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The new NBA year opens with a made-for-TV doubleheader that stacks stars on stars. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the defending champion Thunder host new addition Kevin Durant and the Rockets, then LeBron James, Luka Dončić and the Lakers face Stephen Curry and the Warriors. Collectors keep those headliners in view all year, yet over the last month a different group has been moving the needle in price and attention.

Since September 21, a sweep through Beckett Online Price Guide trends shows four players climbing and four players cooling as the schedule begins.

Victor Wembanyama looks ready to make noise again. After missing about half of last season with a health issue, the 7 foot 3 Spurs star enters year three with buzz around a Defensive Player of the Year push if he stays on the floor. The market followed the optimism and pushed many of his cards higher. Pictured: 2024-25 Panini Hoops Anti Gravity 13.

Matas Buzelis played his way into Chicago’s starting five late last season and changed his perception fast. Before the promotion he averaged 5.8 points in 14.0 minutes. As a starter he jumped to 13.0 points in 26.8 minutes, which reset expectations for year two and nudged his cards upward as buyers bet on a bigger role. Pictured: 2024-25 Panini Prizms Green 252.

Bogdan Bogdanovic gave the Clippers a steady scoring jolt after a midseason move and helped fuel a playoff push. With a remodeled rotation in Los Angeles and a track record as a reliable shooter, his profile has risen in the run-up to opening week and several of his issues showed price bumps. Pictured: 2024-25 Panini Mosaic Purple 138.

Terrence Shannon Jr. took a slow on-ramp in Minnesota, then proved he belonged once the minutes came. The 6 foot 6 guard finished strong, set himself up for an expanded role, and saw collectors lean in as September rolled along. Pictured: 2024-25 Select Orange Flash Prizms 78.

Not every arrow points up, which sometimes opens a window for bargain hunters.

Joel Embiid is two seasons removed from an MVP, yet injuries have limited him to 58 total games in that span. He is coming off knee surgery, Philadelphia will be careful early, and the hobby cooled a bit while everyone waits to see him stack healthy weeks again. Pictured: 2024-25 Donruss Playmakers 5.

Zach Edey started well as a rookie in Memphis, then an ankle injury put him on hold to open this season. With a possible two month delay, some buyers have paused and prices reflected that patience heading into October. Pictured: 2024-25 Panini Prizm Black Purple Ice Prizm 64.

Jaylen Wells surprised as a second rounder who played real minutes for the Grizzlies, but a sophomore season can be tricky. A little worry about regression showed up in recent pricing, even after a strong first year. Pictured: 2024-25 Donruss Optic Photon Prizms 252.

Baylor Scheierman had only a small role in Boston, with a late uptick that included two starts and a few playoff cameos. Collectors want to see more before pushing his prices higher, so several of his rookies drifted down ahead of opening night. Pictured: 2024-25 Panini Mosaic Rookie Scripts RS-BAY.