If you’ve been watching the Houston Rockets lately, you know the vibe has shifted. It’s not just about the "potential" anymore. It’s about 6’7” of pure, unadulterated athleticism terrorizing passing lanes and jumping out of the gym.
This brings us to the Amen Thompson rookie card market, which, honestly, felt a little sleepy for a minute there. But with Amen putting up 18.8 points, 7.6 boards, and over 5 assists a night so far in this 2025-26 season, people are waking up. Fast.
There was a time when everyone was obsessed with Victor Wembanyama (understandably) and Chet Holmgren, leaving the Thompson twins in a weird "wait and see" bucket. Well, we’ve seen enough. Amen isn't just a transition dunker; he’s becoming a defensive monster who was literally 5th in Defensive Player of the Year voting last season. When a guy starts making All-Defensive teams in his second year, his cardboard tends to move.
The Hierarchy of the Amen Thompson Rookie Card
Not all cards are created equal. You’ve probably seen the base cards from 2023-24 NBA Hoops floating around for a few bucks, but that's not where the real action is. If you’re looking to actually "invest" or just grab the definitive version of him, you have to look at the big three: Prizm, Optic, and Select.
The 2023-24 Panini Prizm Amen Thompson #150 is the industry standard. It’s the card everyone points to. Currently, a PSA 10 of the base Prizm is hovering around $85 to $90, which feels like a steal compared to some of the guys he's outplaying. But the real heat is in the Silver Prizms and the "color."
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For example, the Blue Ice Prizm /125 is a massive chase. I saw one of those in a PSA 10 sell for north of $700 recently. People love the color match with the Rockets' uniforms, even though the Blue Ice is more of a "pop" than a direct match.
Then you have the Donruss Optic Rated Rookie. There’s just something about that "Rated Rookie" logo that collectors can't quit. The Optic Holos and the Pink Velocity parallels (usually numbered to /79) are the sweet spot for a lot of mid-tier collectors. They look cleaner than Prizm, and the surface tends to hold up better for grading.
High-End Grails and the "Kaboom" Factor
If you have deep pockets, we’re talking about the 2023-24 Crown Royale Kaboom! cards. These are "case hits," meaning they are incredibly rare. An Amen Thompson rookie card from the Kaboom set is currently a four-figure monster. An ungraded one might set you back $1,200, but if you find a PSA 10, you’re looking at $4,000 plus. It’s basically a piece of art that happens to be a basketball card.
Don't ignore the autographs, either.
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- Panini Contenders Rookie Ticket: The "Rookie Ticket" is the most iconic autograph card in the hobby. Amen’s on-card autos here are essential for serious fans.
- National Treasures RPA: This is the Holy Grail. Rookie Patch Autographs from National Treasures are for the big whales. We’re talking thousands of dollars for a piece of his jersey and his signature.
Interestingly, there’s a weird niche for his 2021 Topps Chrome Overtime Elite (OTE) cards. These technically pre-date his NBA rookie year. Some collectors think these are the "true" first cards, while others stick strictly to the NBA stuff. Personally, I think the OTE Gold Refractors /50 are a sleeper. They’re much rarer than most NBA parallels and they capture the start of his journey.
What Most People Get Wrong About Amen vs. Ausar
Everyone tries to compare Amen to his brother Ausar when it comes to card value. Look, I love Ausar’s game in Detroit, but the hobby has a "point guard bias." Amen has the ball in his hands more. He generates more "box score" stats like points and assists, which, for better or worse, is what drives card prices.
There’s also a unique market for Dual Autographs. Panini put out a few cards featuring both brothers, like the 2023 Donruss Optic Rookie Dual Signatures. A PSA 10 of that dual auto sold for $910 in mid-2025. It’s a cool piece of history, basically a 1-of-1 family dynamic in the NBA.
Market Trends: Is it Too Late to Buy?
Kinda. The "cheap" boat has mostly sailed.
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During his rookie year, you could find Amen's Silver Prizms for a fraction of what they are now. But honestly? If he keeps this trajectory toward being an All-Star—which he looks like he will—today’s prices will look like a bargain in 2027.
The Rockets are winning. That matters. Cards of good players on bad teams usually stagnate. Cards of "winning" players who play highlight-reel defense? Those go to the moon.
If you’re hunting right now, look for "condition sensitive" sets. The Panini Obsidian Color Blast is a gorgeous, white-background card that is incredibly hard to find in a PSA 10 because the edges chip so easily. If you can snag a clean one of those, you’ve got a long-term winner.
Actionable Strategy for Collectors
Don't just buy the first shiny thing you see on eBay. If you’re serious about an Amen Thompson rookie card, follow these steps to avoid overpaying:
- Check the Pop Report: Before buying a PSA 10, look at how many exist. If the "Population" is in the thousands, the price won't rise as fast as a rare parallel with a "Pop" of 50 or less.
- Focus on "On-Card" Autos: Some lower-end sets use stickers for signatures. Collectors hate stickers. Always prioritize cards where Amen actually touched the card and signed it directly (like Contenders or Immaculate).
- The "Second Year" Dip: Sometimes players' rookie cards dip slightly when their "Sophomore" cards come out. We are past that phase now, but keep an eye on his 2024-25 cards. If his rookie stuff is too pricey, his second-year "Prizm Silvers" are a great way to get exposure to his career growth at a 60% discount.
- Watch the Health: Amen had some ankle issues early on. If he hits a small injury slump, that is usually the best time to "buy the dip" from impatient sellers.
Stop looking at the base cards and start hunting for those numbered parallels. The 2023-24 Select "Courtside" level (the rarest tier in Select) in a Silver or Tri-Color is a fantastic middle-ground between a boring base card and a $5,000 RPA. That’s where the smart money is moving right now.