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Most NBA fans wouldn’t pick Brooks Barnhizer out of a lineup, but on Tuesday, October 21, he quietly grabbed a place in hobby history. When the 23 year old Oklahoma City Thunder guard checked in with 2:21 left in the first quarter against the Houston Rockets, he became the first player to wear the Topps NBA Rookie Debut Patch in an official game. His stint was brief at 2 minutes and 15 seconds during OKC’s 125–124 double overtime win, and he didn’t record a stat, but the patch moment mattered.

He wasn’t the only one to do it that night. Teammate Chris Youngblood took the floor with the debut patch on the final play of the opening quarter, and later, Golden State Warriors rookie Will Richard wore one against the Los Angeles Lakers. The rollout turned an ordinary night into a small milestone for collectors who’ve been waiting to see the program hit the court.

Barnhizer arrived in Oklahoma City as the 44th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft out of Northwestern. His path in was a little unexpected. Thunder general manager Sam Presti has said he discovered Barnhizer while scouting someone else, only to catch himself focusing on the rugged wing who kept popping off the screen. From there, they kept tabs and moved when the time was right.

What won them over is the kind of game that coaches love. Barnhizer is a scrapper who defends, rebounds, and makes the extra play. He used Summer League to plant a flag, averaging 10.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.6 steals, enough for Sports Illustrated to tag him a dark horse for regular minutes. Preseason kept that momentum going with 9.5 points, 6.7 boards, and 2.0 steals over six games, which helped lock down his spot as the Thunder began a title defense.

Collectors will see plenty of him this season. He’s part of the 45 player rookie checklist in the 2025–26 Topps Basketball set, and he shows up in several autograph and memorabilia inserts. He’s also slated for two relic cards in the upcoming 2025–26 Topps Holiday Basketball release, even if he didn’t make that base checklist. For a player who started as a surprise find on a scouting trip, becoming the first to wear a Topps Rookie Debut Patch is a fitting first chapter.