Houston Rockets’ young star Jalen Green was one of the breakout stars from last season, selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team with averages of 17.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists. Let’s take a look at the best Jalen Green RCs.
Jalen Green ended his rookie year with strong numbers. He averaged 21.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 3.1 triples in the final two months of the season. It’s clear that Green has shown real progress, and the Rockets’ offense will revolve around him in the foreseeable future.
Of course, this has had a knock-on effect in terms of the values of his best RCs.
Here’s a roundup with 10 of the very best Jalen Green rookie cards to collect, along with a guide if you’re interested in picking up a copy anytime soon.
The Best Jalen Green Rookie Cards
Jalen Green rookie cards were released in 2021/22, and the player was included in almost every major set produced over the season.
10. 2021-22 Panini Donruss Jalen Green RC #ND-JGR (eBay)
Green’s Next Day Autographs insert is found in 2021-22 Donruss Basketball. It’s proven to be a popular option if you’re on the lookout for the best signed RCs.
They’re called ‘Next Day Autos’ because the cards were originally mass-signed at a rookie photoshoot so they could be made available for release the following day. They’ve been included in Donruss Basketball sets since 2016-17, and they’re some of the earliest pro cards you’ll be able to find.
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9. 2021-22 Panini Origins Jalen Green RC #IK-GID (eBay)
2021-22 Panini Origins features an eye-catching Jalen Green RC with an on-card auto. What helps the Origins Autographs set to stand out from the crowd is the fact that it has been signed in silver ink, alongside 10 gold ink parallels.
It’s also just the second full standalone Origins basketball release, so the market isn’t oversaturated. It features a watercolor design seen throughout the collection, with a simple shot of the player in the middle.
- Parallels: Gold Ink #/10, Gold Ink Inscriptions 1/1
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8. 2021-22 UD Goodwin Champions Exquisite Rookie Patch Jalen Green RC #03T-GR (eBay)
One of the more popular signed options due to a miniscule print run of 25, the Exquisite Rookie Patch uses a memorable design which first arrived in 2003-04.
The original UD Exquisite Collection rookie cards are among the most popular within the hobby. Top options combine on-card autos, swatches, and low serial numbers. The brand recognition adds another layer of prestige as well. This Green RC ticks all of the boxes, and offers a nostalgic hit for collectors.
- Parallels: Gold Spectrum #/5, Black 1/1
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7. 2021-22 Donruss Rated Rookie Jalen Green RC #159 (eBay)
2021-22 Donruss Basketball is next up. An ever-popular collection that focuses on the latest and greatest talent in the NBA, Green’s Rated Rookie is available in a range of different colors, and there are also signed versions to look out for. It features a simple shot of the player as he holds a basketball in both hands.
- Parallels: Green Ice, Silver Press Proof, Yellow Flood, Purple Press Proof #/199, 75th Anniversary #/75
- Choice: Base Choice, Dragon, Red #/99, Blue #/49, Gold #/10, Black Gold #/8, Black 1/1
- Holo Laser: Green, Green/Yellow, Orange, Pink, Red/Gold, Teal, Base #/149, Purple #/99, Red #/99, Light Blue #/60, Blue #/49, Yellow #/25, Red/Blue #/15, Gold #/10, Black 1/1
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6. 2021-22 Panini Noir Sneaker Spotlight Signatures Jalen Green RC /99 #SNS-JGR (eBay)
One of the more unique options to make the list, the Sneaker Spotlight Signatures set pays homage to the footwear Green wears on the court.
While it’s not a personal favorite, there’s no denying that there’s a large market for these cards, especially as they’re hand-signed by the player.
NBA players and sneakers have long been intertwined, so cards focusing on footwear aren’t the biggest leap.
Check prices of 2021-22 Panini Noir Sneaker Spotlight Signatures Jalen Green RC on eBay
5. 2021-22 National Treasures Jalen Green Colossal RC #CM-JGR (eBay)
One of a duo of National Treasures RPAs to make the list, this landscape Colossal option features a massive patch, and a duo of rare parallels to chase. The auto is slightly smaller, but that won’t make a difference for high-end collectors.
- Parallels: Prime #/25, Super Prime 1/1
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4. 2021-22 Crown Royale Jalen Green RC #22 (eBay)
Whether it’s football, soccer, or basketball, Panini’s Kaboom! insert set features some of the most desirable modern cards for collectors to chase. Typically released at a rate of one per case, they’re especially rare, and the majority are valuable.
Instantly recognizable thanks to a unique design, it’s proof that you don’t always need an auto or a serial number. Green’s Kaboom! RC is one card which is likely to stand the test of time.
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3. 2021-22 Panini Prizm Jalen Green RC #306 (eBay)
The flagship Panini Prizm set is where you’ll find this rare Jalen Green rookie card. It uses a simple Prizm design, with a lined background making it instantly recognizable. As always, it’s one of the more expensive options if you’re looking at serial numbered parallels, of which there’s a rainbow of cards to chase.
Make no mistake, numbered parallels of this card can sell a high four-figure fee, and that’s before being graded.
- Parallels: Blue Wave, Green, Green Ice, Green Wave, Hyper, Ice, Blue NBA 75th, Orange Ice, Pink Ice, Pulsar, Purple Wave, Red/Gold Wave, Red Ice, Red/White/Blue, Ruby Wave, Silver, White Sparkle, Red #/299, Blue #/199, Purple Ice #/149, Blue Ice #/125, Purple #/99, Red NBA 75th Diamond #/75, Orange Wave #/60, Orange #/49, Pink Pulsar #/42, Choice Blue #/39, Purple Pulsar #/35, Blue Shimmer #/30, Green Pulsar #/25, Mojo #/25, Gold #/10, Gold Shimmer #/10, Gold Wave #/10, Lucky Envelope #/8, Black Gold #/5, Green Shimmer #/5, Black 1/1, Black Shimmer 1/1
- Choice Parallels: Blue/Yellow/Green, Tiger Stripes, Red #/88, Blue #/39, Red/Blue/Purple #/15, Green #/8, Nebula 1/1
- Fast Break Parallels: Base Fast Break, Blue #/150, Red #/100, Purple #/75, Pink #/50, Bronze #/20, Neon Green #/5
- Factory Set Parallels: Blue, Green, Orange, Purple, Red
- Premium Factory Set Parallels: Base #/150
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2. 2021-22 Contenders Jalen Green RC #102 (eBay)
2021-22 Contenders is where you’ll find a signed Jalen Green rookie card that nearly takes the top spot on this list. Rookie Tickets are some of the most popular and unique collectibles released each year, with a particularly strong aftermarket.
The set follows a traditional Rookie Ticket design, and comes with a handful of themed parallels. There’s also a photo variation, which can be easily identified as they have a white “V” inside a black circle on the back of the card. We’ve circled an example below.
- Ticket Parallels: Clear, Playoff #/99, The Finals #/49, Cracked Ice #/25, Championship 1/1
- Premium Edition Ticket Parallels: Base Premium Edition, Green Shimmer, Blue Shimmer FOTL #/20, Gold #/10, Red Shimmer FOTL #/5, Gold Shimmer FOTL 1/1, Gold Vinyl 1/1
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1. 2021-22 Panini National Treasures Jalen Green RPA #107 (eBay)
Green is included in the base Rookie Patch Autographs set found in the premium 2021-22 Panini National Treasures Basketball collection. The National Treasures RPA is the pinnacle of card collecting, with a strong brand association capped by some of the highest values you’re likely to see on the market.
- Parallels: NBA 75th #/75, Bronze #/49, Pink #/25, Gold FOTL #/24, Gold #/10, Purple FOTL #/8, Emerald #/5, Blue FOTL #/3, Logan 1/1
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Buyers Guide
We’ve put together a brief buyer’s guide for the best Jalen Green rookie cards on the market.
As a consequence of overproduced sets from 2021/22, there are numerous cheaper Jalen Green RCs for sale at any given time. We’d stick with serial numbered options whenever possible, although they do work out to be pretty expensive in this case.
The National Treasures RPA would be our first port of call, although the best graded versions are likely to set you back by at least five figures. Regardless, it’s hard to match the strong brand association seen with Green’s NT rookie card.
Final Thoughts
Fresh off of a strong rookie season that saw him enjoy an especially impressive second half, it’s no surprise that Jalen Green RCs are starting to pick up in values and interest. For now, Green understands that his team are rebuilding;
“Stay tuned, stay excited, stay with us,” Green said. “I mean it’s a rebuild. Just believe in the process, believe in the people that we have here. We are going to come here, work hard and hopefully this year, next year, the year after that we are just going to take off. So just stay patient with us.”
If you trust the process, his rookie cards should be seen as a no-brainer. He is one of the more exciting NBA players to collect.