Luka Promised LA a Title Run as His Prizm Rookie Stayed Flat All Year

Dončić took out a full page in Wednesday's Los Angeles Times to tell Lakers fans, "Tonight we start our run for a championship."¹ The Lakers host the Golden State Warriors at 7 p.m. PT in their first opener since LeBron James left for Philadelphia.¹

When Dončić scored 43 points against the same Warriors in last season's opener², PSA 10s of his 2018 Prizm rookie, card #280, were selling around $209. This month they've sold around $204. In between, PSA 10s never strayed far, selling around $189 in their cheapest month and $217 in their most expensive.

The card shrugged off James's move to the 76ers in July, with PSA 10s selling around $198 in June and $203 in July.

There are more PSA 10s of this card than PSA 9s. As of Oct. 19, it has a gem rate of 52% at PSA, with 20,868 PSA 10s out of 39,971 graded. A PSA 9 sold for $85 on Wednesday, against $200 for a PSA 10.

On our list of the best basketball cards to buy right now, I said I'd pay up to $210 before the Lakers opened. I'd still buy a PSA 10 at $200. A card that held its price through a full season without a title run has room to climb if Dončić delivers during this upcoming season and gives Lakers Nation a reason to snag up his rookie card.