Anthony Edwards — and his basketball cards — has arrived. His rookie-year cards arrived during the pandemic boom. So while they may have seemed tough to find at the time, that was more to do with the crush retailers received from people clearing out whatever stock they could find like they were Cabbage Patch Kids or Tickle Me Elmos back in the day.
All told, there are well over 2,000 different Anthony Edwards cards from 2020-21 products representing his rookie season. Here are five that stand out for a variety of reasons.
The Rookie: 2020-21 Panini Prizm Anthony Edwards RC #258
Collectors often ask what the best Rookie Card is of any given player. That can get tricky as the most iconic isn’t necessarily the most valuable. For Anthony Edwards, there are plenty of RCs that carry higher price tags than his 2020-21 Panini Prizm Basketball card. However, this one comes from the card maker’s top-selling basketball brand.
It’s a card that has plenty of reach and a price tag that makes it affordable to a wide range of collectors. It has liquidity behind it and can be a barometer for other cards from the Timberwolves star. You can stick with the base version, which is anything but rare, or any of its more than 40 different parallels if you want a chase or to land something more valuable.
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The Expensive Rookie Card: 2020-21 Panini National Treasures Anthony Edwards RC #111 /99
2020-21 Panini National Treasures Basketball has the most valuable Anthony Edwards RC and it’s not even close. A low production run, on-card autograph, jumbo patch piece and a home in Panini’s top high-end line all contribute.
Make no mistake, the price tag on this one puts it out of reach to the majority of collectors out there. Think the fancy Porsche you pass on the way to the grocery store to the perfectly practical minivan you’ll end up parking next to.
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The Affordable Rookie Card: 2020-21 Certified Anthony Edwards RC #200
Collectors have almost 30 different Anthony Edwards RCs to choose from. That’s just standard base cards that fit the traditional definition of a Rookie Card. It’s understandable that some fall by the wayside and are somewhat forgotten in a crowded field.
2020-21 Certified fits. It’s something of a premium line. Maybe not at the National Treasures or Flawless level but there are lots of hits in every box. Despite the high-end pedigree, this Edwards’ RC in the set is priced very similarly to most of his entry-level cards like Hoops and Donruss. It might not carry a lot of value, but given the price tag it might feel like a pretty good deal, not to mention look impressive for a no-frills base card.
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The Insert: 2020-21 Crown Royale Kaboom! Anthony Edwards #21
When it comes to modern insert sets, Kaboom! is arguably the most popular in the hobby. The case hits come with a standout design that emphasizes action. It’s perfect for the explosive nature of basketball. Edwards has multiple Kaboom! inserts with his first arriving in 2020-21 Crown Royale during his rookie season. Expect to pay several thousands if you intend to land one.
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The Parallel: 2020-21 Select Tiger Stripe
Pool all of the Anthony Edwards RCs together and they have more than 1,000 different parallels. Taking an unscientific approach, most of those are your standard color-based cards. Exceptions exist including some that stand out for being distinct and fun. All three of Edwards’ base cards in 2020-21 Select Basketball (#61, 169, 300) get the Tiger Stripe treatment. Although they’re not serial numbered and print runs were never announced, they are rare and rank among Edwards’ most valuable parallels.
For those looking for a zoo-themed rainbow, Select also has Zebra versions.
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