Victor Wembanyama is now set to begin his NBA career with the San Antonio Spurs, afterthey wonthe NBA draft lottery and the No. 1 overall pick on Tuesday night. The 7-foot-3 French 19-year-old is one of the most highly touted prospects in NBA history and will be expected to make an immediate impact on the league.
And he had a message for San Antonio.
“I’m trying to win a ring ASAP,” Wembanyama told ESPN after the lottery results. “So be ready.”
It’s the third time the Spurs have won the lottery, and on both previous occasions they made picks that paid off for decades. They chose David Robinson in 1987, Tim Duncan in 1997, and those selections were a major part of how the Spurs became a team that won five NBA titles under coach Gregg Popovich.
“Our future was already bright,” Spurs managing partner Peter J. Holt said. “Now, it’s going to be through the moon.”
Popovich and the Spurs have had incredible success with international players in the past — most notably, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, who owns the French team that Wembanyama played for last season.
“He’s an incredible young man,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver told ESPN as part of its draft lottery broadcast. “He clearly appears to be a generational talent.”
Wembanyama finished his regular season with Boulogne-Levallois of France’s top pro league earlier Tuesday, his 22-point effort good enough for him to clinch the league’s scoring title. It was shortly past 2 a.m. Wednesday in Paris when the lottery results were revealed, and Wembanyama was gathered with family and friends for a celebration.
“Can’t really describe it,” Wembanyama said in his interview with ESPN, adding “it’s a really special moment.”
Wembanyama is wrapping up his third professional season in France and has been the consensus top pick for months. He has the height of a center, the shooting touch of a wing and the passing ability of a point guard.
He wasn’t at the lottery because of his game schedule in France. But many of the other top prospects — Scoot Henderson of the G League Ignite, Brandon Miller of Alabama, twin brothers Amen and Ausar Thompson of the Overtime Elite program — were in the room to watch the lottery results get unveiled and get a little better idea of where they may be heading to start their NBA careers.
The 2022-23 Bowman Inception University checklist brings together college prospects from both basketball and football. Like other Inception releases dating back more than a decade, there’s a big focus on autographs. Outside of the base set, all other cards have signatures.
Consisting of 100 cards, the base set isn’t a huge one. When you take into account that it covers multiple sports, the concentration of key names is even more apparent. This is a product that is licensed so players are in uniforms and school logos are used.
Over a dozen parallels are available, all of which are numbered to 99 or less. That said, many of these use the same color for two different versions, likely changing up a pattern on the front as well.
The largest part of the 2022-23 Bowman Inception University checklist is the Base Autographs. At 190 cards, it’s almost double the size of the base set.
Other signature themes include Bowman U Top of the Class Autographs (/100), Primordial Prospects Autographs (/99), Short Print Inception Autographs (/10), and Class of 2023 Die-Cut Autographs (1/1).
Swatches are added to the mix in Inception Autograph Dual Relics (/99), Inception Autograph Jumbo Relics and Inception Autograph Nameplates.
2022-23 Bowman Inception University is the first product to have Victor Wembanyama autographs. Iowa standout Caitlin Clark also has autographs in the product.
In an effort to say thanks to our many customers in the San Antonio area, Texas, the United States and The Entire World, we vow to continue to improve your collecting experience at Sports Cards Plus. We will provide you with all your favorite products at LOW, Low, low prices and provide you a rewarding experience when you choose to open your purchases in our store.
Our goal is to ensure you agree "You Get More For Your Money at Sports Cards Plus." Throughout 2023, you will find MORE CASH PRIZES, MORE FREE GIVEAWAYS, and MORE SMILES on your faces when you shop at Sports Cards Plus.
Because of you, our many customers, Sports Cards Plus is now in our 31st successful year of providing a family-friendly collecting/shopping experience. Recently we were honored by Sports Collector's Digest Mikey Awards, named "Card Shop Of The Year" for 2022. And we will continue to improve in 2023.
As most of you know, we are a family business. I am joined by my son and adult grandchildren, dedicated to share our sports collecting knowledge with everyone who enters our store. We want you to be happy with your purchases, so we take the time to help you navigate the complexities of the sports collecting world.
Over the last 31 years, I have done my best to represent you, the collecting community at Manufacturer's Conferences/Summits/Meetings. I am on good terms with all the manufacturers and several distributors, and have their ear when discussing my customer's issues and wants.
Here is a short list of Sports Cards Plus efforts
--- First Card Shop to host Beckett Raw Card Review in 2010
--- First Card Shop to be named Card Shop of The Month by Beckett
--- First Card Shop to be named Card Shop of The Month by Upper Deck
--- Speaker at several "Sports Card Industry Summits," and "Topps Conferences"
--- Winner of the 2015 Panini NBA $75,000 Hobby Shop Makeover for selling the most NBA packs in the entire United States.
--- Gave customers $12,940.00 store credit in the 2022 Topps Chrome MVP Buyback Program.
--- Home Away From Home for Spurs Nation France.
--- Winner of Sports Collector's Digest Mikey Award for 2022 Card Shop of The Year.
Card Shop Of The Year – Sports Cards Plus in San Antonio
I have had the pleasure of knowing SCP’s owner Charlie DiPietro for close to two decades. He is a great family man who does a ton for his collectors. His card shop was previously recognized by winning a NBA Hobby Shop Makeover promotion. I had the pleasure of visiting Charlie’s shop before it won this opportunity and it looked great even before the $75,000 improvement prize and appearance by San Antonio’s own David Robinson.
I’m giving Charlie and his staff this recognition, because of being broken in more times than any other shop owner I know of, he continues to make taking care of his collectors his focus. This year I’ve taken delight in seeing many criminals who have broken into shops finding justice for their acts. I just hope eventually I get the same joy I seeing those who torment Charlie also get their day in court.
I’ve seen numerous promotions with on the spot cash prizes for pulling chase cards from participating products. He recently gave away $2500 to his collectors as part of a New Year’s promotion and his December prizes alone topped $5,000. It’s great to see shops go out of their way to reward their collectors and he’s seemingly always doing so.
Take a peek at the SCP Facebook page and you can see how much of a priority he make his collectors.
2022 Bowman’s Best University Football is the follow up to the highly successful 2022 Bowman Chrome University Football. The product includes current collegiate players in their full uniforms with school logos.
Keeping in line with the Bowman’s Best brand, the designs takes a bolder approach compared to Chrome. This includes both the base set and the checklist’s many inserts.
Hobby Master boxes have a pair of six-pack mini boxes. Each Master box includes two autographs and a dozen parallels.
2022 Bowman’s Best University Football Overview
The 100-card base set includes active collegiate players. Done on chromium stock, the look is big and bright.
The many Refractors only add to that. The rainbow includes:
Refractors – 1 per pack
Shimmer Refractors – 1:12 packs
Mini-Diamond Refractors – /299
Purple Refractors – /250
Aqua Lava Refractors – /199
Blue Refractors – /150
Aqua Lava Refractors – /100
Green Refractors – /99
Green Mini-Diamond Refractors – /99
Gold Lava Refractors – /75
Gold Refractors – /50
Orange Refractors – /25
Red Refractors – /10
Red Lava Refractors – /5
Superfractors – 1/1
Autographs and Inserts
Most of the signatures on the 2022 Bowman’s Best University Football checklist are found in Best of 2022 Autographs. Parallels include:
Refractors
Blue Refractors – /150
Green Refractors – /99
Gold Lava Refractors – /75
Gold Refractors – /50
Shimmer Refractors – /25
Red Refractors – /10
Red Lava Refractors – /5
Printing Plates – 1/1
Superfractors – 1/1
Dual Chrome Autographs (/25) and Triple Chrome Autographs (/15) add some multi-signature content. Both of these also have Red Lava Refractors (/5) and Superfractors (1/1).
A half-dozen other insert sets are also on the 2022 Bowman’s Best University Football checklist.
Gunslingers and Bandits use a die-cut design that’s inspired by the Old West. The idea behind these is to pair up the NCAA’s top quarterbacks with the best defenders. Landing 1:12 packs, there’s approximately one per hobby box.
Others include Campus Captains (1:3 packs), Fight Song (1:6 packs), Neon Neophytes (1:6 packs) and Bowman Masterpieces (1:18 packs). All of these have Shimmer Refractors, Lava Refractors (/50), Orange Refractors (/25) and Superfractors (1/1).
Select cards for Bowman Masterpieces, Fight Song, Gunslingers and Bandits, and Neon Neophytes also have autograph versions numbered to 99. Shimmer Refractors (/25) and Superfractors (1/1) are also available. Gunslingers and Bandits, and Neon Neophytes Autographs also have Lava Refractors (/50).
Rounding out the inserts is Constellations of Greatness, which are extremely scarce. At 1:480 packs, they’re approximate 1:40 boxes or every fifth case. Superfractors (1/1) are the only standard parallels here. Autographs have 10 copies plus Superfractors (1/1).
2022 Bowman’s Best University Football Autographs
Best of 2022 Autographs Checklist
75 cards.
Parallels:
Refractors
Blue Refractors – /150
Green Refractors – /99
Gold Lava Refractors – /75
Gold Refractors – /50
Shimmer Refractors – /25
Red Refractors – /10
Red Lava Refractors – /5
Printing Plates – 1/1 (each has Black, Cyan, Magenta and Yellow versions)
Superfractors – 1/1
BA-AA Andrel Anthony, The University of Oklahoma BA-AD Akeem Dent, Florida State BA-AO Aiden O’Connell, Purdue BA-AR Anthony Richardson, Florida BA-AS Austin Stogner, The University of Oklahoma BA-BC Blake Corum, Michigan BA-BK Brant Kuithe, Utah BA-BN Bo Nix, Oregon BA-BO BJ Ojulari, LSU BA-BR Bijan Robinson, Texas BA-CM Cade McNamara, Iowa BA-CR Cam Rising, Utah BA-CT Clayton Tune, Houston BA-CW Caleb Williams, USC BA-CWA Cameron Ward, Washington State University BA-DF Dequan Finn, Toledo BA-DJ Domani Jackson, USC BA-DT Dallas Turner, Alabama BA-DTR Dorian Thompson-Robinson, UCLA BA-DU DJ Uiagalelei, Oregon State BA-ER Eli Ricks, Alabama BA-EW EJ Williams, Indiana University BA-GM Graham Mertz, Florida BA-HH Hendon Hooker, Tennessee BA-HT Henry To’o To’o, Alabama BA-IA Israel Abanikanda, Pittsburgh BA-IN Isaiah Neyor, Texas BA-IR Isaac Rex, BYU BA-JA Jordan Addison, USC BA-JAA Jayson Ademilola, Notre Dame BA-JB Jermaine Burton, Alabama BA-JC Junior Colson, Michigan BA-JD Josh Downs, UNC BA-JE John Emery, LSU BA-JF Julian Fleming, Ohio State BA-JG Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama BA-JH Jaren Hall, BYU BA-JL JC Latham, Alabama BA-JR Jayden Reed, Michigan State BA-JSA Jack Sawyer, Ohio State
BA-JT Jordan Travis, Florida State BA-JUA Justin Ademilola, Notre Dame BA-KAM Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama BA-KB Kayshon Boutte, LSU BA-KJ KJ Jefferson, Arkansas BA-KM Kenny McIntosh, Georgia BA-LD Logan Diggs, Notre Dame BA-MS Maason Smith, LSU BA-MT Mitchell Tinsley, Penn State BA-ND Nathaniel Dell, Houston BA-NS Nolan Smith, Georgia BA-NSI Nick Singleton, Penn State BA-PJ Phil Jurkovec, Pittsburgh BA-PT Payton Thorne, Michigan State BA-RB Ronnie Bell, Michigan BA-RD Re’Mahn Davis, Kentucky BA-RH Ryan Hilinski, Northwestern BA-RJ Rakim Jarrett, Maryland BA-SB Stetson Bennett, Georgia BA-SH Sam Hartman, Notre Dame BA-TB Tyler Buchner, Notre Dame BA-TG Tony Grimes, Texas A&M BA-TH Traeshon Holden, Oregon BA-TS Trenton Simpson, Clemson BA-TT Tavion Thomas, Utah BA-TZH Ta’Zhawn Henry, Houston BA-WA Will Anderson, Alabama BA-WL Will Levis, Kentucky BA-WS Will Shipley, Clemson BA-WW Winston Wright, Florida State BA-XH Xavier Hutchinson, Iowa State BA-XV Xazavian Valladay, Arizona State BA-XW Xavier Worthy, Texas BA-ZE Zach Evans, Ole Miss BA-ZH Zach Harrison, Ohio State
Bowman Masterpieces Autographs Checklist
6 cards.
Parallels:
Shimmer Refractors – /25
Superfractors – 1/1
BM-1 Dillon Gabriel, The University of Oklahoma /99 BM-2 Bryce Young, Alabama /99 BM-3 Tyler Buchner, Notre Dame /99 BM-4 Caleb Williams, USC /99 BM-5 Jordan Addison, USC /99 BM-6 Bo Nix, Oregon /99
Constellations of Greatness Autographs Checklist
15 cards.
Parallels:
Superfractors – 1/1
COG-1 Bryce Young, Alabama /10 COG-2 CJ Stroud, Ohio State /10 COG-3 Will Anderson, Alabama /10 COG-4 Phil Jurkovec, Pittsburgh /10 COG-5 Caleb Williams, USC /10 COG-6 Will Levis, Kentucky /10 COG-7 Tyler Van Dyke, Miami /10 COG-8 Jordan Addison, USC /10 COG-9 Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State /10 COG-10 Stetson Bennett, Georgia /10 COG-11 Bo Nix, Oregon /10 COG-12 Dillon Gabriel, The University of Oklahoma /10 COG-13 Anthony Richardson, Florida /10 COG-14 Jalen Carter, Georgia /10 COG-15 Kelee Ringo, Georgia /10
Dual Autographs Checklist
5 cards.
Parallels:
Red Lava Refractors – /5
Superfractors – 1/1
DA-GM Dillon Gabriel / Marvin Mims, The University of Oklahoma /25 DA-RB Stetson Bennett / Anthony Richardson, Georgia / Florida /25 DA-SS CJ Stroud / Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State /25 DA-WA Jordan Addison / Caleb Williams, USC /25 DA-YA Will Anderson / Bryce Young, Alabama /25
Fight Song Autographs Checklist
14 cards.
Parallels:
Shimmer Refractors – /25
Superfractors – 1/1
FS-1 Bryce Young, Alabama /99 FS-3 Stetson Bennett, Georgia /99 FS-4 Caleb Williams, USC /99 FS-5 Dillon Gabriel, The University of Oklahoma /99 FS-7 Anthony Richardson, Florida /99 FS-8 Jordan Travis, Florida State /99 FS-9 Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss /99 FS-10 Will Levis, Kentucky /99 FS-13 Jordan Addison, USC /99 FS-14 Bo Nix, Oregon /99 FS-15 Sean Clifford, Penn State /99 FS-16 JJ McCarthy, Michigan /99 FS-18 Nick Singleton, Penn State /99 FS-20 Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama /99
Gunslingers and Bandits Die-Cuts Autographs Checklist
15 cards.
Parallels:
Lava Refractors – /50
Shimmer Refractors – /25
Superfractors – 1/1
GB-1 Caleb Williams, USC /99 GB-2 Dillon Gabriel, The University of Oklahoma /99 GB-5 Stetson Bennett, Georgia /99 GB-6 Will Levis, Kentucky /99 GB-8 Bo Nix, Oregon /99 GB-9 Hendon Hooker, Tennessee /99 GB-10 Will Rogers, Mississippi State /99 GB-13 Jordan Battle, Alabama /99 GB-14 Kelee Ringo, Georgia /99 GB-15 Eli Ricks, Alabama /99 GB-16 Bryce Young, Alabama /99 GB-20 Trenton Simpson, Clemson /99 GB-22 Graham Mertz, Florida /99 GB-24 Jaren Hall, BYU /99 GB-25 Cam Rising, Utah /99
Neon Neophytes Autographs Checklist
17 cards.
Parallels:
Lava Refractors – /50
Shimmer Refractors – /25
Superfractors – 1/1
NN-1 Caleb Williams, USC /99 NN-2 CJ Stroud, Ohio State /99 NN-3 Bryce Young, Alabama /99 NN-4 Stetson Bennett, Georgia /99 NN-5 Tyler Van Dyke, Miami /99 NN-6 Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama /99 NN-7 Trevor Etienne, Florida /99 NN-8 Jordan Addison, USC /99 NN-9 Marvin Mims, The University of Oklahoma /99 NN-10 Will Anderson, Alabama /99 NN-11 Jalen Carter, Georgia /99 NN-12 Maason Smith, LSU /99 NN-13 BJ Ojulari, LSU /99 NN-14 Kelee Ringo, Georgia /99 NN-15 Eli Ricks, Alabama /99 NN-17 Akeem Dent, Florida State /99 NN-18 Jordan Battle, Alabama /99
Triple Autographs Checklist
5 cards.
Parallels:
Red Lava Refractors – /5
Superfractors – 1/1
TA-ACS Nolan Smith / Jalen Carter / Will Anderson, Georgia / Alabama /15 TA-ASD Jordan Addison / Josh Downs / Jaxon Smith-Njigba, USC / UNC / Ohio State /15 TA-JVB Phil Jurkovec / Tyler Van Dyke / Tyler Buchner, Pittsburgh / Miami / Notre Dame /15 TA-NHW Cameron Ward / Jaren Hall / Bo Nix, Washington State University / BYU / Oregon /15 TA-YSW Bryce Young / CJ Stroud / Caleb Williams, Alabama / Ohio State / USC /15
To celebrate this year’s MVPs, we’re launching the Topps MVP Buyback. Starting on November 26, 2022, you can bank store credit with your local hobby store in exchange for ‘22 Topps Chrome cards of Aaron Judge and Paul Goldschmidt.
HOW IT WORKS
1. Open Packs of 2022 Topps Chrome Baseball to find card #99 of Aaron Judge and card #82 of Paul Goldschmidt.
2. Trade them in for store credit for anything (singles, packs, boxes, memorabilia, supplies) at Sports Cards Plus.
BUYBACK STORE CREDIT PRICING
Base Cards..............................$ 20 each
Refractors................................$ 40 each
Cards Numbered >/100...........$100 each
Cards Numbered </100...........$200 each
Please Note: Topps has asked us to keep track of customers and their cards traded-in.
We reserve the right to limit the number of cards submitted.
Find Aa1ron Judge and Paul Goldschmidt in Topps Chrome 2022
Justin Herbert has been one of the NFL's top young stars in his first two seasons, and collectors have taken notice.
According to Goldin, an autographed Herbert Panini National Treasures Platinum NFL Shield autographed rookie card from 2020 sold for $1.8 million in September 2022.
Herbert, 24, followed up an excellent rookie season by throwing for 5,014 yards, 38 touchdowns and 15 interceptions while completing 65.9 percent of his passes in 2021. While he couldn't quite get the 9-8 Los Angeles Chargers into the playoffs, he did help the team improve by two wins from the prior season.
And his memorabilia sales reflected his growing star. In September 2022, his 2020 Panini Prizm Black Finite rookie card sold for $1.1 million, per ESPN's Dan Hajducky. Both that card and his National Treasures were 1-of-1, adding to their value.
In September 2021, The 2020 Panini Prizm JUSTIN HERBERT Black Finite Autographed Rookie Card was pulled at Sports Cards Plus, a.k.a. The Super Hit Factory.
If the non-autographed version sold for 1,100,000.00, what is the value of the 2020 Prizm Justin Herbert Black Finite Autographed Rookie Card?
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