Top 10 Stephen Curry Rookie Cards
A member of the NBA's elite, Steph Curry is already one of the all-time best three-point shooters in league history, and he still has multiple years left in the tank. With a fourth NBA title and multiple MVP awards under his belt, Stephen Curry rookie cards have exploded in value and interest.
From a collecting perspective, the rookie year for Steph Curry was defined by transition. The season marked the beginning of Panini's NBA exclusive, the end of Topps basketball, and a fundamental change for Upper Deck. Although the basketball collecting landscape would never be the same, collectors are left with a good mix of Steph Curry rookie options.
See also: Full Stephen Curry Rookie Card Gallery and Checklist.
The following list looks at some of the best Stephen Curry rookie cards available. Autographs are the most popular option, but there are also several base cards that remain on the collecting radar.
For a real-time snapshot of the most popular cards that are currently on eBay, check out our Stephen Curry Hot List.
Top 10 Stephen Curry Rookie Cards
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10. 2009-10 Upper Deck Stephen Curry RC #234 SP
2009-10 was Upper Deck's swan song as an NBA-licensed product. Although Panini owned the NBA exclusive starting that year, Upper Deck produced their last few NBA sets during the 2009-10 season. While a majority of the cards show players in their NBA gear, this did not extend to the incoming rookie class. Sporting his Davidson jersey, this Steph Curry rookie card is a short print. There is also a First Edition version that looks very similar, but it is card #196 instead of #234.
9. 2009-10 Topps Chrome Stephen Curry RC #101 #/999
Like Upper Deck, 2009-10 was the last year Topps produced NBA products. As seen below, the rookies were given the photoshop treatment, but values were not hurt by this. Collectors looking for the Topps Chrome rookie for Stephen Curry should know that there was not a standalone Chrome product in 2009-10. The cards were issued as numbered inserts (#/999) in the flagship Topps basketball product. Refractor (#/500) and Gold Refractor (#/50) parallels remain in high demand.
The base Topps rookies for Curry don't match the Chrome version as far as demand is concerned, but these early releases still command impressive values considering they are common cards and not numbered.
8. 2009-10 SP Game Used Stephen Curry RC #133 #/399
Showcasing a somewhat busy design, Steph Curry's 2009-10 SP Game Used rookie is limited to 399 copies. This is the rarest of the base rookie card choices for Curry.
7. 2009-10 Panini Court Kings Stephen Curry RC #129 Autograph #/649
Stickers are never the preferred route for collectors, but the quality of the 2009-10 Court Kings card design and subtly of the sticker make it easier to accept. The higher print run keeps values somewhat in check for this Stephen Curry rookie card.
6. 2009-10 Panini Absolute Stephen Curry RC Autographed Jersey-Ball #/499
There is nothing subtle about 2009-10 Absolute. The crowded card features a Refractor-like finish and manages to only devote 25-30% to an image of Curry. The rest of the card is segmented for the text boxes, autograph sticker and relic pieces.
5. 2009-10 Panini Classics Stephen Curry RC #166 Autograph #/499
Definitely one of the unsung heroes of the Stephen Curry rookie checklist, 2009-10 Classics brings a solid design, on-card signature and mid-level print run. Collectors looking for the best value should check these cards first but prices are certainly not cheap.
4. 2009-10 Playoff Contenders Stephen Curry RC #106 Autograph SP
While they are not as popular as the football cards, 2009-10 Playoff Contenders Rookie Tickets are also hard-signed and feature a limited print run. One added perk for Curry collectors is the oversized signature. Although the exact print run was never revealed, Panini noted that the Steph Curry Contenders rookie was part of a group limited to 649 copies or less.
Despite this higher production range, the cards sell for strong values. One big thing to keep an eye on is the quality of the signature. Many of these appear to have ink issues, so try and check out a close-up image of the autograph during your search.
3. 2009-10 Panini Crown Royale Stephen Curry RC #103 Autograph #/399
Although the checkered background is a little odd, the 2009-10 Crown Royle die-cut autograph card delivers everything that collectors look for in a rookie. The gold foil crown adds a bold flash to the Stephen Curry card, and the on-card signature and low print run seal the deal.
2. 2009-10 Exquisite Collection Stephen Curry RC #64 Autograph #/225
The top two cards quickly push into the ultra-high-end collecting world. As the last NBA edition of Exquisite, collectors get a classic rookie card design with a college theme. Heavy white encompasses most of the card except for a small image box and foil text. This leaves a ton of room for the signature, which rivals Contenders as the largest on-card autograph among Stephen Curry rookie cards. The print run is only 225, but there are actually two cards in the base set. Card #72, shown second, is also numbered to 225 copies.
1. 2009-10 Playoff National Treasures Stephen Curry RC #206 Autographed Patch #/99
Starting off with a bang, 2009-10 National Treasures was the collecting debut for the premium Panini product. It is easy to see why this became the standard for high-end basketball over the years. A large patch piece, on-card signature and low print run make this the most valuable and rare Stephen Curry rookie card available.
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Jack Bennett
Recently discovered Cardboard connection. Great information for the at home collector. Top 10 info really sets the amateur collector in the saddle. Other items of interest to me are POP information, and the how too in knowing what to look for in counterfeit. Great info on Curry. I live near Davidson and we love us some Steph!