Joel Embiid was on a journey to becoming a professional volleyball player in Europe at the age of 15 before being influenced by the legendary NBA Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon. Embiid then moved to the United States from Yaoundé, Cameroon, in pursuit of a professional basketball career.
Embiid played one season at Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida, before he shifted his direction to receive more playing time and enrolled at The Rock School in Gainesville, Florida. There, the most prestigious basketball universities discovered his basketball abilities.
Embiid was recruited by some of the most respected college basketball coaches in recent memory, including Bill Self and Rick Pitino. With countless scholarships offered to the budding star, Embiid decided to compete for the Kansas Jayhawks under Bill Self.
After one season at the University of Kansas, Embiid was regarded as the most talented player in the 2014 NBA Draft class. After injuries hindered his draft stock, Embiid fell to the Philadelphia 76ers as the third overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. Embiid's injuries persisted and derailed his first two NBA seasons.
Since making his debut in the 2016-17 NBA season, Joel Embiid has become one of the league's most dominant and feared players. Now in his 6th NBA season, Embiid has already received five NBA All-Star selections and was nominated three times to both the All-NBA Second Team and NBA All-Defensive Second Team.
As the 7'0" center continues to be the face of the Philadelphia 76ers and most dominant big man in the league, the value of his rookie cards will continue to soar. On that note, let's unveil the top 10 best Joel Embiid rookie cards.
#10
2014 Panini Prizm Joel Embiid Short Print Prizms Green RC #33 #'d/25
Recent sale: $600
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Born and raised in Yaoundé, Cameroon, Joel Embiid moved to the United States at the age of 16 to pursue a career in basketball after discovering Hakeem Olajuwon. With the guidance of former NBA player Luc Richard Mbah a Moute. Embiid ultimately enrolled at Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida, Mbah a Moute's alma mater. Embiid received little playing time at Montverde Academy, though after he put on a clinic with the Florida Elite AAU team, Embiid transferred to The Rock School in Gainesville, Florida, for his senior year.
2014 Panini Prizm was issued to collectors on December 4, 2014, in both hobby and jumbo boxes. Hobby boxes were configured with 20 packs of five cards, while jumbo boxes contained 10 packs of 15 cards. Embiid's Green Mojo rookie card appears in the SP Variations checklist, serial-numbered to 25 cards. Embiid's Green Mojo rookie card merited a BGS 9.5, with five copies receiving a higher grade.
Joel Embiid's early basketball career was a success, as the 6'11" senior led The Rock School to a 33-4 record and a state championship behind 13 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game. Although Embiid's 2014 Panini Prizm Green Mojo rookie card is his least condition-sensitive card on the list, it's a fitting start to his most valuable rookie card as his high school basketball career didn't begin the way he expected and paved the way for his future success and value of the remainder of his rookie cards.
#9
2014 Panini Donruss Joel Embiid Elite Status Signatures RC #24 #'d/125
Recent sale: $736
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By the end of Joel Embiid's senior season, he was a five-star recruit and received multiple offers from the top college basketball powerhouses. Embiid's first scholarship offer was by Bill Self's Kansas Jayhawks, followed by the Rick Pitino's Louisville Cardinals. Embiid also took official visits to play for the Texas Longhorns, Virginia Cavaliers, the Marquette Golden Eagles, and an unofficial visit to the Florida Gators. After narrowing down his preferred school to the Florida Gators, Kansas Jayhawks, and Texas Longhorns, Embiid ultimately signed his letter of intent to compete for the Kansas Jayhawks.
2014-15 Panini Donruss was issued to collectors on February 25, 2015, in 24 packs of eight cards. Embiid's rookie card is the highlight from the Elite Status Signatures checklist, serial-numbered to 125 cards. When combining PSA and BGS' population reports, Embiid's Elite Status Signatures rookie card has been graded 10 times, with two cards achieving a PSA 10 and one copy obtaining a BGS 9.5, the highest awarded grade from Beckett.
Embiid officially enrolled at the University of Kansas on July 13, 2013, and became an immediate force in the Big 12. Although Embiid's Elite Status Signatures rookie card is limited to 125 copies, which is the second-highest on the list, because only two cards received PSA's highest grade, Embiid's rookie card continues to be highly sought after.
#8
2014 Panini Gold Standard Joel Embiid Autographed Memorabilia Triple Patch RC #270 #'d/99
Recent sale: $799
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Before Joel Embiid ever took the floor for the Kansas Jayhawks in the 2013-14 season, he was named to the John R. Wooden Award preseason watch list, college basketball's highest honor, celebrating the most outstanding basketball player each year. The 7'0" center started in 20 of 28 games for the Kansas Jayhawks, averaging 11.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 2.6 blocks per game. Embiid led the Jayhawks to a 25-10 record, including 14-4 in the Big 12. In the final AP poll, Kansas was the 10th ranked school, earning the two seed in the 2013-14 NCAA Tournament; however, the Jayhawks were ultimately upset by the Stanford Cardinals in the round of 32.
Panini issued the 2014-15 Gold Standard set to collectors on January 28, 2015, in one pack of 10 cards, classified as a high-end product. Each card issued in Panini's Gold Standard set is serial-numbered, with each pack comprising at least one rookie jersey autograph card. Embiid's triple patch autograph card from 2014-15 Panini Gold Standard is limited to 99 copies. To date, only one of Embiid's 24 cards, roughly 4%, earned a PSA or BGS 10, highlighted by this particular sale of Embiid's PSA 10 triple patch autograph rookie card.
Despite the lack of the Kansas Jayhawks tournament success in the 2013-14 NCAA tournament, Embiid's individual accolades earned him to the 2013-14 All-Big 12 team, Big 12 All-Freshman, Big 12 All-Defense, and the 2013-14 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. Embiid declared himself eligible for the 2014 NBA Draft after his lone season at Kansas, exhibiting his incredible basketball talents and the significance of his 2014-15 Panini Gold Standard triple patch autograph rookie card.
#7
2014 Panini Noir Joel Embiid Autograph Patch Tags RC #231 #'d/5
Recent sale: $1,200
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Just before the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclay Center in Brooklyn, New York, Joel Embiid had a pre-draft workout with the Cleveland Cavaliers, who held the first overall pick in the draft. After impressing the franchise's front office, they announced they were selecting him with the number one pick in the draft. However, the day after Embiid's workout, he experienced pain in his right foot, which turned out to be a stress fracture in his navicular bone. The Cavaliers ultimately shied away, and Embiid was taken third overall by the Philadelphia 76ers. Embiid ended up having surgery for his right foot, forcing him to miss his 2014-15 rookie season. After attempting a comeback, 76ers doctors discovered Embiid re-injured his right navicular bone, forcing him to miss the 2015-16 season, delaying his NBA debut until the 2016-17 season.
Issued on September 16, 2015, 2014-15 Panini Noir catered towards high-end basketball collectors, comprising one pack of 12 cards in each hobby box. Embiid's rookie card from 2014-15 Panini Noir emerged from the Autographed Patch Rookie checklist, highlighted as a Tag parallel card, and serial-numbered to only five cards. Embiid's Tag parallel rookie card has a BGS population of three, all of which obtained a BGS 9.
When Joel Embiid re-injured his right navicular bone, the 76ers feared his injury was career-threatening, which would have directly impacted the value of his rookie cards. However, after rehabbing the injury for a second straight season, Embiid was set to make his highly anticipated NBA debut, preserving the value of Joel Embiid's rookie cards.
#6
2014 Panini Select Joel Embiid Prizms Tie Dye RC #90 #'d/25
Recent sale: $1,525
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Joel Embiid made his long-awaited NBA debut for the Philadelphia 76ers on October 26, 2016, scoring a team-high 20 points, along with seven rebounds and two blocked shots. In his 2016-17 rookie season, Embiid averaged 20.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 2.5 blocks per game while only averaging 25.4 minutes. Embiid's rookie season was precisely what the 76ers anticipated when they drafted him third overall; however, Embiid ultimately succumbed to yet another injury, tearing his meniscus, which required surgery, as he played only 31 games in his rookie season.
Making its first of two appearances containing Joel Embiid's most valuable rookie cards is the 2014-15 Panini Select basketball set. Debuting on April 3, 2015, Embiid's Prizms Tie Dye rookie card from the Concourse checklist is serial-numbered to 25 copies. Although eight of 19 (42%) of Embiid's Prizms Tie Dye rookie cards obtained a PSA or BGS 10, collectors praise Embiid's card from 2014-15 Panini Select.
Although Embiid suffered a season-ending injury just 31 games into his 2016-17 rookie season, voters saw enough of his phenomenal talents and presence he had on the court, honoring him to the 2016-17 All-Rookie Team. With Embiid's NBA career finally underway, hobbyists now witnessed the 7'0" center's brilliance, accumulating his rookie cards the moment they surfaced, particularly his 2014-15 Panini Select Prizms Tie Dye rookie card.
#5
2014 Panini Select Joel Embiid Rookie Jersey Autographs RC #3 #'d/199
Recent sale: $1,975
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After receiving surgery to repair his torn meniscus, Embiid recovered in time for the start of his sophomore 2017-18 season. Embiid signed a five-year $148 million contract with the franchise just before the season began. Through Embiid's 63 games in the 2017-18 season, the 76ers went 41-22 in games Embiid played and 11-8 when he didn't suit up. As Embiid's minutes increased, he averaged 22.9 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.8 blocks in his sophomore campaign. After guiding the 76ers to the 3rd seed in the Eastern Conference, the franchise defeated the Miami Heat in the First Round, though fell to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Embiid's second and final card from 2014-15 Panini Select is his Rookie Patch Autograph card, serial-numbered to 199. While eight of 18 Joel Embiid RPA cards obtained a PSA 10, none of the 34 cards analyzed by BGS fetched higher than a BGS 9.5, signifying only 15% of Embiid's RPA received the ultimate grade.
Embiid proved his worth in his sophomore season, illustrated by totaling 46 points, 15 rebounds, 7 assists, and 7 blocks versus the Los Angeles Lakers on November 15, 2017. As a result of his memorable season, Embiid was named to the 2018 NBA All-Star Game as a starter while becoming a member of both the All-NBA Second Team and the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. His 2017-18 season put him on the map as one of the most talented players in the league, where collectors took notice of the value of Joel Embiid's rookie cards.
#4
2014 Panini Prizm Joel Embiid Rookie Autographs Prizms Gold RC #3 #'d/10
Recent sale: $3,151
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In the 2018-19 season, Embiid took his talents to an entirely different level, averaging 27.5 points, 13.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.9 blocks per game en route to his second straight All-Star Game appearance as a starter. In a mundane early-season matchup versus the Phoenix Suns on October 27, 2018, Embiid tallied 34 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks, a stat line that has become routine for the 76ers center. This game, though, marked the moment when Embiid became the 7th player in NBA history to record 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 200 blocks through 100 career games, putting him in company with his idol Hakeem Olajuwon, who inspired Embiid to play basketball in the first place.
Joel Embiid's Gold Prizm rookie autograph card can be uncovered from a 2014-15 Panini Prizm hobby box, limited to only 10 copies. Embiid's Gold Prizm rookie autograph card has a PSA population of six, with three cards obtaining a PSA 10. Yet, this sale of Embiid's rookie card is graded a PSA 9, illustrating the potential value of a PSA 10.
Embiid's remarkable 2018-19 season, where he recorded 58 double-doubles, including two triple-doubles in 64 starts, earned him his second consecutive place on the All-NBA Second Team and NBA-All Defensive Second Team. Embiid's Gold Prizm rookie autograph card fetched four figures from a collector yet remains his 3rd most valuable rookie card from the 2014-15 Panini Prizm set.
#3
2014 Panini National Treasures Joel Embiid Rookie Patch Autographs Horizontal RC #103 #'d/10
Recent sale: $7,100
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In the 2019-20 NBA season, which culminated in the 2020 NBA Bubble, Embiid averaged 23.0 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game. Across 51 games, Embiid led the 76ers to a 32-19 record while totaling 37 double-doubles. The 76ers earned the 6th seed in the Eastern Conference but were swept by the Boston Celtics in the first round, despite Embiid averaging 30.0 points and 12.3 rebounds in the series.
Panini issued the 2014-15 National Treasures basketball set on August 19, 2015, marking the 6th consecutive year for Panini's highly coveted product. 2014-15 National Treasures is catered to high-end basketball card collectors, containing one pack of 10 cards. Surfacing from the Rookie Patch Autograph checklist is Joel Embiid's Horizontal parallel rookie card, limited to 10 copies. Embiid's 2014-15 Panini National Treasures RPA is one of his most condition-sensitive rookie cards, as only 6% obtained a PSA or BGS 10.
After averaging a double-double for his third straight season, Embiid achieved his third consecutive start for the Eastern Conference in the 2020 All-Star Game, accumulating 22 points and 10 rebounds in just 29 minutes. Embiid's 2014-15 Panini National Treasures Horizontal Rookie Patch Autograph is the Cameroonian's third most valuable rookie card and the first to reach five figures.
#2
2014 Panini Prizm Joel Embiid Prizms Gold RC #253 #'d/10
Recent sale: $21,100
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In the 2020-21 NBA season, Joel Embiid set a new career-high in points, averaging 28.5 points per game. Embiid also set career-highs in field-goal percentage, shooting 51.3% from the field, and free-throw percentage, shooting 85.9% from the line. For the season as a whole, Embiid compiled 28.5 points,10.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.4 blocks, guiding the 76ers to a 39-12 record in games Embiid played. The 76ers locked up the number one seed in the Eastern Conference behind a 49-23 record. In the prime of his career, Joel Embiid and the 76ers strived to seek playoff success, though they lost to the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Embiid's second most valuable card from the 2014-15 Panini Prizm set is a Gold Prizm parallel card. Embiid's Gold Prizm parallel rookie card is serial-numbered to 10, with only six cards that have surfaced. Of those six cards, three obtained either a PSA or BGS 10, including this particular copy.
Although the 76ers fell in the Eastern Conference Semifinals for the third straight year, Embiid earned his 4th consecutive All-Star Game nod as a starter, though he didn't participate this time around due to health protocols. Joel Embiid completed his fifth NBA season as one of the most dominant and consistent players in the league, solidifying the long-term value of his 2014-15 Panini Prizm Gold parallel rookie card.
#1
2014 Panini Prizm Joel Embiid Autographs Prizms Black Pulsar RC #79 #'d/1
Recent sale: $39,999
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In the current 2021-22 NBA season, Embiid is averaging new career-highs in points (29.4), assists (4.4), and three-pointers made (1.3) per game through his first 42 games. The Philadelphia 76ers are 28-14 when Embiid has played, versus 4-8 without their starting center. Sitting in 5th place in the Eastern Conference, the 76ers are just 2.5 games back of the 1st place Miami Heat. Embiid is setting the tone for the 2021-22 season, leading the NBA with 29.4 points per game and securing his 5th straight All-Star Game appearance.
Joel Embiid's most valuable rookie card emerged from none other than the 2014-15 Panini Prizm set, making its fourth appearance of Embiid's most coveted rookie cards. Embiid's Black Pulsar Prizm rookie card is his most limited rookie card, serial-numbered 1-of-1. Embiid's rookie card is graded an overall BGS 9.5, illustrated by a BGS 10 for centering, BGS 9 for corners, BGS 9.5 for surface, and a BGS 9.5 for the card's edges.
While Joel Embiid's 2021-22 NBA season statistics speak for themself, his primary goal is guiding the Philadelphia 76ers to an NBA championship. As Joel Embiid's 2014-15 Panini Prizm Black Pulsar Prizm rookie card is limited to only one copy, it will be his most coveted rookie card for years to come.
The Rise of Joel Embiid
While volleyball was his primary goal as a teenager, Joel Embiid has become one of the NBA's most talented players. Heading into the 2021-22 NBA season, Joel Embiid opened with +3900 odds to capture the 2021-22 MVP Award. After 42 games played, Embiid has jumped up to +240 odds and has become the betting favorite for the league's highest honor. Should Embiid continue playing at his unprecedented level for the remainder of the 2021-22 NBA season, he will win his first NBA MVP Award, influencing the inherent value of his rookie cards.
