Stephen Curry is a man who needs no introduction. Curry is already getting talked about as an all-time great, despite still in the height of his playing career. All that hype contributes to a lot of interest in Stephen Curry rookie cards.
There is no question that he is one of the all-time best three-point shooters in NBA history. It is scary to think that his age and play style means he still has many years at the top of his game.
As you would imagine, after Curry had secured his third NBA title and two MVP awards, his rookie cards have become even more desired and valuable over time.
From a collectors perspective, the rookie season for Stephen Curry was a fascinating one. The 2009 season was a year of transition and saw the start of Panini’s NBA exclusive. The era of Panini dominance also led to the end of Topps basketball rookie cards and led to significant changes for Upper Deck.
The fact that 2009 was the last year for many iconic brands only adds to the value of Stephen Curry’s rookie cards.
This article takes you through some of the top Stephen Curry rookie cards available. As you would expect, Autographs are as popular as ever, but plenty of base cards carry a lot of value.
In a rush? Here are our favorites from each of the categories included in this list:
- Most Popular: 2009 Topps #321
- Budget: 2009 Prestige #207
- Autograph: 2009 Exquisite Collection #64 Autograph
- RPA: 2009 National Treasures RPA
- Rare: 2009 Bowman ’48 #106
- Other: 2009 Panini Adrenalyn XL #67
Most Popular Stephen Curry 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.
1. 2009 Topps Stephen Curry Rookie #321 (Shop on eBay)
Let’s start this list with one of the leading brands that ended their production shortly after the release of their 2009 cards. The 2009 Topps Stephen Curry rookie card is one of the cleanest, most well-known, popular base set rookie cards.
If you compare this card to a modern-day rookie card brand, its popularity will correspond to a Panini Prizm rookie card.
Topps was widely regarded as one of the most popular rookie card brands. The card shows off Curry smiling, with his image taking up most of the card. When you combine that brand popularity and nostalgia with the popularity and value of Stephen Curry, you can start to imagine how valuable one of these cards can be.
As of early 2022, there are 363 PSA 10’s in circulation, with one selling for $9,800 in January 2022.
2. 2009 Topps Chrome Stephen Curry #101 (Shop on eBay)
As mentioned above, 2009 was the last year Topps created NBA products. Experience collectors know Panini purchased the rights to become the sole distributor.
As a result, the 2009 Topps Chrome Stephen Curry rookie card is another popular choice. This card carries the same popularity as the first card on this list, but fewer volumes got printed. This results in even higher value.
Collectors seeking out a Topps Chrome rookie for Curry need to be aware that in 2009 there was not a standalone Chrome set. Instead, these cards got issued as numbered inserts within the Topps basketball set.
In total, there were 999 Curry Chrome Topps rookie cards printed. 500 Refractor cards got produced, and just 50 Gold Refractor cards.
There are 61 PSA 10 Chrome cards, 28 Refractor cards, and 8 Gold Refractor cards. In November, a PSA 10 Chrome sold for an eye-watering $47,000
3. 2009 Upper Deck Stephen Curry #234 (Shop on eBay)
2009 saw the end of the Upper Deck’s rookie card brand. One of the last rookie cards they produced was the 2009 Upper Deck Stephen Curry rookie card. By the time the 2009 series came around, Panini had complete exclusive control over the NBA brand. However, Upper Deck produced their last range of NBA sets within the 2009 season later on.
Interestingly, although most cards within the 2009 Upper Deck range showed players wearing their official NBA jersey, this pattern did not extend to the rookie players of that year.
Therefore, this card shows Curry in his Davidson jersey. There are only a limited number of these rookie cards available, and a similar-looking First Edition version is even rarer.
Such is its rarity, a PSA 10 of this rookie card sold for $1,100 in January 2022. As of January 2022, there are 939 PSA 10 versions of this card.
Budget Stephen Curry Rookie Cards
Budget” category cards provide good entry-level investment options. The cards are typically less expensive than the “Most Popular” cards but remain relatively popular.
4. 2009 Prestige Stephen Curry #207 (Shop on eBay)
If you’re like me and your budget for rookie cards is not endless, it can be good to take a deeper look at some of the cheaper options that are available to you.
The first card you should look out for is the 2009 Prestige #207 Stephen Curry rookie card. This card shows off the Prestige rookie logo in the top left-hand of the card. The card also features a picture of Curry playing, but not in his Golden State Warriors jersey.
Underneath the picture is his team name and name, followed by the brand logo at the bottom of the card.
In January 2022, a PSA 10 of this card sold for $600. There are 709 known PSA 10’s which is higher than many cards on this list.
5. 2009 Prestige Stephen Curry #230 (Shop on eBay)
Another budget rookie card is Prestige’s 2009 Prestige #230 Stephen Curry rookie card.
As with the Prestige card we have just covered, this rookie card shows Curry dribbling up the court. However, instead of this picture showing Curry playing or training for the Golden State Warriors, he is in his Davidson College jersey.
The traditional rookie logo sits in the top left-hand corner of the card, and as with other Prestige cards, the Prestige brand logo is at the bottom of the card.
This card is a little rarer, with only 389 PSA 10’s. However, one sold for $500 in January 2022, which is a great option.
6. 2009 Panini Stephen Curry #372 (Shop on eBay)
While Panini had not yet become the rookie card supergiants that they are today, they were still making a splash in the field back in 2009.
One great budget Panini card option for you is the 2009 Panini #372 Stephen Curry rookie card. As with other cards in the budget category, this card shows Stephen Curry in his Davidson college jersey. College jerseys are immediately less valuable than NBA jersey cards, which is why these cards can get bought for a slightly lower price.
This card shows the Panini logo in the top left-hand corner and even has the Davidson logo sitting below Curry.
Curry is about to make a layup in this card, with the ball in his left hand and his eyes focused on the rim.
In January 2022, a PSA 10 of this card sold for $500. As of early 2022, there are 541 PSA 10 versions of this card.
Stephen Curry Autograph Rookie Cards
The “Autograph” rookie card category includes signed basketball cards. This category excludes rookie patch auto (RPA) cards because those cards feature in a subsequent section
7. 2009 Exquisite Collection #64 Autograph (Shop on eBay)
The 2009 season saw the last print run of the Exquisite Collection, and oh boy, did they deliver. The 2009 Exquisite Collection Stephen Curry Autograph rookie card is a thing of beauty.
The style is clean and minimalist, with an image at the top of the card, and a large print of Curry’s signature below, on a blank white background.
This rookie card is one of the most valuable Stephen Curry rookie cards. Exquisite was well known for combining classic rookie card design and a college theme.
The print run got limited to 225, but there were two cards within this base set. Both cards got limited to 225 copies.
The rarity of this card is that a PSA 8 of this card sold for a whopping $11,000 in November 2021.
8. 2009 Playoff Contenders #106 Auto (Shop on eBay)
Indeed, the 2009-10 Playoff Contenders Rookie Ticket cards contain one of the most highly sought-after Curry rookie cards. The set features a limited print run and hard-signed autographs from the rookie players.
One additional perk for keen-eyed Curry rookie card collectors is the oversized signature. There is nowhere to find the exact print run volume; however, Panini got quoted saying that this card has been printed no more than 649 times.
The Rookie Ticket range is a unique card style, with the trademark rookie ticket details shown on the left-hand side of the card. The Stephen Curry signature sits on the right-hand side, and Stephen Curry gets shown in the middle of the card. He is dribbling the ball up the court in the 2009 Warriors jersey.
These cards have some ink issues, so make sure you take extra care checking the autograph when you make a purchase.
9. 2009 Panini Classics #166 Autograph (Shop on eBay)
While other names in this list will be familiar for experienced collectors, one rookie card that often flies under the radar is the 2009 Panini Classics Stephen Curry Autograph rookie card.
As you would expect from its name, the Classics collection boasts rookie cards with a traditional, minimalistic style.
What I like about this card is the action shot. It shows Curry about to make a layup for the Golden State Warriors. Many cards from this era utilize profile shots rather than action shots, so it is refreshing to see something slightly different.
When action shots get used, they often depict Curry shooting a trademark three-pointer, so seeing him shoot a layup is quite rare.
10-12. Other 2009 Stephen Curry Autograph Rookie Cards
10. 2009 Court Kings #129 Autograph: Panini Court Kings rookie cards are always popular with collectors, and that is no different with the 2009 Court Kings Stephen Curry rookie autograph. As well as containing the coveted Stephen Curry autograph, it also shows Curry trying to get his shot off.
11. 2009 Crown Royale #103 Autograph: If you are a fan of rookie cards shaped slightly differently, the 2009 Crown Royale Stephen Curry rookie card is a great choice.
12. 2009 Donruss Elite #166 Autograph: Headed up by the gorgeous Donruss Elite rookie icon, this 2009 Donruss Elite Stephen Curry rookie card is a must-have.
Stephen Curry RPA Rookie 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.
13. 2009 National Treasures #206 RPA (Shop on eBay)
Next up, we have the 2009 National Treasures Stephen Curry RPA. Even way back in 2009, National Treasures rookie cards got deemed as a premium Panini product.
Although the 2009-10 season saw the first installment of National Treasures basketball cards, you can see from this card how they have become a rookie card powerhouse over the last decade.
This rookie card offers a large patch from Stephen Curry’s first season with the Warriors, with his rookie signature sitting underneath the patch. To the right of the autograph and the patch is a profile shot of Stephen Curry.
Due to the large patch, low print runs, and on-card signature, this card is one of the most valuable and rare Stephen Curry rookie cards in the market.
This card is so popular, so much so that a BGS 8.5 version of this card got sold for ~$7,500 in November 2021.
14. 2009 Panini Threads Stephen Curry #107 RPA (Shop on eBay)
Personally, this is one of my favorite Stephen Curry RPA cards. While other RPA’s have Stephen Curry’s photo either front and center or close to it, the 2009 Panini Threads Stephen Curry RPA focuses primarily on the patch and autograph.
Stephen Curry is in the top left-hand side of the card, while the main focus of the card is on the signed ‘C’ patch from his Golden State Warriors jersey.
The ‘C’ is the first letter of his second name, which adds a nice unique touch to this card.
If you have and interest in an eye-catching RPA, the 2009 Panini Threads Stephen Curry card is a great option.
15. 2009 Absolute Memorabilia RPA (Shop on eBay)
If you are a fan of cards that stand out from the crowd, make a statement, and catch other collectors’ eyes, the 2009 Absolute Memorabilia Stephen Curry RPA is an excellent choice for your collection.
There is undoubtedly no subtlety to the 2009 Absolute Memorabilia Stephen Curry RPA. The card has many different features and boasts a shiny bright finish.
An image of Stephen Curry makes up the left-hand side of the card, with the other side of the card showing off an excellent patch segment, showing the term NBA. Underneath the image of Curry and the NBA-shaped patch sits Curry’s autograph.
16-19. Other 2009 Stephen Curry RPA Cards
RPA cards are some of the most popular with collectors with deep pockets. Check out these other Luka Doncic RPA’s below.
16. 2009 Timeless Treasures #106 RPA (Shop on eBay): The 2009 Timeless Treasures Stephen Curry RPA shows Curry dribbling the ball up the court and includes a patch and autograph from his rookie year.
17. 2009 Certified RPA #176 (Shop on eBay): The 2009 Certified Stephen Curry RPA is a stunning card to add to your collection. Be prepared to pay top-dollar for a PSA 10 version.
18. 2009 Limited RPA #156 (Shop on eBay): The 2009 Limited Stephen Curry RPA shows Curry with the ball, fully kitted out in his Warriors kit. This card is highly sought after by collectors.
19. 2009 Rookies and Stars RPA #136 (Shop on eBay): The 2009 Rookies and Stars Stephen Curry RPA shows off the Golden State Warriors logo front and center on the patch, alongside Curry’s autograph.
Rare Stephen Curry Rookie Cards
The “Rare” 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.
20. 2009 Bowman ’48 #106 (Shop on eBay)
The Bowman brand was yet another brand that no longer appeared after 2009. Thanks to Paninis’s tight grip on the NBA exclusive rights, one of Bowman’s final rare inserts was the 2009 Bowman ’48 #106 Stephen Curry rookie card.
As with many cards produced at this time, it shows a close-up shot of Curry’s head and shoulders as he prepares himself to take a shot.
Due to the popularity of Curry as a player, the fact that this was one of the last Bowman ’48 rare inserts, and the limited print run, a PSA 10 of this card is hard to get your hands on.
As of January 2022, there was just 135 PSA 10’s total, with one selling for $9,500.
21. 2009 SP Game Used #133 (Shop on eBay)
If you are a fan of rookie cards with their unique style and lots of things to look at, then the 2009 SP Game Used Stephen Curry rookie card could be an excellent choice.
The card shows Curry dribbling the ball up the court, working out what the next play will be for his team.
However, alongside the image, there are so many other things to note, not to mention the large rookie banner that sits below the picture of Curry.
With just 399 copies getting printed, Stephen Curry is the rarest base rookie card choice.
Because of this, PSA 10’s are hard to come by, 21 in total. A PSA 9 sold for $2,500 in January 2022.
Other Stephen Curry Rookie Cards
The “Other” rookie card category includes less popular rookie cards. These cards are sought-after by select collectors and investors.
22. 2009 Panini Adrenalyn XL #67 (Shop on eBay)
The 2009 Panini Adrenalyn range has always split collectors down the middle. On the one hand, collectors that prefer traditional styles and colors do not like this card, believing this card has too much design, dark colors, and strays too far away from conventional card styles.
On the other hand, more modern collectors love these cards. The contemporary style, the dark background, and the rookie term running down the left-hand side are all seen as positives in the eye of the right collector.
In January 2022, a PSA 10 sold for $685. In total, there are 111 PSA 10’s recorded to date.
23. 2009 Panini Studio #129 (Shop on eBay)
Another popular Stephen Curry rookie card is the 2009 Panini Studio Stephen Curry rookie card. This card got laid out in the less-common landscape format and shows Curry on the left-hand side of the card.
The picture looks like it is from during a Warriors game, with Curry watching the game unfold in front of the home. As the #7 draft pick in 2009, many expected Curry to become a great player, but not many would have predicted just how influential he would become.
In total, there are currently 276 PSA 10’s in circulation, which makes this card hard to come by. Like others on this list, don’t expect to get this card on the cheap.
In January 2022, a PSA 10 got sold for $1,500.
24-27. Other 2009 Stephen Curry Rookie Cards
24. 2009 Panini #357 (Shop on eBay): A highly rare card, a 2009 Panini Stephen Curry rookie card recently sold for ~$2000. In total, there are 151 PSA 10’s on record.
25. 2009 Panini #307 (Shop on eBay): Another top-rated card, a PSA 10, recently got bought for ~$1250. There are 249 recorded PSA 10’s when writing this article.
26. 2009 Prestige #157 (Shop on eBay): The 2009 Prestige Stephen Curry rookie card is aesthetically stunning, with a PSA 10 selling for ~$1000 not too long ago. In total, 472 PSA 10’s have gotten recorded so far.
27. 2009 Upper Deck First Edition #196 (Shop on eBay): The final card on this list is the 2009 Upper Deck First Edition Stephen Curry rookie card. A PSA 10 grade sold for $1325, and there are only 210 PSA 10’s in circulation.
Stephen Curry Rookie Card Value
Stephen Curry rookie card values vary drastically. You may find ungraded, high print run Stephen Curry rookie cards for less than $50. In comparison, rare, low population count cards can cost more than $50,000.
The main drivers of price for Stephen Curry rookie cards are the following:
- Rarity: the more rare the card, the higher the price
- Condition: the higher the grade (e.g., PSA 10), the higher the price
- Collectability: the more popular the card is, the higher the price
For example, a collector recently purchased the 2009 Topps Stephen Curry #321 PSA 10 for ~$9,800. A few months earlier, another collector bought the 2009 Topps Chrome Stephen Curry #101 for ~$47,000. That is near 5x the price! The higher price for the Topps Chrome card is due to its rarity and collectability. There are only 68 PSA 10 Topps Chrome Curry rookie cards compared to 363 of the Topps #321 card. In addition, Topps Chrome features a glossy chrome finish which collectors/investors love.
Stephen Curry Rookie Card Risk and Upside 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 2021-22 NBA season, we classify Stephen Curry’s rookie cards as Low Risk with Low–Moderate Upside potential. Curry is in his 13th NBA season and has already racked up an impressive list of accomplishments. He is an 8x All-Star, 2x MVP, 2x Scoring Champ, and 3x NBA Champion. He is known as one of the best players of his generation and perhaps the best shooter ever. Due to this impressive list of accomplishments, we believe Curry’s rookie cards carry Low Risk.
Do Stephen Curry rookie cards have upside potential? We think the answer is maybe. We like the low population count and believe Curry and the Warriors could still win another NBA Championship. Both of those contribute to the potential for further increases in card values. That said, his rookie card values are already extremely high (close to $10,000 for a base PSA 10 rookie card). As a result, we feel his rookie cards have Low-Moderate Upside potential.
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