The youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double, Josh Giddey was the sixth pick in the first round of the 2021 Draft. 

Giddey was impressive as he won four Western Conference rookie-of-the-month awards. However, he missed a large part of the season due to a hip injury, which also saw him relegated to the NBA All-Rookie second team at the expense of Houston’s Jalen Green. 

Given the slight lull, we think that it would be the perfect opportunity to look at some of the very best Josh Giddey rookie cards available right now. 

The Best Josh Giddey Rookie Cards

We’ve factored in everything from the overall rarity to potential values in the future when putting together this list of the top five Josh Giddey rookie cards.  

5. 2021-22 Donruss Rated Rookie Josh Giddey RC #202 (eBay)

2021-22 Donruss Basketball is a great place to begin. An ever-popular collection that focuses on the latest and greatest talent in the NBA, Giddey’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 clutches a ball 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

Check prices of Josh Giddey 2021 Donruss rookie cards on eBay 

4. 2021-22 Panini Origins Josh Giddey RPA #JA-JID (eBay)

The RPA found in 2021-22 Panini Origins is next up. The Rookie Jersey Autographs subset features a mix of rare parallels, with a generous patch and a stickered auto completing a strong design. 

However, there is one major caveat. The reverse notes; 

“The enclosed officially licensed material is not associated with any specific player, game, or event. The autograph is guaranteed by Panini America, Inc.”

What’s the point of adding it in the first place?

• Parallels: Red #/49, Blue #/25, Turquoise #/15, Gold #/10, Green #/5, Black 1/1

Check prices of Josh Giddey 2021 Panini Origins RPA on eBay 

3. 2021-22 Panini Donruss Josh Giddey RC #ND-JGD (eBay)

Giddey’s Next Day Autographs insert is found in 2021-22 Donruss Basketball. It’s proven to be another 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. 

Check prices of Josh Giddey 2021 Panini Donruss Next Day RC on eBay 

2. 2021-22 Panini Origins Josh Giddey RC #IK-GID (eBay)

2021-22 Panini Origins features an eye-catching Giddey 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

Check prices of Josh Giddey 2021 Panini Origins RCs on eBay 

1. 2021-22 Panini Contenders Josh Giddey RC #106 (eBay)

The 2021-22 Panini Contenders set is where you’ll find the Giddey card that 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 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

Check prices of Josh Giddey 2021 Contenders Rookie Ticket cards on eBay

Josh Giddey Rookie Cards: Buyers Guide 

Here’s what we think of the current state of the market for Giddey rookie cards. 

There’s no shortage of affordable Giddey RCs on the card market at any given time, especially considering the large print runs seen with modern sets. We’d stick with numbered parallels if possible, and the 2021/22 Panini Donruss set is a great place to begin.

Our pick as the best Josh Giddey rookie card has to be the 2021-22 Contenders Rookie Ticket. It has the most brand power, and it’s a collection which has a proven track record of reaping profits. 

Josh Giddey Rookie Cards: Buying/Selling Advice

Giddey was drawing significant Rookie of the Year buzz before his hip injury, and Oklahoma City are unquestionably at the beginning of a new era for the franchise. 

He’s a strong option to invest in, and is one of the more talented players to emerge from the stacked rookie class of 2021-22. Along with the likes of Cade Cunningham, they’re some of the more interesting RCs from the early part of the decade.

Further options that didn’t make the list include Panini Select, 2021-22 Panini Prizm, Panini National Treasures, Panini NBA Hoops, 2021-22 Panini Revolution, and many more. Average prices will differ depending on the set, and the card itself.