It’s no surprise that the best Steph Curry rookie cards retail for at least five figures. In fact, they could easily sell for more by the time he decides to retire.

After leading the Golden State Warriors to a trio of championships in 2014–15, 2016–17, and 2017–18 and to the best regular-season record in league history (73–9) in 2015–16, Stephen Curry has staked his claim as one of the greatest point guards of all time and as the greatest shooter in NBA history.

Here’s a roundup with a trio of the best Steph Curry rookie cards, along with a guide looking at their potential prices in the future. 

The Best Steph Curry Rookie Cards

Curry’s regular-season NBA debut came on Oct. 28, 2009 after the Golden State Warriors selected him with the No. 7 pick in the 2009 draft. As such, his cards are found in 2009-10 sets. These are high-end basketball cards, with sales reverberating through the entire sports card market.

3. 2009-10 Panini Classics Stephen Curry RC #166 /499 (eBay)

Curry was included as one of the Autograph Rookies in 2009-10 Panini Classics NBA Basketball. It’s a coveted card that shows the player mid-pass in a great action shot. 

One of the pricier Steph Curry RCs, there’s also a patch version (Timeless Threads) that uses a similar design, limited to 265 copies. 

Panini secured the licenses to print cards in basketball, football and hockey in time for the 2009-10 season. They produced a number of high quality sets focusing on the NBA. 

Unfortunately, the Classics brand didn’t last long, while the print run (499) is on the higher side. The addition of an on-card auto is what helps to add value in the present day. 

Card autographs and a limited print make it an interesting set to look at. 

2. 2009-10 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Stephen Curry RC #101 /225 (eBay)

The 2009-10 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection contains some of the most valuable Steph Curry RC autographs on the market. As with the Classics issue above, it also has an on-card signature which helps to drive significant interest.

A print run of 225 makes it rarer than most, and the serial number is found on the front in an understated design. 

This premium set was already expensive when it was originally released, and it has only continued to increase in price over the last decade. 

1. 2009-10 Topps Chrome Refractor Stephen Curry RC #101 /999 (eBay)

The 2009-10 Topps Chrome refractor has to be seen as the best Curry RC based on its future investment potential.

It’s a basic RC in many respects, lacking an autograph or a patch, while a print run of 999 for base copies means that it isn’t rare by any means. The design features a simple profile shot of the player, with a small ‘rookie card’ logo found on the top left corner. 

Most of the value is derived from the flagship Topps Chrome brand, although the card has become iconic over the last decade or so. There are also rarer Refractor parallels, including a Gold version limited to just 50 copies.  

Despite the simple design, it’s one of the more popular Stephen Curry trading cards. As regular cards go, it’s hard to beat. 

Check Steph Curry Topps Chrome rookie cards on eBay

Steph Curry Rookie Cards: Buyers Guide 

We’ve put together a quick guide looking at some of the best Stephen Curry investment cards in existence.

Any of the numbered true rookie cards from 2009-10 are likely to be a great investment over the next few years, although they don’t come cheap. 2019 Panini Prestige is an affordable alternative, even if you’re looking at PSA 9 graded copies. Alternatively, you could also check out his Color Blast card.

The Topps Chrome RC is the one most collectors want, closely followed by the Exquisite Collection auto. Considering the rarer Refractor parallels found with the Topps card, we think it has a great chance of breaking sale records in the future. 

Cheaper Stephen Curry basketball cards can be found if you look for a sticker autograph, or card options from less popular sets. 

Final Thoughts

Steph Curry helped to revolutionise the sport. He led the way for the many three-point shooters and smaller players that we see today. 

At 34, retirement is also on the distant horizon, although he still has at least a few seasons left in the tank. The two-time NBA MVP is contracted through the 2025-26 season.

Collectors also love him, as he’s one of the players sent off most frequently for grading to PSA. We’d keep an eye on Stephen Curry rookie prices, which should see a decent bump when he calls time on a glittering career.

His rookie cards have risen in price rapidly over the past 13 years. There’s no reason why they won’t hold value long-term. This makes them one of the safer investment options in the sport if you’re looking at current players. 

They might not be as expensive as a Michael Jordan patch auto, but options from Stephen Curry’s rookie season are still valuable cards. The latter is one of the more popular players in the sport, with a heap of expensive rookie cards to choose from.

Stephen Curry collectors are spoiled for choice in terms of base cards, parallel cards, and card autographs from his rookie year. Topps Chrome is where you’ll find the most iconic card, including some of the rarest copies in existence. 

Alternative players include Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, and various other certified Hall of Famers.