If you were anywhere near a TV or a Twitter feed during the 2023-24 NBA season, you saw it. The "Alien" didn't just land; he basically took over the league's highlights. Victor Wembanyama lived up to every ounce of the hype, and when he inevitably scooped up the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy, the card market went absolutely nuclear. Specifically, the wemby rookie of the year card—the Topps Now VW-6—became the focal point for everyone from hardcore investors to kids just wanting a piece of history.
But here’s the thing about the card market in 2026: it’s fickle. We’ve seen the "junk slab" era return in some ways, and we’ve seen massive price corrections. If you’re holding a Wemby ROY card or thinking about buying one now that the initial dust has settled, you've got to understand the weird, fragmented world of modern basketball licensing.
The Weird Logic of the Topps Now VW-6
Topps Now is a "print-to-order" beast. This means the number of cards in existence depends entirely on how many people hit "buy" during a tiny 48-hour window. For the wemby rookie of the year card, that window opened on May 6, 2024.
The final print run? A staggering 113,777 copies.
That is a massive number for a "limited" card. To put that in perspective, many early Topps Now cards for star players might only have 5,000 or 10,000 copies. But Wemby is different. He’s a global phenomenon. Honestly, 113k sounds like a lot until you realize there are millions of basketball fans who want a card that explicitly commemorates his first major NBA hardware.
What most people get wrong is thinking the base card is the only prize. During that 48-hour sale, Topps randomly shoved parallels into orders. We’re talking:
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- Blue parallels numbered to /49
- Purple numbered to /25
- Red numbered to /10
- Orange /5
- Gold 1/1 (The holy grail)
If you happened to pull a Gold 1/1 wemby rookie of the year card back then, you weren't just looking at a piece of cardboard; you were looking at a down payment on a house.
Licensing Wars: Why Panini Fans Are Confused
There is a massive elephant in the room when it comes to any wemby rookie of the year card. Panini currently holds the exclusive NBA license for trading cards (though that’s changing fast as Fanatics/Topps takes over). This creates a "split" market.
- Panini Prizm/Donruss: These have the Spurs logo and the NBA branding. Collectors love these because they look "official."
- Topps Now: Topps has an exclusive autograph deal with Victor. This is huge. If you want a card that actually says "Rookie of the Year" and features a high-quality action shot from his debut season, the Topps Now VW-6 is the primary option.
Kinda strange, right? You have the "official" brand (Panini) that can't show his autograph or specific ROY branding in the same way, and the "autograph" brand (Topps) that has to be careful with team logos.
Actually, the VW-6 card managed to capture the moment perfectly. It shows Wemby in his black Spurs jersey, holding the trophy, with a massive "2023-24 NBA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR" banner. It’s the definitive "moment" card. Even without the chrome finish of a Prizm, it captures the history better than almost anything else.
What’s Happening to the Value in 2026?
Let's talk money, because that's why you're here. In mid-2024, people were paying stupid money for raw (ungraded) copies of this card—sometimes $50 to $100 just for the base version.
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Today? Things have cooled off, which is actually great for collectors.
You can usually find a raw Topps Now VW-6 for somewhere between $15 and $30. If you’re looking at a PSA 10 (the highest grade), you’re likely looking at $80 to $120.
Why the drop? It’s simple supply and demand. That 113,777 print run means there is plenty of supply to go around. However, the parallels are where the real action is. A Red /10 wemby rookie of the year card can still fetch thousands at auction because, despite the high base print run, there are still only ten of those Red ones in the world.
The "Alien" Inscription and Auto Variants
If you really want to get into the deep end, Topps also released an autographed version of the ROY card. These weren't the ones you got for $20. These were premium, limited-edition packs that sold out in seconds.
The coolest ones? The ones where Wemby wrote "Alien" or "ROY 24" on the card.
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These are the "blue chip" investments. While the base card is a fun memento, the signed wemby rookie of the year card is what high-end collectors are hoarding. Because Victor is signed exclusively to Fanatics (who owns Topps), you won't find these autographs in Panini Prizm. This makes the Topps ROY cards uniquely valuable in the long run.
Is It Still Worth Buying?
Honestly, it depends on what you're trying to do.
If you’re a Spurs fan or a Wemby believer, yes. Absolutely. It is the most recognizable card from his historic first season. It’s like owning a 1986 Fleer Jordan—okay, maybe not that big, but you get the point. It’s a historical marker.
If you’re trying to "flip" it for a quick profit? Probably not the base version. With over 100,000 copies out there, the market is saturated. You’d need Victor to win an MVP or a Championship to see a massive spike in the base card's value.
But if you can snag a numbered parallel or a low-population PSA 10, you’re playing a different game. In 2026, we’ve seen that the market rewards scarcity. "Common" rookies are becoming exactly that—common. But the "Rookie of the Year" designation adds a layer of prestige that standard base cards just don't have.
Key Factors for Your Collection:
- Condition is King: Topps Now cards often come out of the package with slightly "fuzzy" corners. If you have one that looks perfect, get it graded. A PSA 10 will always hold its value better than a stack of raw cards.
- The "Pro" Look: Some collectors hate the Topps Now design because it’s a bit "thin" compared to the heavy cardstock of high-end sets. If you care about "feel," look for the Topps Chrome versions of his rookie year, though they won't specifically be the "ROY" commemorative card.
- Long-Term Hold: Think 2030. When people look back at the start of the Wembanyama era, the card showing him with his first trophy will be the one they want for their "Career Recap" binders.
Essentially, the wemby rookie of the year card is more than just a piece of paper; it’s the receipt for the start of what looks like a Hall of Fame career. Whether you've got the common base or a 1/1 Gold, you're holding a piece of the moment the NBA changed forever.
Actionable Next Steps for Collectors
- Check the serial number: If you're buying on eBay, make sure you aren't just buying a "reprint." Look for the official Topps holographic seal on the back.
- Compare "Sold" Listings: Don't look at what people are asking for the card. Look at the "Sold" filter to see what people are actually paying. The gap is often huge.
- Consider the "First Pitch" card: If the ROY card is too pricey or common for you, look for the Topps Now card of his first pitch at Yankee Stadium. It’s a "pre-rookie" card that has a much lower print run and a very cool crossover appeal.
- Wait for the Off-Season: Historically, NBA card prices dip in the summer. If you want to buy a wemby rookie of the year card, August is usually a cheaper month than February when the hype is at its peak.