Celtics Collapse Again—and Their Card Market's Feeling It

• Posted: May 8, 2025, 7:23 pm
• in Sports Card News
• by bionic

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Another big lead. Another brutal loss. And now? A hit to the hobby.

The Boston Celtics are reeling after back-to-back collapses against the New York Knicks, blowing 20-point leads in both Games 1 and 2 of their playoff series. What was expected to be a clean bounce-back at TD Garden turned into déjà vu, and now the Celtics trail 0-2—and the ripple effect is hitting more than just the standings.

The sports card market, as always, reacts fast. And while Jalen Brunson and the Knicks may see a slight bump from their underdog surge, the bigger story is the downturn in prices for Celtics stars—especially Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

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Jayson Tatum – 2017 Prizm Silver Rookie (PSA 10)​

Let’s start with Tatum. His 2017 Prizm Silver Rookie in PSA 10 had shown a slight 5.2% increase over the past 30 days—largely thanks to Boston’s first-round win. But things have taken a quick turn.

• April 27 Sale: $825
• May 5 Sale: $765
• Current Market Estimate: ~$740 (and falling)

Keep in mind, that May 5th sale came before the latest heartbreak against the Knicks. So the dip we’re seeing may just be getting started.

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Jaylen Brown – 2016 Prizm Green Rookie (PSA 10)​

If Tatum’s slide is subtle, Jaylen Brown’s is much more dramatic. His 2016 Prizm Green Rookie PSA 10—always a fan favorite for the Celtics color match—has taken a nosedive:

• April 12 Sale: $636
• May 4 Sale: $432
• Estimated Floor Post-Game 2: ~$400

That’s a 47.4% decline in less than a month. And once again, these numbers are before Game 2’s collapse, meaning the market hasn’t even fully reacted yet.

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Playoff Volatility at Its Finest​

Celtics cards are among the most liquid in the NBA hobby right now. A strong performance in Game 3 could stabilize or even spike prices—but the fear of an early, unexpected exit is already baked into the latest sales.

The Celtics came into this postseason with high expectations after their 2024 title run. But in the blink of an eye—and a couple of cold fourth quarters—that aura of dominance is starting to slip.

If you're holding key Boston cards, it's not quite panic time… yet. But with momentum swinging hard in New York's favor, the market is telling a clear story: the Celtics better turn it around fast, or collectors may keep cashing out before it's too late.