an auto version has a $2,500 value
The Panini Prizm has recently become the go-to rookie card for basketball (and football). So no list of Luka cards would be complete without it. While the base for a Prizm holds better value than any other mid-level product, it is still worth springing for a lower population variant or an auto. And there is a massive collection of parallels to choose from. Any of them is a wise investment because when basketball collectors think of a Luka rookie card, chances are they are picturing the 2018-19 Panini Prizm Luka Doncic Rookie Card #280 featuring the Slovenian stretching for a quality fadeaway shot.
2018-19 Donruss Luka Doncic Rookie Card #177
A PSA 10 base card has a $330 value.
A PSA 10 of the Fast Break Holo has a $1,176 value
This is one of the most iconic and popular Luka cards. Generally, the Donruss "Rated Rookie" series has that timeless quality that collectors love. The picture on this card lovingly showcases the tattoo on the Mavs guard's left arm. In case you were wondering, it features an Eagle and an all-seeing eye tattoo. But don't get the base card version. That is for chumps. As base cards lose their value, parallels are where it's at. And the 2018-19 Donruss Luka Doncic Rookie Card #177 has a ton of them.
2018-19 Panini Select Courtside Luka Doncic Rookie Card #229
A PSA 10 has an $884 value.
Panini Select has several tiers of rarity and value. Courtside being the highest one. Of course, as in any Panini product, there are different parallels within this level as well. But the Premier Level also has some good offerings, particularly the die-cut versions. Still, the Courtside has more value, and the picture is also the best. The 2018-19 Panini Select Courtside Luka Doncic Rookie Card #229 highlights Luka's jump shot, capturing the crowd on its feet, awaiting the inevitable basket.
2018-19 Panini Opulence Luka Doncic Rookie Card #88
A PSA 8 has an $810 value.
When it comes to non-auto Luka cards, this is one of the best. The design is excellent and all that. But what really makes this card stand out is the population count. There are only 39 of these puppies out in the wild. But the weird part is that few of them have been graded. I didn't cite the value of a PSA 8 out of whimsy. Only 6 have been graded, and none of them landed more than a PSA 8. So, if you can get your hands on the missing ones and score a PSA 10, you will have a monster card on your hands. There are also rarer Ruby and Holo Gold varieties of the 2018-19 Panini Opulence Luka Doncic Rookie Card #88 to keep an eye out for.
2018-19 Panini Prizm Mosaic Luka Doncic Rookie Card #68
A PSA 10 has a $296 value.
The Mosaic cards arguably have the most creative design of any Luka rookie card. When Panini gets the design right, those patterned backgrounds can really pop. And this one really has that wow factor we look for in Mosaic. But as good as the base card looks, my personal favorite is the Silver parallel, which combines the precious metal coloring with a stunning blue finish. The action picture is a particularly evocative one, displaying the star saving a ball from going out of bounds. The image on the 2018-19 Panini Prizm Mosaic Luka Doncic Rookie Card #68 reminds us that Luka is no prima donna and fights for every dang ball.
Final Word of the Ultimate Luka Doncic Rookie Card Price Guide and Values
Luka Doncic rookie cards are worth money. A lot of money. But there are good reasons for that. First, the values are high because his ceiling is even higher. In his prime, Doncic likely averages a triple-double and wins several titles and MVPs. And adding to the excitement, Luka has come along in an era where base cards are not worth much. Therefore, you must invest in auto or low-numbered parallels to get somewhere. With a rookie as well-respected as Luka Doncic, cards like that come at a premium. But remember, they aren't making more numbered Doncic cards, so chasing the scarce cards will be rewarded.
