LaMelo Ball Rookie Card Picks, Hottest eBay Auctions
In an amazing feat of a one in a million type of scenario, all three of Lavar and Tina Ball’s sons are playing basketball professionally with two of the three in the NBA and the oldest, LiAngelo, seemingly set to find a home in the league very soon.
The eldest the aforementioned LiAngelo has seen his share of off-court issues leading to someone certainty about his long-term potential.
The middle son, Lonzo, starred at UCLA and came into the league with the Los Angeles Lakers with high expectations. Those expectations were met with a dose of reality when playing at the highest level. To his credit, Lonzo has improved his game and become a solid NBA player with a bright future.
The theory goes that the youngest child in the family of athletes should be the best as they have seen their older siblings go through the process and hopefully learned from their experiences along the way.
LaMelo, the baby Ball brother, appears to be the best of the of bunch.
Ball Background
LaMelo Ball, the NBA’s 2020-21 Rookie of the Year.
Melo, the family prodigy, started his high school career at Chino Hills High playing with his two older brothers who secured a state championship his freshman year.
Prior to his junior season, he left Chino Hills and signed with a Lithuanian team and played professionally for Prienai.
Melo made a run in the JBA, a league his father created in 2018.
As a high school senior, he returned and played for SPIRE Academy in Geneva, Ohio.
The Blue Chip recruit decided to skip college and play in Australia in the NBL for the Illawarra Hawks in 2019. He shined in the league, holding his own with grown men and capturing NBL Rookie of the Year award.
Ball was selected 3rd overall on the 2020 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets.
It was apparent very early on that he was a wildly talented playmaker whose game only improved throughout the regular season. He started the season coming off the bench and as he saw the court more and more his numbers grew exponentially. In early January he became the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple double. He finished the season averaging nearly 16 points, six assists and six rebounds per game, securing NBA Rookie of the Year honors. In short, he was as good or better than advertised and when Lavar Ball is the one advertising you, that is really saying something.
After a minor setback from a late season fractured right wrist injury, LaMelo is on the mend and one can only imagine that he will be back for a monster sophomore season in the league.
Below are three tiers of LaMelo Ball rookie cards from options for big ballers to those that play small ball …and a little in between.
Rookie of the Year Tier
1. 2020-21 Panini Impeccable #138 LaMelo Ball JSY AU RC– This is a redemption card at the moment but if the real ones are as nice as the mockup, owners should be happy. It offers a beautiful image of Ball accompanied with a very nice, generally multicolored jersey swatch and Ball’s signature. Hailing in one of the upper tier products this one will not come cheap if you can even get your hands on one. They’ve have been generating some buzz on eBay.
2. 2020-21 Panini Contenders #125 LaMelo Ball AU RC– The Contenders line has bled over from football releases in the early 2000s to become a name now synonymous with basketball. This is a very nice, albeit pretty standard, rookie ticket autographed card of this year’s Rookie of the Year award winner. This will be one that should be towards the top of hot lists and want lists around the country and world for that matter. It, too, is an autograph redemption as of now.
3. 2020-21 Panini Noir #145 LaMelo Ball A RC-Hailing from a product that is well over $1,500 per box and with a serial number to just 99, this card has to land on the uppermost tier of this list. The image and card itself is nothing super spectacular but with the formula and factors mentioned above it will be a notable card from this rookie season.
Big Baller Brand Tier
1. 2020-21 Panini Prizm #278 LaMelo Ball RC-Prizm has become the standard rookie card by which all other rookie cards are measured. That’s not to say it’s the most expensive or the most rare or the most of, well, anything. It just has become a benchmark, a flagship and iconic brand by which all others are measured north and south. The LaMelo Ball Prizm rookie is no different, as it will be one of his most traded rookie cards regardless of what has come before it will come after it and the remainder of this product release season.
2. 2020-21 Clearly Donruss #87 LaMelo Ball Rated Rookie – Due out July 25, Clearly Donruss is a slick acetate type of card that nearly mirrors the design of the standard Donruss. It’s a step up to be sure and a really cool take on the classic Donruss line. No Donruss rookie card would be complete without the iconic Rated Rookie logo which can be found here. This should be a very aesthetically pleasing card at what’s generally a fairly modest price.
3. 2020-21 Crown Royale #79 LaMelo Ball RC-as seen with every Crown Royale product in the products history, you will find the die cut crown accompanied with a pretty standard shot in this case of Ball in his Charlotte Hornets uniform. It’s a solid and unique choice from a lower mid to upper lower tier product line and you can own it without going broke.
Chino Hills Tier
1. 2020-21 Hoops #223 LaMelo Ball RC– the flagship Hoops product makes an appearance at the bottom tier of the list. The picture is of a somewhat awkward image of Lonzo handling the ball. It was one of the earliest releases and one of the first in his Hornets uniform. Sales were strong and it was on the hot list out of the gate but as other products at the market this fell to the back burner a bit. It’s still classic. Its still timeless and best of all, it’s still affordable.
2. 2020-21 Donruss #202 LaMelo Ball RR RC-the youngest Ball brother gets the classic Donruss rated rookie treatment on this card. It’s a nice, clean image from a photo shoot coupled with a nice, clean card design. When this card first came out it booked it nearly $200 but as has everything else in the market, it has softened a bit in recent months. You can snag it for a fraction of that price now.
3. 2020-21 Panini Certified #198 LaMelo Ball RC-Certified is not so much elite as it is a mid to lower end product, especially for base rookie cards. This card came out of the gates on fire with a three digit starting price but as other issues hit the market it dropped a few tiers. This is a nice, relatively inexpensive card to add to your growing LaMelo Ball rookie collection. If you are unsure of the playmakers future but want to own a card or two look to one of this caliber.
2020-21 Panini Green Yellow Blue Choice Prizm #278 LaMelo Ball Hornets RC Rookie
45 bids – Price: $390.00 – Watchers: 91
Item #363463010935
2020-21 Revolution Anthony Edwards Rookie Auto Basketball Card #RA-AE RC SP
39 bids – Price: $72.00 – Watchers: 85
Item #154523724735
2020-21 Panini Prizm Tmall Lamelo Ball Gold Wave RC #278 SSP🔥🔥🔥
60 bids – Price: $4,544.00 – Watchers: 79
Item #255050484070
2020-21 Prizm Lamelo Ball Purple Wave Prizm Rookie Card RC #278 Hornets Q42
37 bids – Price: $113.50 – Watchers: 78
Item #373648091481
2020 Panini Revolution Cubic LaMelo Ball ROOKIE RC /50 #140 PSA 10 GEM MINT
30 bids – Price: $350.39 – Watchers: 77
Item #353572232488
2020-21 Panini Crown Royale KABOOM! #23 LaMelo Ball RC Rookie PSA 10 HOT CARD
31 bids – Price: $6,000.00 – Watchers: 76
Item #363466259811
2020-21 Prizm LaMelo Ball White Sparkle Prizm SP Rookie Card RC #/20 Q309
32 bids – Price: $2,550.00 – Watchers: 72
Item #124811361627
2020 National Treasures Collegiate LaMelo Ball ROOKIE RC PATCH AUTO /10 PSA 8
23 bids – Price: $460.00 – Watchers: 67
Item #353572230292
2020 Panini Prizm Draft Hyper Prizms LaMelo Ball ROOKIE RC AUTO PSA 10 GEM MINT
36 bids – Price: $870.00 – Watchers: 66
Item #353572231541
CR 2020-21 Panini Prizm Orange Wave Rookie RC Prizms LaMelo Ball 28/60 PSA 10
48 bids – Price: $2,125.00 – Watchers: 64
Item #353569770762
2020-21 Crown Royale KABOOM! #1 Luka Doncic Super Short Print!
22 bids – Price: $1,025.00 – Watchers: 64
Item #402993424044
2020-21 Panini Blue Shimmer Prizm #278 LaMelo Ball RC Rookie 14/35 PSA 9
16 bids – Price: $463.00 – Watchers: 63
Item #384279762461
2020-21 Donruss Choice Blue Tyrese Maxey Rookie Card Auto 10 Psa 9! #27/49 POP 1
26 bids – Price: $89.00 – Watchers: 62
Item #154529504611
LaMelo Ball 2020-21 Panini Prizm FAST BREAK Rookie VARIATION Disco RC ROY 💎
30 bids – Price: $223.00 – Watchers: 62
Item #234088446296
2020-21 Prizm Lamelo Ball Green Prizm Rookie Card RC #278 Hornets Q215
19 bids – Price: $76.00 – Watchers: 61
Item #124811287990
2020-21 Panini Blue Prizm #278 LaMelo Ball Hornets RC Rookie 63/199 BGS 9.5
20 bids – Price: $4,490.00 – Watchers: 58
Item #373643908423
2020-21 Lamelo Ball Noir Spotlight Signatures Horizontal #20 Rookie Auto RC /99
22 bids – Price: $1,725.00 – Watchers: 57
Item #353567836633
2020-21 Prizm Lamelo Ball Silver Prizm Rookie Card RC #278 Hornets Q167
25 bids – Price: $260.00 – Watchers: 57
Item #373648079353
2020-21 Impeccable Lamelo Ball Rookie Auto Autograph RC #/99 Hornets Q34
10 bids – Price: $355.00 – Watchers: 55
Item #373648097028
🔥🔥 LaMELO BALL SILVER HOLO / Rookie Card RC #278 HORNETS 2020-21 Panini Prizm
22 bids – Price: $335.00 – Watchers: 54
Item #133815869976
LAMELO BALL 2020-21 Noir COLOR Rookie Patch Auto RPA / 99 Charlotte Hornets
32 bids – Price: $1,236.00 – Watchers: 53
Item #284370513368
2020 Panini Prizm Draft Red Ice LaMelo Ball ROOKIE RC AUTO #PALB PSA 10 GEM MINT
29 bids – Price: $780.00 – Watchers: 53
Item #402988998343
2020-21 Panini Blue Prizm #278 LaMelo Ball Hornets RC Rookie /199 SGC 9.5 MINT+
60 bids – Price: $2,550.00 – Watchers: 50
Item #373644085087
2020-21 Panini Prizm LaMelo Ball Red White & Blue Prizm PSA 10 Gem Mint Pop. 1
11 bids – Price: $224.72 – Watchers: 50
Item #255056524396
2020-21 Panini Court Kings LaMelo Ball Charlotte Hornets RC Rookie
34 bids – Price: $102.50 – Watchers: 48
Item #384271857190
2020-21 Panini Impeccable LaMelo Ball RC Rookie 14K 1/2 Ounce Gold Bar 7/10
33 bids – Price: $762.00 – Watchers: 48
Item #363469787647
2020-21 Prizm Draft LaMelo Ball Fast Break Disco Prizm Auto RC Rookie PSA 9 Q50
26 bids – Price: $438.00 – Watchers: 46
Item #373648088373
2020-21 Panini Noir LaMelo Ball RC Rookie Patch Auto Black & White RPA #/99 #301
16 bids – Price: $550.00 – Watchers: 46
Item #203525726911
2020 National Treasures LaMelo Ball RPA RC Platinum 1/1
27 bids – Price: $1,646.89 – Watchers: 46
Item #373648813576
2020 Panini Prizm Green LaMelo Ball ROOKIE RC #278 BGS 9.5 GEM MINT
19 bids – Price: $305.00 – Watchers: 45
Item #224533556733
2020-21 LAMELO BALL Panini Prizm Hyper Silver Rookie RC #278 🛸Hobby Exclusive
11 bids – Price: $232.50 – Watchers: 45
Item #265224009997
2020-21 Prizm Lamelo Ball Rookie Card RC #278 SGC 9.5 Hornets Q167
15 bids – Price: $44.00 – Watchers: 43
Item #124809427741
2020-21 LAMELO BALL Panini Prizm Basketball Rookie RC #278 PSA / SGC 9.5
14 bids – Price: $100.00 – Watchers: 43
Item #144112439947
2020-21 Panini Noir New Wave Jersey LaMelo Ball RC Rookie 3-Color Patch 8/25
23 bids – Price: $157.50 – Watchers: 43
Item #363466693678
2020-21 Origins LaMelo Ball Rookie Autographs Auto RC Redemption #3 Q282
13 bids – Price: $365.00 – Watchers: 43
Item #124812669119
20-21 Prizm LaMelo Ball Rc Rookie Orange Cracked Ice Prizm Auto Redemption Card
29 bids – Price: $455.00 – Watchers: 43
Item #184945544564
2020-21 Panini Blue Ice Prizm #278 LaMelo Ball Hornets RC Rookie 22/125 BGS 9.5
31 bids – Price: $2,650.00 – Watchers: 43
Item #265228752274
2020-21 Panini Noir Devin Vassell Rookie Patch Auto /99 Demar Derozan /25 Spurs
15 bids – Price: $41.00 – Watchers: 43
Item #402993539632
Ray Allen 2020-21 Panini Noir Reigning Nights On Card Auto/99, Nickeil Walker
14 bids – Price: $36.00 – Watchers: 42
Item #402995259943
2020-21 Panini Noir LaMelo Ball RC Elegant Patch 05/75- Charlotte Hornets ROY
21 bids – Price: $102.50 – Watchers: 41
Item #114890592285
LAMELO BALL 2020 21 PANINI PRIZM CHOICE BLUE YELLOW GREEN RC ROOKIE HORNETS
19 bids – Price: $177.19 – Watchers: 41
Item #274867535101
2020-21 Panini Prizm Lamelo Ball Rookie #278 Charlotte Hornets RC and Base Card
19 bids – Price: $251.00 – Watchers: 40
Item #144109838895
2020-21 Panini Prizm LaMelo Ball Red Wave Rookie SP!! #278 Sweet Card!🔥📈🔥
20 bids – Price: $67.00 – Watchers: 40
Item #363464186394
LAMELO BALL 2020-21 PANINI NOIR FRAMED #240 23/25 RC HORNETS ROOKIE
26 bids – Price: $500.00 – Watchers: 40
Item #224526553286
LAMELO BALL RC #12 Hornets Rookie 2020-21 Absolute SP Teal /49 INVEST! ROY
11 bids – Price: $11.50 – Watchers: 40
Item #265227309151
2020-21 Donruss Choice Red LaMelo Ball Rated Rookie RC PSA 9 Mint #d 11/99
15 bids – Price: $100.00 – Watchers: 40
Item #294271220886
Investor Lot of (2) 2020-21 Panini Fast Break Prizm #278 LaMelo Ball RC Rookie
19 bids – Price: $405.00 – Watchers: 40
Item #363462840862
2020-21 Panini Noir LaMelo Ball Rookie Autographs PLATINUM!!!! ROY!! 🔥🔥🔥
21 bids – Price: $790.00 – Watchers: 39
Item #353567890746
2020-21 Panini Noir Lamelo Ball Rookie Patch Autographs Black And White Tags /5
34 bids – Price: $4,150.00 – Watchers: 39
Item #402985875870
2020-21 Lamelo Ball Panini Noir ELEGANT DECOR 3 COLOR PATCH ROOKIE Rc /25 ROTY
62 bids – Price: $301.50 – Watchers: 39
Item #133815794006
2020-21 Panini Prizm LaMELO BALL #278 Base ROOKIE RC Hornets
12 bids – Price: $20.50 – Watchers: 38
Item #334075783831
2020-21 PANINI PRIZM RED PRIZM LAMELO BALL 016/299 #279 PSA 9!!
11 bids – Price: $236.38 – Watchers: 38
Item #164958488327
About Tony Reid
From the time he was a little kid, Tony has been a huge sports fan. If he could play sports, watch sports and talk about sports it was a great day. From as early as he was drawn to sports, Tony was drawn to collecting sports cards. Not much has changed over the years. He collects RCs of star players in baseball, basketball and football. He also has a soft spot for first autographs of MMA stars. If you want to talk to Tony about the greatness of Michael Jordan, Bo Jackson or Ken Griffey, Jr. you can reach him at @reidrattlecage on all social media platforms.
