Damian Lamonte Ollie Lillard Sr. enters his 10th season in the NBA after leading the Portland Trail Blazers to the playoffs each of the last eight years. In the 2012 NBA draft, Lillard was the sixth overall selection. He hit the ground running in his rookie season and was the 2012-13 NBA Rookie of the Year Award winner. With how great his career has been, one would think that many of his rookie cards would each garner at least four figures. However, just five of the 13 best Damian Lillard rookie cards sold for at least $1,000. 11 of the 13 cards on this list are of the Panini variety, but the first exclusive partnership that Leaf Trading Cards made was with Damian Lillard. It was the first company -- and only company during his rookie year -- to include Lillard autographs and signed memorabilia.
The 31-year-old point guard is by far the best player to ever come out of Weber State University. He is the only NBA player from that school to average double-digit points (24.7 PPG) or even two assists per game (6.6 APG). The six-time NBA all-star has played so well for the Trail Blazers that he received a contract extension that will earn him $54.25 million in the 2024-25 season. He also made the 2020-21 All-NBA 2nd Team.
The 6-foot-2-inch, 195-pound basketball superstar has many accolades and during his rookie year, he won six Rookie of the Month Awards. More recently, he was the leader in Offensive Win Shares in 2019-20 and finished second in the category in the 2020-21 season. The Oakland, California native has time for some more playoff runs, which will surely allow for him to continue to show off his brilliance on the basketball hardwood. Here are the most valuable Damian Lillard rookie cards sold on eBay over the last 90 days.
#13
2012 Panini Brilliance Damian Lillard Starburst RC #283
Recent sale: $425
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Our list of Damian Lillard basketball cards begins on an interesting note, as we have a "Starburst" card. Not to be confused with the candy -- fun fact, Starbursts used to be known as "Opal Fruits" -- the Lillard Starburst rookie card is a striking card that received a near-perfect score from Beckett.
The 2012-13 Panini Brilliance Lillard Starburst RC is the first of four consecutive Panini cards. The trading card company will be a frequent part of this list. 18 percent of the cards seen have the grade PSA/BGS 10+. 40 percent of the cards seen by PSA are PSA 10 while there are no BGS 10 or Black Label Panini Brilliance Lillard Starburst cards.
This card of Lillard dribbling has three parallels, including the base card, Above and Beyond, and the Artists Proofs. The Starburst parallel is by far the most aesthetically pleasing, but the Artists Proofs would surely carry more value due to the Lillard card having a print run of just 10. This Lillard Starburst card does not have a limited print run.
#12
2012 Panini Elite Series Damian Lillard Rookie Elite Series RC #1 #'d/199
Recent sale: $425
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At just $425 for this card as well, the Damian Lillard rookie card value is not as high as expected and that is once again due to Lillard's exclusive partnership with Leaf. Interestingly, this card has a limited print run of 199 -- while the base cards in the set had a print run of 249 -- but this Rookie Elite Series card sold for the same price as the No. 13 card on the list. At PSA 9, this card carries the lowest Professional Sports Authenticator grade on this list.
33 percent of the 2012-13 Panini Elite Series Damian Lillard Rookie Elite Series rookie cards seen by PSA were PSA 10, which makes this card less condition sensitive and decreases the value of this card. This Panini Elite series card is the first of three landscape cards on this list. It is also the first of two Panini Elite cards, and you will be impressed to see where the best landscape card ranks.
Another 33 percent mark for this Elite Series card represents how many cards have a higher grade than this one. This 33 percent mark is the highest on this list, and that is understandable for the No. 12 card on this list. With each of the No. 12 and No. 13 cards on this list selling for below $500, both of them provide the buyer decent value with Lillard priming for his fifth consecutive All-Star Game selection this year.
#11
2012 Panini Marquee Damian Lillard Base Rookie RC #151
Recent sale: $500
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Let us continue the Panini train, and the beginning of three consecutive base cards starts now. Not only does the 2012-13 Panini Marquee set have a classic look, but this Lillard Base rookie card is also very flashy. With this being the first base card on the list, we finally have some volume for this card's population. However, this is one of 25 PSA 10 cards seen. The 25 cards are the second-highest card population on this list.
One may speculate that collectors have flocked toward PSA because BGS has not given out a BGS 10+ grade for any of the first three cards on this list. All 31 of these BGS cards seen have a BGS 9.5 grade or lower. Conversely, PSA has given out multiple PSA 10 grades for each of the first three cards. While the PSA/BGS 10+ percentage for this card is 19 percent -- fourth-highest on the list -- the 26 percent mark in terms of PSA 10 grades is ranked all the way down at ninth.
#10
2012 Panini Intrigue Damian Lillard Autograph Player Worn RC #119 #'d/49
Recent sale: $540
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We bring it back to the landscape for our first jersey patch and first autograph card on the list. Yet again, we have a Panini card that has not seen a BGS 10+ grade. This 2012-13 Panini Intrigue Damian Lillard Autograph Player Worn RC is a steal at $540, but it is the lowest BGS grade on this list at BGS 9 with 10 percent of cards seen having a higher grade. Although 10 percent seems like a low mark, it is the second-highest one on this list.
This card is one of just four remaining on this 13-card list that has a limited print run, and it ranks third on the list with it being numbered of 49. This is the first of four cards of the 13 without any PSA/BGS 10+ grades. Therefore, if someone can pull a Panini Intrigue Lillard Autograph Player Worn rookie card in tremendous condition, it could be worth a pretty penny and push toward the top of a list like this.
Another 2012-13 Panini Intrigue Lillard card was sold within the last 30 days, and it was the Damian Lillard Intriguing Players Gold rookie card, which had a limited print run of 10. However, it did not rank on the top 13 due to it selling for just $160. The card had a grade of BGS 9.
#9
2012 Leaf Signature Series Damian Lillard Black and White Autograph RC #BB-DL1
Recent sale: $600
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Finally, we have a card that is not part of a Panini set, as we dip into the Leaf Signature Series. The Damian Lillard Black and White Autograph rookie card is a part of a unique set of 48 cards that includes an exclusive Lillard autograph. Included in this set are players like Hall of Famers Clyde Drexler, Dennis Rodman, Dominique Wilkins, and Scottie Pippen.
Lillard, a future Hall of Famer, will most likely reach the 20,000-point milestone, which has been reached by just 50 players in basketball history. Unfortunately for Lillard, he has a lack of championship accolades. Like Wilkins, the Blazers point guard does not have any rings. This card was sold at $600, which was the best offer that the seller received.
As he looks to gear up a championship run in the 2021-22 season with the dark horse Trail Blazers, collectors can get in cards like this classic one. He is pictured in his No. 1 jersey from his Weber State days, and this is just one of two cards on this list of him in a college uniform.
Just seven percent of these cards have a PSA/BGS 10+ grade, and that mark ranks a lowly eighth on this list. With this card being relatively condition sensitive, that is what makes a PSA 10 card like this one so valuable. Meanwhile, 90 percent of the BGS cards seen are BGS 9.5 while just six percent are BGS 10+. It may have been the right decision to go with PSA for this type of card.
#8
2012 Panini Damian Lillard Gold Knight RC #262
Recent sale: $650
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This PSA 10 card has been seen the fewest of any of the cards on this list, as just a combined three cards have been seen by PSA and BGS. It is an oddity that this card has not been seen very much, as it does not have a limited print run. BGS has yet to give this card a BGS 10+, so it is surprising that this PSA 10 card did not go for more than $650. It seems to be a steal at this price.
This 2012-13 Panini Damian Lillard Gold Knight card comes from the 300-card set, which has 14 insert sets and three parallel sets. In addition to the base card, there are two parallels for this Gold Knight card: the Black Knight and Silver Knight sets. Each of the Black Knight cards is numbered of 10. Neither the Gold Knight nor the Silver Knight cards have limited print runs. In each box, you get seven Knight cards. In addition, there are the Knights of the Round, and there is one Knights of the Round card per case, but unfortunately, Lillard is not one of the 20 players featured with that insert set.
#7
2012 Panini Preferred Damian Lillard Crown Royale Jersey Autograph RC #582 #'d/99
Recent sale: $758
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The most recent sale on this list is the oddly-priced $758 card that was purchased on August 22, 2021. It is a BGS 9.5 card, the most popular grade in the population: 51 percent of the cards seen received this grade, and that mark is the third-highest one on this 13-card list.
This 2012-13 Panini Preferred Damian Lillard Crown Royale Jersey Autograph RC has unique lettering and shows off Lillard's patented signature that you usually see on his cards. Other future Hall of Famers Anthony Davis (2012 No. 1 overall draft pick) and Bradley Beal (No. 3 pick) can also be found in this set.
It is somewhat of a surprise that this card numbered of 99 did not make it to four figures. It may be due to the fact that there are so many BGS 9.5 cards. Just six percent of the cards seen were PSA/BGS 10+, and that mark ranks ninth on this list. Anyone who can get a grade of 10+ from either PSA or BGS on this Lillard Panini Preferred card would have tremendous value on his or her hands.
#6
2012 Leaf Ultimate Draft Damian Lillard State Pride RC #SP-DL1
Recent sale: $995
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The highest-priced card on this list coming from a company other than Panini is this 2012 Leaf Ultimate Draft Damian Lillard State Pride RC. It also has the most parallels of any of the 13 cards. Included in those eight parallel sets are printing plates with four different colors: black, cyan, magenta, and yellow.
This is a nice BGS 10 card, which represents just four percent of the total population for this card -- the lowest mark on this list. It almost cracked the top five on the list, but it did not get into four digits in terms of price. The card, which pictures Lillard as a Weber State Wildcat in landscape view, celebrates the state in which the former college star went to school: Utah.
The card depicts the flag of the state of Utah, where Lillard played four seasons. This pristine BGS 10 card by Leaf is surely unique in terms of its background and with Leaf's exclusivity deal, the seller could have received more than $1,000 for the card. Interestingly, PSA has been very kind to this card: 86 percent of cards seen are PSA 10.
#5
2012 Panini Innovation Damian Lillard Stained Glass Purple RC #37
Recent sale: $1,100
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For the final five cards on this list, we will be at least $1,100 and all of them are Panini cards. The best offer was accepted for four of the five cards, including this one. The card was originally listed at $1,999.99, so the difference was almost $900.
This card is one of three BGS 9.5 grades in the top five. PSA has yet to see this card, which is the only stained glass variation on the list. The 2012-13 Panini Innovation Damian Lillard Stained Glass Purple RC was released about a month and a half before the 2013-14 NBA season began.
This is the second-highest ranked card on this list that did not have a PSA/BGS 10+ card seen. 100 percent of the Lillard Stained Glass Purple rookie cards seen are BGS 9.5, so if there is eventually a BGS 10 or PSA 10, then that could top a list like this one.
#4
2012 Panini Select Damian Lillard Prizms RC #150
Recent sale: $1,300
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Here is the only Prizms parallel set card on the list, and it is another BGS 9.5 card. It is surprising that this card topped the No. 5 card, especially because it has the second-highest percentage of PSA/BGS 10+ cards seen on this list: 28 percent.
It also has the second-highest number of cards seen on this list, and interestingly, none of them are BGS 10+. BGS has not been kind, as this is one of the 38 percent of BGS 9.5 cards.
The autographed Prizms were numbered of 99, but the ones that are not autographed -- the first 150 cards of the Prizms parallel set -- do not have a limited print run. Meanwhile, the Prizms Black cards are numbered of one, the Prizms Gold cards are numbered of 10, and some of the Prizms Green cards are numbered of 10.
#3
2012 Panini Elite Damian Lillard Status Gold RC #257 #'d/24
Recent sale: $1,600
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We have entered the top three, all of which have sold for more than $1,500. This 2012-13 Panini Elite Damian Lillard Status Gold RC has the lowest print run on this list, and it is the highest-ranked card with a PSA 10 grade.
Just 10 percent of the cards seen have a PSA/BGS 10+ grade, so this rare find is an impressive one for this Lillard rookie card. This card has neither an autograph nor a jersey patch, but it is the only die-cut card on this list.
The Panini Elite Status Black parallel set is all numbered of 1 while some of the Status parallel sets are numbered of 1 as well. The Aspirations and Status parallel sets had differing print runs up to 99. It is interesting to see the variety of print runs as opposed to the 24-card print runs for all of the Status Gold cards.
#2
2012 Panini Prizm Damian Lillard Base Card RC #245
Recent sale: $1,645
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Here is yet another Lillard rookie card without an autograph and jersey patch. It is quite simply the base card in the 300-card 2012-13 Panini Prizm set. This Panini Prizm Damian Lillard rookie card shines in what seems to be a depiction of the future superstar skying towards the rim.
This card does not have a limited print run while the Prizms Gold parallel is numbered of 10. However, this BGS 10 card slightly surpassed the No. 3 card on this list. This Panini Prizm Lillard card is the highest card on the list that sold at its original eBay price.
Even at this high price, this seems to be the most popular Lillard rookie card with almost 3,000 of them seen by PSA and BGS. This card owns the highest mark on the list with 36 percent PSA/BGS 10+ grades. However, those who own the BGS 10 Panini Prizm Lillard RC are part of the seven percent -- that percentage represents how many of the cards that are BGS 10, and that is the second-lowest mark on the list.
#1
2012 Panini Flawless Damian Lillard Rookie Patches RC #25 #'d/25
Recent sale: $3,000
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Just four days before the 2013-14 NBA season began, this very -- may I add a couple more very's -- very very high-end set was released, as boxes were originally suggested to go for $1,250. This 2012-13 Panini Flawless Damian Lillard Rookie Patches RC has top billing, and that is for good reason. The set has the perfect name for the best on this list because of its significance related to Lillard. The set is the first Panini card to include a Lillard on-card autograph. Prior to this set, Lillard's exclusivity agreement allowed for autographs and memorabilia to only be done with Leaf. However, Panini was able to make a deal with Leaf and get Lillard's valuable autograph for this set.
This Lillard card in this set is one of just 25 cards, and there are two Lillard cards and two Kyrie Irving cards in the group of 25; they are all numbered of 25. This BGS 9.5 Lillard card with a smooth-looking red and grey jersey patch had the best offer accepted at $3,000. There are no cards seen that are PSA/BGS 10+. 50 percent of the BGS cards seen are BGS 9.5, so for that lucky person who pulls a BGS 10, he or she will be stepping it up with regard to Damian Lillard's rookie card prices.
Conclusion
What a story it is regarding Damian Lillard and the 2012-13 Panini Flawless set. This future Hall of Famer had such an interesting history revolving around his basketball cards. With Panini unable to produce many autographs and memorabilia, such as jersey patches, the value of his Panini rookie cards seemed to have diminished.
Maybe he can increase the value of the cards over the next few seasons. The potential for an NBA championship or two could help as well, but Lillard has not been a player to go shopping around for a title like many other basketball players. He has been loyal to the city of Portland and Trail Blazers fans since the Weber State Wildcats point guard was drafted in 2012. This year, he could become the 73rd player ever to have 5,000 assists. Collectors should be inclined to think that his cards will rise in price when he eventually enters the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
