Selling Sunday: Rising Stars (Team U.S.)
A $199 pack gifting you seven moments, with one moment guaranteed to cover the entirety of the cost; this is going to be fun if you can get your hands on one.
Rising Stars aren’t better than All-Stars, but in this case, the Rising Stars pack trumps the All-Star one, and it's not even close.
What you're guaranteed is pictured below:
Right now, on the marketplace, the lowest listing Seeing Stars moment is $100, meaning the other six moments will need to add up to another $100 to make the pack worth it.
Easy.
The Rising Stars moment will more than cover the $100, and of course, based on the serial number of the moment you get - a mega payday could be in store for some of you.
Let’s dive right into Team U.S. and look at some of the moments you can pack and how much certain moments could and should list for.
De’Andre Hunter
De’Andre Hunter hits close to home. I live within a few minutes walk to his high school, Friends’ Central School, and Hunter has been an absolute stud at Virginia and now with the Atlanta Hawks.
The former NCAA champion is now having a breakout season in his second year in the NBA. Unfortunately, Hunter suffered a knee injury and had to undergo arthroscopic surgery, but is averaging 17 points, five rebounds, and two assists while being a nat on defense for opposing offensive sets.
The Hawks are a young, promising team, and Hunter is an integral part. I expect every moment to cover the cost of the pack, and Hunter is an intriguing player with the potential to be one of the deadlier two-way players. Keep an eye on him if his price ever starts to dip because of his knee injury forcing him to play, keeping him out of the spotlight.
LaMelo Ball
Barring any injury, this is your rookie of the year.
As great as Tyrese Haliburton is, LaMelo Ball is a generational talent. This moment came in the game Ball set the record for the youngest player to record a triple-double: this will be the most expensive moment of the bunch, plus add in rookie badges to top it all off.
When this moment hits the marketplace, I’d expect the lowest listing to be four digits.
Anthony Edwards
So far, different rookies have stood out, with Edwards being one of them throwing down monstrous dunks over anyone in his way.
The number one overall pick demolishes Yuta Watanabe in what could be the dunk of the year.
Like Ball, if this falls below four digits and you’re invested in watching rookie's careers pan out, Edwards is a promising prospect who has one of the highest ceilings in this last year's draft.
Michael Porter Jr.
If Porter Jr. never suffered any injuries, this kid would’ve been the number one pick in his draft class, but a broken back will drop you out of that spot.
Porter Jr. has had a disappointing season, only averaging 14 points, but that tells you about how much potential he has. On a nightly basis, Porter Jr. always has a chance to lead the Nuggets in scoring despite Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray being the clear number one and two options on the team.
MPJ will be a great pull if you’re able to get a pack but falls slightly below the realm and how much some of the rookies getting badges will cost.
James Wiseman
Another rookie!
Wiseman is 19 years old and the Warriors center of the future. He has the potential to be one of the best rim protectors in the NBA, with his 7-foot-6 wingspan and a vertical beyond 12 feet, and on the offensive end - Wiseman's already thrown down some big jams. It doesn’t hurt this moment that it’s a little two-man game with Stephen Curry.
This moment should be in the upper echelon out of what you can pack, joining Ball and Edwards at the top.
Ja Morant
Ja Morant is special. We have the first if not the second most valuable non-rookie moment in this release with this moment.
Morant is a highlight machine and does anything in his will to help the Grizzlies win, whether it be rebounding, scoring, creating, playing hard-defense - this kid will energize and elevate your team.
This is another highlight-reel-worthy play with the description above, and anything Morant won’t go for cheap.
Tyler Herro
Tyler Herro is a bucket.
In this moment, that’s what you get - a bucket. Herro has one of the prettiest looking 3-point strokes in the league paired with his teammate Duncan Robinson but hasn’t even scratched the surface with the potential he has long-term for the Miami Heat. Herro has the potential to be a 20 point scorer in this league for a long time.
Like Morant, anything Herro is an exciting collector item, and this moment is no different.
Tyrese Haliburton
I’ve written about Haliburton many times already, but with how exciting he is to watch and the play he produces - many Top Shot moments are coming from him.
Haliburton is the clear second in the running for Rookie of the Year despite his ridiculous efficiency from the field. It’s impossible to top Ball’s numbers this season if you're Haliburton considering De'Aaron Fox is ahead of him.
Still, considering Haliburton is a breakout rookie and will be getting two badges with this moment and it being a pretty reverse layup - the sky is the limit for the price.
Keldon Johnson
Before the season, the San Antonio Spurs camp was raving about Keldon Johnson - they weren’t wrong.
After averaging 9 points his rookie season, Johnson has upped his average to 14 points and seven rebounds a game. He’s one of the Spurs’ youngest and most important pieces for future success. The Spurs aren’t the biggest market, but it’s only a matter of time before Johnson makes a name for himself.
Again, I’d say this moment falls in the middle of the pack if you’re either looking to sell or buy it.
Zion Williamson
And now, the number one pick in 2019, Zion Williamson. Big Z.
Williamson is already one of the hardest players in the NBA to guard with his explosive first step and ridiculous bounce. He is the modern-day Charles Barkley but might be better. Williamson is crushing the record book, too, with his superb efficiency.
If you’re able to pack Morant or Williamson, no matter the serial number, you’ve pulled some of the most explosive and coveted players in the NBA. Congrats!