The Ja Morant Rookie Card series was never going to receive the same hype and scrutiny as Zion Williamson’s, given the fact that Zion was one of the most highly anticipated rookies for many years.
But that was to be expected, and it certainly shouldn’t deter collectors from investing in rookie cards featuring this explosive youngster.
After all, if Zion Williamson has the career everyone expects him to, it doesn’t stop Ja Morant from being equally successful.
And when Williamson spent many minutes out injured watching from the stands in his rookie season, we got a much clearer look at Morant than initially expected.
The 2019 NBA Draft second pick did not disappoint in his newfound spotlight, excelling for the Grizzlies alongside Jaren Jackson.
The pair linked up all season, providing a much-needed cutting edge to the Memphis offensive. That success has continued into the 2021-22 season with Morant putting up impressive numbers for the Grizzlies.
When it comes to Ja Morant Rookie cards, there are many viable options for all kinds of collectors. Budget options, aesthetically pleasing options, and expensive options for collectors with deep pockets.
We included a long list of cards below, but also provide a quick guide to our favorites here:
- Most Popular: Prizm #249
- Budget: NBA Hoops #259
- Autograph: Optic Rated Rookie Auto
- Relic: Flawless Relic/Patch
- RPA: National Treasures RPA
- Rare Insert: One and One Downtown
Most Popular Ja Morant Rookie Cards
The “Most Popular” rookie card category includes cards most commonly searched for on Google and transacted on eBay. These cards are likely to be collectible long-term because they are popular with investors and collectors.
1. 2019 Prizm Ja Morant Rookie Card #249 (Shop on eBay)
The Ja Morant Panini Prizm rookie card is the most popular Ja Morant rookie card. The card is not rare, more than 12,500 PSA 10 cards exist, but the popularity of the card drives prices high.
The basketball card features Morant in a light blue Grizzlies jersey dribbling with the basketball in his right hand. Morant’s image is framed by a glossy, silver background that characterizes the Prizm basketball card set.
The 2019-20 Prizm Basketball set includes numerous parallels of this card including:
As of January 2021, there are ~12,500 PSA 10 Ja Morant Prizm rookie cards and the card value is ~$625. As of January 2022, the same card is trading for ~$240.
2. 2019 Prizm Silver Ja Morant Rookie Card #249 (Shop on eBay)
The Ja Morant Silver Prizm rookie card is a parallel of the primary base Prizm card. The Silver Prizm parallel is extremely popular with collectors and investors and as a result, among the most expensive cards.
The basketball card features the same image as the base Ja Morant Prizm card, but also includes reflective silver boarder.
The card is beautiful and is a short print which increase the value of the card.
As of January 2021, there are ~850 PSA 10 Ja Morant Silver Prizm rookie cards and the card value is ~$4,500.
Since January 2021, the card has decreased significantly in value. Several collectors/investors purchased the same card for ~$1,900 in January 2022.
3. 2019 Panini Mosaic Ja Morant #219 (Shop on eBay)
The Ja Morant Panini Mosaic rookie card is a popular Morant rookie card and a good alternative to Prizm fans with a smaller budget.
The basketball card features Morant dribbling (once again) with his left-hand as he runs up the floor in his light-blue Memphis Grizzlies jersey. The Mosaic logo is on the top-left of the card and the ‘RC’ logo is on the top-right of the card.
Similar to Prizm, Panini manufactured many inserts/parallels of this card including:
As of January 2021, there are ~1,700 PSA 10 Ja Morant Mosaic cards and the card value is ~$190. Several collectors/investors purchased the same card for ~$60 in January 2022.
4. 2019 Donruss Optic #168 (Shop on eBay)
The Morant Donruss Optic rookie card a popular rookie card and more premium than the base Donruss Rated Rookie card.
The basketball card features Morant standing and dribbling with his right hand on the ball as he prepares for a between the legs cross-over. The Optic logo is on the top-right of the card, and the ‘Rated Rookie’ logo is on the bottom-left of the card, like the base Donruss card.
Panini created over 30 parallels of this Morant rookie card including:
As of January 2021, there are ~3,900 PSA 10 Ja Morant Optic rookie cards and the card value is ~$275. Several collectors/investors purchased this same card for ~$130 in January 2022.
5. 2019 Panini Select #72, #120, and #208 (Shop on eBay)
The Morant Panini Select rookie card is another popular card among collectors and investors. I like to think of the Select brand as the cousin of the more popular Prizm brand.
There are three base variations of this basketball card:
The Concourse Level (#72) features Morant in a light-blue Grizzlies jersey with both hands clenched at his side with a celebratory roar expression on his face. The Premier Level (#120) features Morant in a white Grizzlies jersey (one of the few cards in a white jersey) with his body contorted as he makes a pass in the opposite direction of his body’s movement. The Courtside Level (#208) features Morant gliding through the air making a layup.
As of January 2021, there are ~1,700 PSA 10 Ja Morant Select Concourse Level rookie cards and the card value is ~$400. Several collectors/investors purchased this card for ~$100 in January 2022.
As of January 2021, there are ~500 PSA 10 Ja Morant Select Premier Level rookie cards and the card value is ~$450. Several collectors/investors purchased this card for ~$100 in January 2022.
Several collectors/investors purchased the PSA 10 Morant Select Courtside Level for ~$675 in January 2022.
Budget Ja Morant Rookie Cards
Budget” category cards provide good entry-level rookie card investment options. The cards are typically less expensive than the “Most Popular” cards, but remain frequently bought and sold by collectors and investors.
6. 2019 NBA Hoops #259 (Shop on eBay)
The Ja Morant NBA Hoops rookie card is a budget friendly and popular Morant RC.
The basketball card features Morant dribbling with the basketball in his right-hand while wearing one mostly pink and one mostly yellow shoe. Morant’s image is framed by a white boarder with the NBA Hoops logo on the top-right of the card and the ‘RC’ logo on the bottom-left of the card.
NBA Hoops is not known for having many parallels like Prizm and Mosaic, but Panini still manufactured several parallels in this set including:
As of January 2021, there are ~2,900 PSA 10 Ja Morant NBA Hoops rookie cards and the card value is ~$115. A collector recently purchased this card for ~$100 in January 2022.
7. 2019 Donruss Rated Rookie #202 (Shop on eBay)
The Morant Rated Rookie card is another popular and budget friendly Morant rookie card.
The basketball card features Morant standing and holding the basketball with both hands. He is wearing his light-blue Memphis Grizzlies jersey. The Donruss logo is on the top-right of the card and the ‘Rated Rookie’ logo is on the bottom-left of the card.
Panini created more than ten parallels of the 2019 Donruss Morant rated rookie including:
As of January 2021, there are ~1,500 PSA 10 Ja Morant Rated Rookie cards and the card value is ~$140. Several collectors/investors purchased this card for ~$100 in January 2022.
8. 2019 Panini Chronicles Luminance #165 (Shop on eBay)
The Ja Morant Luminance rookie card has become popular with collectors and investors due to the card design.
This basketball card features Morant dunking OVER a defender. Morant has his left-had touching the defender’s left should while his right-hand is fully extended above his head holding the basketball as he approaches the dunk. His legs are split, and he is barely clearing the defender’s head.
This card isn’t typically among the most popular for NBA rookie cards. However, given the ‘poster’ image of Morant, collectors/investors love this card.
As of January 2021, the Ja Morant luminance ‘dunk’ rookie card with PSA 10 grade is valued at ~$425. Several collectors/investors purchased this card for ~$90 in January 2022.
9. 2019 Absolute Ja Morant #72 (Shop on eBay)
An excellent budget rookie card you might want to consider is the 2019-20 Absolute Ja Morant rookie card/
The card depicts Ja Morant dribbling the ball up the court, deciding the next play he will execute for the Memphis Grizzlies.
This card also shows off the beautiful Memphis Grizzlies logo, located at the bottom right of the card.
The card boasts a white and blue background, the two primary colors of the Memphis Grizzlies jersey.
If you are interested in collecting high-profile rookie cards but your budget is limited, this might be the card for you. A collector purchased a PSA 10 graded version of this card for just $85 in December 2021.
10. 2019 Certified Ja Morant #152 (Shop on eBay)
If you want to pick up a Ja Morant rookie card, but you don’t want to spend big bucks, the 2019-20 Panini Certified Ja Morant Rookie Card might be the one for you.
This card is a little cheaper than others on this list because of the limited print run. Panini Certified basketball cards are renowned for having plenty of rookie cards in each hobby pack.
In the 2019-20 Panini Certified hobby box, there are 200 cards, 50 of which are rookie cards.
Given that one in four cards is guaranteed to be a rookie card, you have much more chance of claiming a Ja Morant rookie card.
Obviously, due to the likelihood of pulling one from a box, the value of this rookie card is lower than others on this list.
In December 2021, a PSA 10 graded version went for $70.
Certified also contains several inserts/parallels including:
- Graffiti #14 (Cool Design!)
- Blue #152
- Red #152
Ja Morant Autograph Rookie Cards
The “Autograph” rookie card category includes signed basketball cards. This category excludes rookie patch auto (RPA) cards because those cards are featured in a subsequent section
11. 2019 Panini Contenders Autograph #118 (Shop on eBay)
The Morant Panini Contenders autograph rookie card is among the expensive Morant rookie cards and as a result, is less frequently bought and sold.
The 2019-20 Panini Contenders Hobby Box includes a variety of card designs, base cards, and parallels, but the autographs are the chase cards in the set. Each hobby box includes two autograph cards and some lucky collectors may pull a Ja Morant auto.
Due to the assortment of cards in this set, there are several variations of Morant autograph cards. One variation (image displayed) shows Morant standing and holding the basketball in his right-hand as he looks over his left shoulder. The also features an on-card autograph.
As of January 2021, variations of the Ja Morant Contenders autograph card have sold for $1,000 – $10,000 at auction via eBay. The card remains a highly sought-after option for high-end collectors.
12. 2019 Donruss Optic Rated Rookie Autograph (Shop on eBay)
If you are searching for a Ja Morant rookie autograph to add to your collection, you could do much worse than selecting the Ja Morant 2019-20 Donruss Optic Rated Rookie Autograph.
By far and away, one of the most popular sets for collectors worldwide is the 2019-20 Donruss Optic NBA, especially high-profile rookies such as Ja Morant, and especially cards boasting the rookie’s autograph.
What also makes this card highly popular with collectors is the world-renowned “Rated Rookie” logo, sitting at the bottom left of the card.
The 2019-20 Donruss Hobby box consists of 80 cards, but don’t expect to pull a Ja Morant autograph any time soon, as only one of these cards is an autograph.
As with any Donruss set, you can expect the Ja Morant rookie card to boast a high-quality, glossy finish.
13-23. Other 2019 Ja Morant Autograph Rookie Cards (Shop on eBay)
Many variations of Ja Morant rookie signed autograph cards exist. Every brand included in this article (Prizm, Select, Hoops) includes an autograph variation of the card.
In addition, there are many other Ja Morant rookie autograph cards including Immaculate, Origins, Encased, One & One, and many more.
Check out 11 more Ja Morant rookie cards below:
- 13. National Treasures Ja Morant Autograph
- 14. Panini Flawless Ja Morant Auto
- 15. Immaculate Ja Morant Autograph
- 16. Opulence Ja Morant Autograph
- 17. Contenders Optic Ja Morant Autograph
- 18. Prizm Ja Morant Autograph
- 19. Select Ja Morant Signed Autograph
- 20. Origins Ja Morant Autograph
- 21. Encased Ja Morant Autograph
- 22. Mosaic Ja Morant Autograph
- 23. Panini One and One Ja Morant Autograph
Ja Morant Relic/Patch Rookie Cards
The “Relic/Patch” rookie card category includes relic/jersey/patch cards. This category excludes rookie patch auto (RPA) cards because those cards are featured in a subsequent section
24. 2019 National Treasures Relic Patch (Shop on eBay)
One card brand that is always sure to garner interest from collectors is the Panini National Treasures collection.
Each year, they bring out a limited number of National Treasure Relic Patch for rookie players, and high-paying collectors all desperately attempt to get their hands on it.
This demand is no different for the Ja Morant 2019-2020 Panini National Treasures Relic Patch, so don’t expect it to be a cheap purchase.
However, as it combines Ja Morant’s photo and a highly sought-after relic, this could be a fantastic addition to your collection.
The National Treasure Logoman Relic/Patch is one example of this card. It shows Morant dribbling down the court with the ball in his left hand.
To the left of the photo, you can find the highly sought-after NBA Logoman patch.
25-32. Other Ja Morant Relic/Patch Rookie Cards (Shop on eBay)
Many variations of Ja Morant jersey cards exist and most brands included in this article include a relic/patch version.
To save you the time, we compiled a list of 8 additional Ja Morant relic/patch rookie cards you may want to add to your collection. Check them out below:
- 25. Flawless Ja Morant Relic/Patch
- 26. Immaculate Ja Morant Relic/Patch
- 27. Prizm Ja Morant Relic/Patch
- 28. Select Ja Morant Relic/Patch
- 29. Origins Ja Morant Relic/Patch
- 30. Encased Ja Morant Relic/Patch
- 31. Noir Ja Morant Relic/Patch
- 32. Absolute Ja Morant Relic/Patch
The price of a Ja Morant relic/patch rookie card without an autograph varies, but as of January 2021, recent transactions for a non-graded card have ranged from ~$60 – 125, depending on the brand and rarity.
Ja Morant RPA Cards
The “RPA” rookie card category includes rookie patch autograph (RPA) cards. This category includes some of the most highly sought-after and expensive rookie cards.
33. 2019 National Treasures RPA (Shop on eBay)
The Ja Morant National Treasures RPA cards are the most expensive Morant cards ever sold at auction via eBay.
The National Treasures card design varies, but collectors and investors pay a premium for vertical Morant rookie-patch-auto (RPA) cards.
The card featured in this article shows Morant taking jump-shop in his baby blue Memphis Grizzlies uniform. The card also features a large patch and on-card autograph.
As of January 2021, the Ja Morant National Treasures rookie card varies significantly in price depending on the grade, rarity, and autograph.
The most expensive National Treasures Morant rookie card sold at auction cost $60,100 and sold in July 2020 (as January 2021).
34. 2019 Ja Morant Immaculate RPA (Shop on eBay)
Another great choice if you have a large budget for your collection is the 2019-20 Ja Morant Immaculate Rookie Patch Auto.
But be warned, high-rolling collectors often want this card, so don’t expect this to be an easy card to get your hands on.
As this card consists of Ja’s autograph, a patch, and he was the 2nd overall pick in the 2019-20 draft, you will not be surprised to hear that this card is not cheap.
There is a limited print on this card, so expect to face fierce competition if you see a PSA 10 of this card on eBay.
The card shows Ja bringing the ball up the court for the Memphis Grizzlies on the left-hand side of the card.
The rookie patch features on the right-hand side, with the Grizzlies logo above the patch and Ja’s signature below it.
The background colors of the card are white and blue, the primary colors of the Memphis Grizzlies.
35-42. Other Ja Morant RPA Cards (Shop on eBay)
Like autograph and relic/patch rookie cards, Panini manufactured a variety of Ja Morant RPA cards. Most (if not all) sets featured in this article contain a Ja Morant RPA card.
Due to the assortment of RPA cards, we compiled a list of 8 additional 2019 Ja Morant RPA cards for you to consider.
Check them out below:
- 35. Flawless Ja Morant RPA
- 36. Noir Ja Morant RPA
- 37. Opulence Ja Morant RPA
- 38. Origins Ja Morant RPA
- 39. Spectra Ja Morant RPA
- 40. Select Ja Morant RPA
- 41. Encased Ja Morant RPA
- 42. One and One Ja Morant RPA
Prices vary significantly based on rarity, condition, and card brand. Typically, an on-card autograph RPA card from a premium set such as National Treasures or Flawless will command the highest price.
Less desirable brands such as Spectra and Select typically contain lower value RPA cards.
Ja Morant Rare Insert Cards
The “Rare Inserts” rookie card category includes rare and highly sought-after rookie cards. The cards on this list will be among the most expensive rookie cards available.
43. Ja Morant Panini One and One Downtown (Shop on eBay)
One and One is a popular NBA card brand with many collectors. Combine that with the fact that Ja Morant was drafted 2nd in 2019/20, and you have a recipe for an excellent rookie card.
If you’re extremely lucky, you can find this card in a Panini One and One box as a rare insert. But given the limited print run, your chances are slim.
If you are keen to get your hands on this hard, you may need to head to eBay. But be prepared to pay top dollar. A PSA 10 graded version went for $6,000 in December 2021.
The rookie card depicts the Memphis Grizzlies name at the top, next to the RC rookie logo and the Panini One and One logo. Ja Morant’s name features at the bottom of the card.
44. Ja Morant Panini Spectra Color Blast (Shop on eBay)
If you are like me, and you want to collect aesthetically pleasing cards, then you might want to consider the 2019-20 Panini Spectra Ja Morant Rookie Card.
In some ways, this card is relatively similar to other Morant cards, showing Morant in action for the Memphis Grizzlies.
But what makes the Spectra Color Blast series so eye-catching is the beautiful color burst behind Morant as he dribbles the ball.
The card shows the Spectra logo in the top left and the Memphis Grizzlies logo in the bottom right.
Spectra print their color blast cards on thicker stock, which helps differentiate them from other basketball card sets.
Every hobby box has 16 cards in total, split into four packs. However, don’t expect to pull a Ja Morant rookie card unless you get lucky, as the print on this card is limited.
Where are Ja Morant Cards for Sale?
Ja Morant rookie cards for sale are found in several different channels. The most popular channels, and the channels I have experience with, are listed below:
- Local Card Shop: Most card shops stock singles to sell to customers. This channel will also include a fun experience and conversation and is my preferred channel
- eBay: The most popular and largest card transaction platform. You will find a wide variety of Ja Morant rookie cards for sale on eBay
- COMC: One of the most popular sports cards transaction platforms and will typically have thousands of popular players’ cards for sale.
- Facebook: Many Facebook Groups exist to buy, sell, and trade sports cards. You will find a variety of Ja Morant rookie cards for sale on Facebook.
- Beckett Marketplace: Beckett has a small selection of basketball rookie cards, but typically limited when compared to eBay or COMC.
Buy Ja Morant rookie cards on eBay
Best Ja Morant Cards for Collectors and Investors
The best Ja Morant rookie cards to buy depend on your personal preference and goals.
If your goal is to invest for profit, I recommend buying the more poplar cards such as Prizm, Hoops, and Rated Rookies. The popularity of these brands among investors and collectors increases the probability of a market to buy and sell the same card in the future. I also recommend you buy high grade cards such as PSA 9 or 10, or BGS 9, 9.5, or 10.
If you are collector or just want to buy a few cards for fun, buy what you like. I personally like the card design of Prizm, Select, and Mosaic, but that is a personal preference.
If you are still unsure about the best Ja Morant rookie card for you, review this article again, I’ve included the most commonly bought and sold Morant basketball cards.
Buy Ja Morant rookie cards on eBay
Most Valuable Ja Morant Cards
The most valuable Ja Morant rookie card sold at auction via eBay was the 2019 National Treasures Emerald 1/5 Ja Morant “G” rookie-patch-auto (RPA) card. The card sold for just over $60,000 in July 2020.
Buy Ja Morant rookie cards on eBay
More recently, another National Treasures Ja Morant “Stars & Stripes” RPA card sold with a list price of ~$180,000. The actual sales price is unknown.
Ja Morant Rookie Card Investment Analysis
Note: please keep in mind that all sports card investments carry risk, and you should always complete your own analysis prior to investing in sports cards.
As of the 2020-21 NBA season, I classify Morant as having Moderate Risk with Moderate Upside potential.
There is no doubt Morant is a special talent, but the most obvious prospects for growth as a player do not translate into obvious returns on investment.
Do you not believe me?
>> Read How to Get Started with Sports Card Investing
Ask anyone who purchased Morant Silver Prizm PSA 10 cards ahead of the 2020-21 NBA season. The value of this card was ~$4,500 in December 2020, but as of February 2021, the card value is ~$3,000. Ouch!
The ‘Moderate Risk’ classification is made because Morant will almost certainly play in the NBA for a long time and will likely make several All-Star teams. This means there is little risk that his card prices will drop significantly.
The ‘Moderate Upside’ classification is made because Morant’s card prices already reflect high expectations. The only way for his card prices to increase would be for him to exceed these expectations. It is possible, but hard to say how probable.
In fact, there are only 10-15 active NBA players with rookie card values higher than Morant’s. The players on that list have mostly already solidified their legacy including names like Lebron James, James Harden, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, and others.
Therefore, buy Morant if you like him as a player and wish to collect his cards, but do not buy his cards expecting a guaranteed positive return.
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