Everyone thought Zach Edey would be a "bust" in the NBA. They said he was too slow, too old-school, a relic of a dead era of basketball where giants just stood in the paint. Then the 2024-25 season happened. Now, suddenly, collectors are scrambling for every Zach Edey rookie card they can find. It’s funny how a few double-doubles and some solid rim protection for the Memphis Grizzlies can change the narrative.
If you’re looking at the card market right now, it’s a weird time. We’re in 2026, and the landscape has shifted. Panini is still hanging on to certain licenses, but Topps (under Fanatics) has completely stormed the castle. This has created a bifurcated market where you have Edey’s early Purdue cards, his official NBA Panini stuff, and the new Topps Chrome "Rookie Cup" cards that people are obsessing over.
The Cards People Actually Care About
Honestly, the sheer volume of cards can be overwhelming. You've got base cards that sell for the price of a cup of coffee and then you have the high-end stuff that costs as much as a used Honda.
If you want the "Gold Standard," you’re looking at 2024-25 Panini Prizm. Specifically, the Silver Prizm #249. In early 2026, a PSA 10 of this card has been hovering around $85. It’s the "people’s card." It's liquid. You can sell it in five minutes on any major platform. But if you want the real "whale" stuff, the Black Shimmer FOTL (First Off the Line) parallels have hit crazy numbers, with some sales eclipsing $4,900.
Then there is Topps. Because Topps has been aggressive with their "All-Rookie Team" and "Flash Drop" sets, the 2025-26 Topps Basketball #186 has become a sleeper hit. People love the photography. It feels more "premium" to some collectors than the recent Panini designs. A Holo Gold Foil version of Edey’s Topps card, numbered to just 50, recently sold for about $150. That's a lot of growth for a non-auto card.
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A Breakdown of Recent Market Prices (Early 2026)
- 2024 Panini Donruss Optic Downtown #29: This is the one everyone wants for the art. It’s Edey in a stylized Memphis setting. A PSA 10 will run you about $850. It’s the ultimate "case hit."
- 2024 Panini Prizm Silver #249: The bedrock of the hobby. Raw copies go for $3 to $8, while PSA 10s sit at $85.
- 2024 Panini NBA Hoops #239: The budget entry. You can snag these for $1.50. It’s not going to make you rich, but it’s a classic "first look" card.
- 2024-25 Topps Chrome Advisory Case Hit: This is a newer "SSP" (Super Short Print). Prices are volatile, but they've been seen moving for $40+ raw.
Why Edey Is a Different Kind of Investment
Investing in big men is usually a death sentence in the card hobby. Don't believe me? Go look at the prices for Rudy Gobert or even prime Dwight Howard. Collectors love guards who score 30 and wings who fly. They usually ignore the 7-foot-4 guy who cleans up the glass.
But Edey is different. He has a massive, built-in fanbase from his Purdue days.
The 2022-23 Bowman University Chrome #79 (his first major licensed card) still carries weight because college collectors are a different breed. The SuperFractor 1/1 of that card is a legendary "grail" in the hobby, valued well into the thousands. Because he stayed in school and became a literal titan of the college game, his "pro" cards aren't the only things that matter.
The Memphis Factor
Playing in Memphis helps. It's a small market, sure, but it's a "grind" market. If Edey becomes the defensive anchor that allows Ja Morant to just go wild, his cards will stay relevant. We saw a dip in his prices mid-way through his rookie year when he hit the "rookie wall," but as we sit here in 2026, his efficiency numbers have stabilized his market.
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What to Watch Out For (The Risks)
Don't get it twisted; this isn't free money. There are risks.
First, there is the "overproduction" problem. Between Panini’s final runs and Topps’ new sets, there are thousands of Zach Edey cards. If you’re buying base cards and hoping they’ll be worth $100 someday, you’re dreaming. You have to go for the "numbered" stuff. Anything with a serial number on the back (e.g., 25/99) is infinitely more protected against market crashes than a standard base card.
Second, the "Big Man Curse" is real. If Edey doesn't become an All-Star, his card prices will likely settle into a very boring $20 range for his best rookies. He has to be dominant to keep the hobby's attention.
Actionable Strategy for Collectors
If you're looking to actually buy in right now, don't just spray and pray.
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- Target the "Optic Downtown": If you have the capital, this is the most "liquid" high-end card. It’s recognizable and rare.
- Look for the Topps Chrome "Rookie Cup" parallels: Since these are among the first "official" Topps NBA-branded cards in years, the historical significance might give them an edge over late-cycle Panini.
- Grade the Silvers: If you find a clean, centered Prizm Silver at a card show for $5, buy it. Spend the $20 to grade it. If it hits a 10, you’ve tripled your money.
The Zach Edey rookie card market is a fascinating case study in how "size" and "college stardom" translate to the NBA hobby. He isn't Victor Wembanyama, but he isn't just another bench-warmer either. He’s a unique physical force, and in a hobby that rewards uniqueness, that usually means value.
Keep an eye on the population reports at PSA and SGC. As more of the 2025-26 Topps stuff gets slabbed, the "pop" counts will tell us which cards are actually rare and which ones are just hype. For now, stick to the short prints and the iconic inserts if you want to protect your investment.
To get started with your collection, search for "Zach Edey Prizm Silver PSA 10" on reputable auction sites to establish a price floor, then look for "numbered" parallels from the 2024-25 Select or Optic sets to find lower-population alternatives that offer better long-term scarcity.