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Brooklyn Nets All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving has arguably the best handles in the NBA. He gives defenders fits every time he executes a crossover or behind-the-back dribble. Irving was born on 3/23/92 in Melbourne, Australia. He is the son of American ex-pats Drederick and Elizabeth Irving.
Kyrie Irving Rookie Year Stats: 51 games | 18.5 points per game | 5.4 assists per game | 3.7 rebounds per game
Best Investment: Luka Doncic Rookie Cards
Irving played for the Duke Blue Devils in the 2010 NCAA season. He played in just eight games for Duke due to a toe injury. He averaged 17.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.5 steals. Irving returned for the Sweet Sixteen game against the Arizona Wildcats, scoring 28 points in a losing cause.’
The Cleveland Cavaliers made Irving the first overall pick of the 2011 NBA Draft. Irving won the 2012 NBA Rookie of the Year Award, averaging 18.5 points and 5.4 assists. A year later, he played in his first NBA All-Star Game.
Irving signed a five-year, $90 million contract extension with the Cavs in the summer of 2014. Cleveland had a formidable trio of Irving, LeBron James, and Kevin Love that year. They eventually helped the Cavs win their first NBA title in 2016.
The Cavs traded Irving to the Boston Celtics in the summer of 2017. He played out the final two years of his contract in Boston, becoming an All-Star in 2018 and 2019. Irving signed a four-year deal worth up to $141 million with the Brooklyn Nets in July 2019.
2012 Kyrie Irving Panini Prizm Rookie Card #4
If you want a near-flawless Kyrie Irving rookie card, this is it. The front of the card shows Irving making a move to the basket. The sky-blue background and autograph at the bottom make for nice finishing touches.
Top-Rated Investment: Zion Williamson Rookie Cards
The back of the card reads, “The NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month Awards that Irving piled up in 2011-12 eventually added up to a bigger prize. He sealed Rookie of the Year honors by becoming the second rookie to average 18.0 points and shooting at least 39.9 percent from 3-point range. The other was Larry Bird in 1979-80.”
2012 Kyrie Irving Panini Prizm RC #201
Here’s another Panini Prizm Kyrie Irving rookie card worth your while. A photo of Irving driving to the hoop with a slick gray background makes for an awesome combination.
The back of the card reads, “One of the NBA’s quickest young players off the dribble, Irving has honed his devastating crossover since he was a kid. ‘I practiced the Tim Hardaway move over a million times,’ Irving told The News-Herald. ‘When I was in elementary school, that’s the only move I had. That’s why it’s my go-to move now.’”
Kyrie Irving’s crossover is truly one of the deadliest weapons in his arsenal.
2012 Panini Prizm Parallels: Green Prizms, Gold Prizms #/10
2012 Kyrie Irving Panini Select RC #7
This card is perfect for the casual card collector – it won’t create a massive dent on your wallet. Plus, expect a nice return on your investment.
The front of the card shows Irving about to pull up for a jumper. We think the fiery-gray and sky-blue background capture Irving’s game perfectly – when he’s on fire, it’s hard to stop him.
Checklist
- 2012 National Treasures Dual AUTO GOLD Anthony Davis Kyrie Irving /25
- 2012 National Treasures RPA /199 RC #101
- 2012 Immaculate Collection Patch Auto /99 #101
- 2012 Panini Flawless Diamond RC
- 2012 Kyrie Irving Immaculate Red Rookie Card
- 2012 Panini Flawless All-Star Ink Auto /20
- 2012 PANINI INTRIGUE GOLD REFRACTOR PRIZM RC #7
- 2012 Select Hot Stars Prizms Gold
- 2012 Panini Crusade /25 RC #25
Kyrie Irving Rookie Card Value
The most expensive Kyrie Irving RC will be one of his high-end 2012 Prizm rookie cards (i.e. Green or Gold). The most common Kyrie Irving card found on eBay is his Prizm rookie card. If you are considering buying a Kyrie rookie card but would like some advice, please email us at advice@goldcardauctions.com or visit the Gold Card Auctions Contact Page.
Investment Outlook
- Investment Rating: Buy (3.9 out of 5)
- Ownership Disclosure: None
- Best Kyrie Irving Rookie Card: 2012 Panini Prizm RC #201
Kyrie Irving is already an established NBA veteran. His amazing ball wizardry and creativity make him one of the best point guards in the NBA. Expect him to earn many All-Star nods year in and year out.
One of the biggest drawbacks is his health – Irving has yet to play an entire 82-game season in his NBA career. This could hinder his future entry into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
How Controversy Affects the Values
Unfortunately, when talking about Kyrie Irving, it is impossible not to discuss his off-court antics. While we do not want to come down too harsh on Kyrie, there is no denying that his status as a polarizing figure affects the stock of his rookie cards. Irving has been all over the news for the past few years. He stirred controversy because of his opinions on Flat Earth Theory in 2018. Before that, Irving had not made any controversial statements, but that was the tip of the iceberg.
Irving famously refused to receive the Covid-19 vaccine, and as a result, he could not play home games for most of the 2021-22 NBA season. Playing for the Brooklyn Nets, city laws did not allow him to compete in home games. This after forcing his way out of Cleveland and Boston, has led to many fans questioning his commitment to basketball.
It is unclear how these comments will affect the stock of Kyrie Irving rookie cards. They have certainly made him a more well-known player, and that could be a good thing. However, some investors might not be interested in his cards simply because they do not want to associate themselves with him as a player.