Cooper Flagg's Rookie Patch Auto Just Sold for $8.04 Million, the Fifth Most Expensive Sports Card Ever
A 2026 Topps Chrome Updates NBA Draft Debut Patch autograph of Cooper Flagg sold for $8.04 million on September 25, surpassing a $7.25 million Honus Wagner card and landing behind only Jordan, Bryant and Mantle. The sale caps a wild rookie season for the Maine native, who also opened his own card shop in Bangor this month.
A Record Morning for Basketball Cards
Early Friday morning on September 25, 2026, a 2026 Topps Chrome Updates NBA Draft Debut Patch autograph of Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg sold for $8.04 million, instantly becoming the fifth most expensive sports card ever sold at public auction.
The sale surpasses the $7.25 million a Honus Wagner T206 card fetched four years earlier, and trails only cards featuring Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Mickey Mantle on the all-time list. It is also the largest sum ever paid for a modern rookie patch autograph of any active player.
Why Collectors Are Betting Big on Flagg
Flagg was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft out of Duke, and his rookie season did nothing to cool demand. He averaged 21 points per game, the most of any rookie in the league, became the youngest player in NBA history to score 50 points in a single game, and was named NBA Rookie of the Year as the second-youngest recipient ever, behind only LeBron James.
Since March Madness alone, at least six different Flagg cards have sold for $11,000 or more, and the market for his rookie patch autographs has only accelerated since draft night.
A Hometown Tie
Flagg is a Maine native, and earlier this month he opened his own trading card shop in downtown Bangor, where the line reportedly started forming at 3 a.m. on opening day. The $8.04 million sale gives his home state hobby scene another moment in the spotlight, just weeks after that shop opening made national headlines.
What This Means for the Modern Card Market
- Modern rookie patch autographs of generational prospects can now compete directly with vintage icons at auction.
- Flagg's card is the highest price ever paid for an active player's card, in any sport.
- Expect continued volatility in Flagg's broader card market as more copies of similar products surface.
Cards like this rarely change hands at a typical shop, but the ripple effects reach local card shops everywhere, from case-break pricing to what collectors expect a top rookie card to be worth. Find a card shop near you at The Card Shop Finder.