Top LaMelo Ball Rookie Cards to Collect
Even though an injury slowed him down in his first NBA season, the LaMelo Ball rookie cards saw plenty of interest in the hobby.
He capped the stellar campaign as the Rookie of the Year, beating out Anthony Edwards and others from the 2020-21 NBA rookie class.
Official LaMelo Ball rookie cards can be found in licensed NCAA and NBA sets from Panini across the 2020-21 basketball card season.
Key cards from his first year are covered below along with images and links to the full set details.
Fans wanting even earlier cards can find a few different Leaf LaMelo Ball autographs, including cards in 2018 Leaf Greatest Hits Basketball and 2018 Leaf Metal Sports Heroes.
For a real-time look at more choices, view the current auctions with the most bids on eBay.
Top LaMelo Ball Rookie Cards Base / Inserts
Bolded sets go directly to detailed product profiles and checklists. Shop for cards or check completed values using the eBay links.
2020-21 Donruss Rated Rookie LaMelo Ball RC #202
This Rated Rookie card is an early NBA release from 2020-21 Donruss Basketball. For some, this is the key budget card ahead of Hoops.
2020-21 Donruss Optic Rated Rookie LaMelo Ball RC #153
The key Rated Rookie card for Ball is from 2020-21 Donruss Optic NBA. The Optichrome parallels supply a nice chase, especially the low-numbered editions.
2020-21 Clearly Donruss Rated Rookie LaMelo Ball RC #87
The 2020-21 Clearly Donruss rookie is another Rated Rookie choice, but the main appeal here is the acetate design.
2020-21 NBA Hoops LaMelo Ball RC #223
The very first NBA rookie card for Ball came in 2020-21 NBA Hoops. The large supply makes it easy to find and relatively affordable. It can be very simple to grab thanks to the factory team sets.
2020-21 Panini Court Kings LaMelo Ball RC (4 versions)
Putting a graffiti style on cardboard, 2020-21 Court Kings Basketball is home to several artistic LaMelo Ball rookie cards. The tiered rookie subsets provide increasing rarity as the card number progresses.
For extreme rarity, his Blank Slate insert is very popular and valuable.
2020-21 Panini Crown Royale LaMelo Ball RC #79
Also unique, 2020-21 Crown Royale NBA sticks with the classic die-cut style for Ball's rookie. Watch those delicate edges, though.
And don't forget about the SSP Kaboom insert for Ball.
2020-21 Panini Prizm LaMelo Ball RC #278
If you want the top LaMelo Ball rookie card among the unsigned base offerings, many will turn to 2020-21 Prizm Basketball. While the base card itself is an in-demand option, things can get really intense for his low-numbered Prizms parallels.
There is also an exclusive image variation found only in certain formats.
2020-21 Panini Prizm Draft Picks LaMelo Ball RC #3
Another choice is his Prizm Draft Picks rookie, which features a much more generic look. This card is from the collegiate/international 2020-21 Panini Prizm Draft Picks Basketball.
He also has a second base RC featuring a white jersey, which is card #43.
2020-21 Panini Select LaMelo Ball RC (3 Versions)
As usual, Select NBA features three different rookie cards in the base set. Collectors can chase the different rarity tiers as well as some elaborate Prizm parallels.
Top LaMelo Ball Rookie Cards Autographs
The big problem for collectors looking at LaMelo Ball rookie card autographs is that many of his signed NBA cards were issued as redemptions. He does have several international autographs available from Panini's collegiate products.
2020-21 Panini Contenders LaMelo Ball RC #125 Autograph (Redemption)
One of several redemptions on the list, the LaMelo Ball rookie card in 2020-21 Contenders NBA should be hard-signed when it is redeemed. There are also variations.
If you can't wait, Ball has live autographs in 2020-21 Contenders Draft Picks.
2020-21 Panini Crown Royale LaMelo Ball RC #104 Autograph Jersey #/199 (Redemption)
2020-21 Crown Royale Basketball also offers the autographed LaMelo Ball rookies as redemptions. This includes his base Rookie Silhouettes card, as well as the die-cut Rookie Crown Autographs (#/99).
2020-21 Panini Impeccable Elegance LaMelo Ball RC #138 Autograph Patch #/99 (Redemption)
Continuing the redemption trend is 2020-21 Impeccable NBA. These premium rookie cards are limited to just 99 copies.
2020-21 Panini National Treasures LaMelo Ball RC #130 Autograph Patch #/99
If money is no object, the key LaMelo Ball rookie card comes in 2020-21 National Treasures Basketball. This RPA is arguably the top high-end choice thanks to the NT brand power.
2020-21 Panini Noir LaMelo Ball RC #301 Auto Patch #/99 (B&W), #341 Auto Patch #/99 (Color) (Redemption)
Each numbered to 99 copies, the premium 2020-21 Noir NBA has two different LaMelo Ball rookie cards. These RPAs come with either color or black-and-white photos.
2020-21 Panini Prizm LaMelo Ball RC Autograph (Redemption)
That brings us to 2020-21 Prizm Basketball. Once again, collectors must wait on the live autograph card and the Prizms parallels.
2020-21 Panini Prizm Draft Picks LaMelo Ball RC #PA-LB Autograph
As for those looking to get something now, 2020-21 Panini Prizm Draft Picks Basketball provides one of the more plentiful LaMelo Ball rookie card autographs to date. Part of the Prospect Autographs line, the card shows Ball during his professional career in Australia.
2020-21 Panini Spectra LaMelo Ball RC #215 Autograph Jersey #/99
The Prizm shine is also on display with 2020-21 Spectra Basketball. Although there are some parallels that come as redemptions, many of the signed cards are live in packs.
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