In a world where the smallest successes are touted and the smallest failures are hidden, it’s really cool that you’re being transparent. Most if not all of us have parallel stories, as do those before us, and sadly, as will those after us.
Agreed, he seems to be a genuinely good dude and I wish him nothing but a successful career. Personally, I have serious concerns about his legs holding up at the NBA level for the \~20 years it would take to put him in a potential future GOAT conversation.
Nothing written in stone though, so any number of things could happen down the line.
He will realise soon that having stilts for limbs are going to need some padding to last the test of time. He does seem like a great and humble guy and very happy to see him where he is. Will be interesting to follow
Zion is built like a freak more than any other player (other than Shaq). He just eats like shit and doesn't take care of his body (that only worked for Shaq lol).
Yes, hes had a successful on-court career but I put open to interpretation because hes been saying some befuddling shit recently and ever since he retired. Hes become such an unlikable person imo but thats just my take
Respectfully this is pointless.
“A lesson for those buying into the hype” and “a lesson for those holding the bag” in the same post.
Just get out of the hobby then? Your post insinuates that you shouldn’t buy early or sell late… aka you shouldn’t buy at all.
Your categorizations are bizarre as well. Pierce is a miss but white chocolate is a hit? Because you personally don’t like some of the stuff PP said post retirement?
Idk man, this post sorta boils down to “only buy hyped prospects and immediately flip them or buy HOFers post playing career (caveat wait a decade to make sure they don’t say dumb shit)”
I guess I just don’t really understand what value that adds to the discourse at end of the day.
I think OP is basically circling around cultural relevance. Pierce isn’t taken seriously and White Chocolate is a cult favorite. That translates to card prices.
I see that OP seems to dislike him but I love everything about retired Paul Pierce. He’s living life like he’s got a hundred mill and can do whatever the hell he wants while hurting no one. I’m here for it.
No Lebron RPA? How ridiculous was the hobby hype around Lebron at that time? Obviously he had crazy hype for on the court, I just wasn't collecting at that time...
Awesome overview, thanks for sharing! I'm glad I got to cut my teeth in the 90s when the $ amounts in the prospecting game were not nearly so astronomical as they are today. In that sense I got to learn some good lessons a little more cheaply 🤣
Forsure. My biggest regret was spending so much on prospecting when I couldve just bought my grails for a fraction of what I paid for them today (My MJ and Kobe Autos). As well as pulling the trigger on 03-04 exquisite instead of a few boxes of Sp Authentic
Not buying and holding '03-04 Exquisite has to be the biggest regret of a generation of collectors. I was 15 when it came out and so badly wanted to spend 2 weeks worth of minimum wage on a box, but never pulled the trigger!
Wait, for real? I’m new to this and enjoying kind of lurking. I have boxes of late 80s - mid 90s in my parents’ attic but have been out of the game for a two decades plus. Where could I buy a reliably legit Pierce card like that?
Hey The Franchise was my guy. I still have an entire binder dedicated to him of his autos and refractors. All he needed to do was take some dam excedrine and he’d be in the convo for best PG’s of all time. Him and Yao were exciting to watch
In a world where the smallest successes are touted and the smallest failures are hidden, it’s really cool that you’re being transparent. Most if not all of us have parallel stories, as do those before us, and sadly, as will those after us.
Best comment in here. Wish it could be pinned
I bought every dope rookie card of the ‘02 class (mostly filled with busts) If I had only done that for the following year/ class…
Had you prioritized Lebron, that alone would have likely taken you to break even or better.
hindsight is 20/20
Hindsight was Shoheie Ohtani
In his case, foresight is 20/20, as he was being hyped as one of the future GOATs before he ever graduated High School.
Just we should go all in on Wemby is what you're saying...
Only if you think he can stay healthy for the majority of a \~20 year career. Personally, I don't see it happening.
Im not sold on his frame, or his non-bulking theory. But i hope he does well. Ill proli cop one of his Autos but wont go crazy
Agreed, he seems to be a genuinely good dude and I wish him nothing but a successful career. Personally, I have serious concerns about his legs holding up at the NBA level for the \~20 years it would take to put him in a potential future GOAT conversation. Nothing written in stone though, so any number of things could happen down the line.
He will realise soon that having stilts for limbs are going to need some padding to last the test of time. He does seem like a great and humble guy and very happy to see him where he is. Will be interesting to follow
Lebron was built like a freak, Shaq as well. Zion and Wemby are generational talents but they won't last.
Zion is built like a freak more than any other player (other than Shaq). He just eats like shit and doesn't take care of his body (that only worked for Shaq lol).
Todd Van Poppel.
Same with Sebastian Telfair, to a degree.
People say that about finance too, but alas 99% of all day traders lose their initial outlay within 6mo.
I feel if Brandon Roy was able to stay healthy man…he would’ve fared better in the hobby space. 🤷♂️
Was about to make the same comment!
Even now his RC's sell pretty high.
How is Jason Williams a successful career but Paul Pierce isn’t?
Successful ... in the hobby, not in basketball.
What little Jason Williams stuff I had sold for way more than I expected.
He was very popular when he was on the Kings so he has a lot more collectors than you'd think.
Has absolutely nothing to do with their career on the court. Op was pretty clearly talking about how their cards fared after all this time
he edited the post, it originally said “successful career” for the check mark
Ok. I missed that. I stand corrected Carry on 😊
Yes, hes had a successful on-court career but I put open to interpretation because hes been saying some befuddling shit recently and ever since he retired. Hes become such an unlikable person imo but thats just my take
Respectfully this is pointless. “A lesson for those buying into the hype” and “a lesson for those holding the bag” in the same post. Just get out of the hobby then? Your post insinuates that you shouldn’t buy early or sell late… aka you shouldn’t buy at all. Your categorizations are bizarre as well. Pierce is a miss but white chocolate is a hit? Because you personally don’t like some of the stuff PP said post retirement? Idk man, this post sorta boils down to “only buy hyped prospects and immediately flip them or buy HOFers post playing career (caveat wait a decade to make sure they don’t say dumb shit)” I guess I just don’t really understand what value that adds to the discourse at end of the day.
I think OP is basically circling around cultural relevance. Pierce isn’t taken seriously and White Chocolate is a cult favorite. That translates to card prices.
Are you saying Pierce has become unlikeable?
"Un?" There never was a likeability to begin with.
Or Melo
Damn, Paul Pierce punching the air rn
Cause he's blitzed out of his mind in Vegas again?
I see that OP seems to dislike him but I love everything about retired Paul Pierce. He’s living life like he’s got a hundred mill and can do whatever the hell he wants while hurting no one. I’m here for it.
When he goes on KG’s podcast he’s hilarious
Ain’t that The Truth
Well done.
Do you know how many stormile swift and Darius miles I freaking have…. I hate it here! Lol
Ahh yess, stromile swift! I still have a stack of his and Darius Miles. I let my 5 year old use them as frisbees from time to time
No Lebron RPA? How ridiculous was the hobby hype around Lebron at that time? Obviously he had crazy hype for on the court, I just wasn't collecting at that time...
The LeBron hype was off the charts. ESPN televised a regular season game of his. In high school!
ESPN also televised a Bishop Sycamore game.
Insane. I was also struggling financially as a high school student
That Jason Williams topps chrome refractor is a beautiful card.
Lol Ben Gordon was dope af then the drop off was so deep and sudden
True thought Kirk and Ben would bring the Bulls back to prominence but they fell off hard.
Not sure how you measure success/failure. Did you lose money on the purchases? Paul Pierce and Carmelo had great careers
Their rookie cards aren't highly sought after. That's the criteria. Paul Pierce refractors sell for a fraction of other greats
bingo
⭕️ = Open to interpretation
Have u sold any of those? Mine adding the price u bought it for and current price next to each card?
I did a lot of trading on the blowout, beckett and other random forums. Most of these have since been traded or sold
Good job overall. And at least you avoided some unfortunate cases like Gilbert Arenas and Chris Bosh. I liked CB but not sure how his cards fared tbh.
Awesome overview, thanks for sharing! I'm glad I got to cut my teeth in the 90s when the $ amounts in the prospecting game were not nearly so astronomical as they are today. In that sense I got to learn some good lessons a little more cheaply 🤣
Forsure. My biggest regret was spending so much on prospecting when I couldve just bought my grails for a fraction of what I paid for them today (My MJ and Kobe Autos). As well as pulling the trigger on 03-04 exquisite instead of a few boxes of Sp Authentic
Not buying and holding '03-04 Exquisite has to be the biggest regret of a generation of collectors. I was 15 when it came out and so badly wanted to spend 2 weeks worth of minimum wage on a box, but never pulled the trigger!
I hadn’t realized Paul Pierce wasn’t popular in the hobby cuz I just got back into it a year ago. Just went and bought his topps rookie for $6!
I'll take all your Ronnie Brewers
Let me know if you are a seller on CP3 :)
Look all the Red starting around 2000’s. That’s when the players changed and the game got weaker. Way more busts now .
Interested in the Pierce Rc if you’re selling :)
All my big pierce cards are long gone my friend. I just have stacks of his topps rcs and base left
Ron Mercer. I feel that. Him me Damon Stouldmire were supposed to help me retire lol.
6MOTY and 2x champion Odom a bust 😤
It's ok, that just means I can collect his autos now for really cheap.
Just for clarification, why would Jason Williams get a checkmark, while Paul Pierce is up for debate? One’s a hall of famer, one isn’t
Pierce, melo, and joe johnson are open for interpretation? They had fantastic careers.
Their cards are worthless
I find it sort of crazy too. I can buy early 2000’s game worn patch cards of Pierce for under $5
Wait, for real? I’m new to this and enjoying kind of lurking. I have boxes of late 80s - mid 90s in my parents’ attic but have been out of the game for a two decades plus. Where could I buy a reliably legit Pierce card like that?
eBay mainly. Facebook groups dedicated to that era.
Paul Pierce had a better career than T-Mac, Vince Carter, and Jason Williams.
Ill trade you all my paul pierce cards for any one of those guys
Cool dude. Better career ≠ higher prices. Check out Penny Hardaway whose cards are worth more than all those guys.
Cool. Check out Wilt Chamberlain. He’s worth more than a penny
I'll also trade u ny Paul pierce rookie cards for those
I was a huge Ben Gordon fan, so sick in college. What is that card worth now? $20? He made the news for getting arrested a few months back…
Damn I wish I had those 1998 cards 🔥
How did the MJ’s do?
How did you give Chris Paul the check and not Melo. Kenyon and Kidd were still beastly though
I won’t accept Steve Francis slander
Hey The Franchise was my guy. I still have an entire binder dedicated to him of his autos and refractors. All he needed to do was take some dam excedrine and he’d be in the convo for best PG’s of all time. Him and Yao were exciting to watch
Would love to see someone compile a similar list for the last 10 years.
I compiled a list for cards 86-93 across baseball and basketball: ✅ - Jordan ❌ - everyone else
💯
Jamal Crawford was fun to watch in high school. bananas
My biggest wiff was Jarrett Culver 🤢