The Bubble in Orlando is playing out well for the NBA. The quality of play has been fantastic, and the games have been compelling. That’s due to the players showing no signs of rust whatsoever. The six players below stood out more than the others in this restart. This list, fittingly, is a mix of veterans, rising stars, and a rookie finally finding a groove. Check them out below to see how they are doing and how it could affect their card prices and value.
#6. Michael Porter Jr.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX4Z0XpejyUThe Nuggets’ Michael Porter Jr. isn’t a household name yet. His explosive play in the bubble will change that. The 22-year-old forward has flashed the form that fanned talks of him going number overall in the 2018 NBA Draft — something that didn’t happen because of a bad back. Now healthy, Porter Jr. is proving he is a walking bucket, averaging 22 points in 7 of Denver’s 8 seeding games. Having won the trust of Nuggets coach Michael Malone, Porter Jr. is also getting meaningful minutes in the postseason, which bodes well for the young man. So, look for him to build on his bubble success, and blossom into a star next season (making his cards a lot more valuable).
#5. Donovan Mitchell
The Jazz’s Donovan Mitchell is one of the NBA’s brightest young stars, getting named to the All-Rookie First Team in 2018 and making the All-Star team this season. Spida was largely up-and-down in the seeding games, alternating mediocre games with big ones for a per-game average of only 21.6 points. Then, the postseason started, and Mitchell went supernova. The third-year guard dropped 87 in the Jazz’s first two playoff games, including a career-high 57 in game 1 — second most in the postseason behind Michael Jordan’s 63 back in 1986. It won’t be surprising if Mitchell’s cards see an uptick in their prices shortly.
#4. Kristaps Porziņģis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iV35fPCUkQ
The Mavs’ Kristaps Porziņģis, coming off an ACL injury, looked out of sorts during the first two months of this season. But he was coming along quite nicely until the season was rudely interrupted. This restart, though, has seen a better Porziņģis — confident, aggressive, and much more in sync with his teammates. His numbers are undeniable proof: 30.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. The Unicorn is playing his best basketball, which means the value of his cards is likely to increase eventually.
#3. Devin Booker
The Suns’ Devin Booker has officially arrived as a superstar! D-Book was an absolute star in this restart, averaging 30.5 points per game on over 50% shooting and adding 6.0 assists and 4.9 rebounds in just 33.8 minutes. More importantly, he led the Suns to a perfect 8-0 record in Orlando, underscoring his growth as the team’s unquestioned leader. It’s just a shame that Phoenix missed the postseason. On the bright side, Suns fans have something to look forward to next season: a possible postseason berth. Meanwhile, Booker card owners can expect those cards to be much more valuable moving forward.
#2. Damian Lillard
The Blazers’ Damian Lillard is the most accomplished star on this list, having been Rookie of the Year in 2013 and making 5 All-Star appearances. Lillard’s playoff heroics, though, are what elevate him into rarefied status. Dame added to his legend in last year’s playoffs with a play hailed by Bwin as one of the decade’s top playoff moments: a stepback 37-footer over the outstretched arms of Paul George. Right after, Lillard waved goodbye to nemesis Russell Westbrook, underscoring his on-court ruthlessness. The 30-year-old guard has been just as ruthless in Orlando, winning bubble MVP honors with per-game averages of 37.3 points, 9.6 assists, and 4.3 rebounds. With this hot streak, expect Lillard cards to be just as hot on the market.
#1. Luka Dončić
The Mavs’ Luka Dončić has been putting on a show since his rookie season last year and is one of the hottest names in the card market. Dončić has always been magical in Orlando, averaging a near-triple double: 30.0 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 9.7 assists. His 42-point, 9-assist, 7-rebound playoff debut against Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers also signaled the arrival of Luka Magic on the big stage, where he figures to make even more magic. It’d be wise to get hold of his cards, as they’ll be pretty valuable in the future.
