The NBA Summer League has evolved into the best time/place for NBA card collectors to find their next big investment. As a hardcore basketball fan it’s a more civilized version of March Madness. We are using our excitement and insanity of the Summer League to bring you a daily dose of NBA prospect insight. If you want an edge into your NBA card collecting… be sure to come back here daily…and subscribe to the BreakerCulture YouTube Channel!

Let’s jump into the top performers for Day 1 (Friday July 5th)

TOP 5 PERFORMERS

These are our rankings based on statistics, impact to the game, and our overall impression of the player. We obviously care most about how they look from a hobby perspective…so we are looking for players we believe are impactful enough to influence their hobby prices.

#5: ALLONZO TRIER | New York Knicks

Opponent: New Orleans Pelicans

Stat Line: 21 Points, 5 Reb, 4 Assist, 1 Turnover

Years Pro: 2nd

Quick Reaction: His propensity to consistently score is extremely impressive. He’s a WELL ABOVE average scorer at this level…and if he adds 5/4/1 to rest of his stat line he’ll be a long-term mainstay.

Top Rookie Cards to own:

• 2018-19 Panini Prizm Silver  || FIND on eBay HERE || Avg Silver Price BEFORE Summer League = $5.94
• 2018-19 Donruss Optic Rated Rookie Holo || Find on eBay HERE || Avg Holo Price BEFORE Summer League = $1.00

#4: TYLER HERRO | Miami Heat

Opponent: China

Stat Line: 23 Points, 4 Reb, 1 Assist, 3 Turnover  (+/- = +36!)

Years Pro: ROOKIE

Quick Reaction: It’s hard to get overly excited considering they were playing against the worst opponent in the Summer League (China)… but Tyler Herro looked every bit as confident and complete as the rest of players on the floor. 

Top Rookie Cards to own:

• 2019 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions —Find on eBay HERE

#3: KHYRI THOMAS | Detroit Pistons

Opponent: Croatia

Stat Line: 26 Points, 6 Reb, 2 Assist, 4 Turnover

Years Pro: 2nd

Quick Reaction: Wow! Mark this one down as a huge surprise. This was a shooting clinic (nailed 7x Three-Pointers!) that Khyri displayed against Croatia. I’m now officially interested in seeing how he responds in the 2nd /3rd games. 

Top Rookie Cards to own:

• 2018-19 Panini Prizm Silver  || FIND on eBay HERE || Avg Silver Price BEFORE Summer League = $2.00
• 2018-19 Donruss Optic Rated Rookie Holo || Find on eBay HERE || Avg Holo Price BEFORE Summer League =$0.75

#2: FRANK JACKSON | New Orleans Pelicans

Opponent: New York Knicks

Stat Line: 30 Points, 3 Reb, 0 Assist, 3 Turnover

Years Pro: 3rd

Quick Reaction: Forget the hype around RJ Barrett…the performance by Frank Jackson was surprise of Day 1 to me. He absolutely took over the game after half-way through. With his pedigree as a Duke guard I’m extremely interested to see him play the next few games. Let’s not forget he was drafted 31st overall and was quickly traded from Charlotte to NOP. Let’s see some more! 

Top Rookie Cards to own:

• 2017-18 Panini Prizm Silver  || FIND on eBay HERE || Avg Silver Price BEFORE Summer League = $4.00
• 2017-18 Donruss Optic Rated Rookie Holo || Find oneBay HERE || Avg Holo Price BEFORE Summer League =

#1: LONNIE WALKER IV | San Antonio Spurs

Opponent: Orlando Magic

Stat Line: 28 Points, 2 Reb, 0 Assist, 1 Turnover

Years Pro: 2nd

Quick Reaction: There wasn’t a player in Day 1 that looked more over-powering and better than the rest….than Lonnie Walker. Don’t worry about the ASSIST line, because he made some great dishes… if he keeps his TO’s low he is absolutely going to be a scary player in the league. In my book this is his summer playground for the taking. 

Top Rookie Cards to own:

• 2018-19 Panini Prizm Silver  || FIND on eBay HERE || Avg PSA 10 Silver Price BEFORE Summer League = $43.75
• 2018-19 Donruss Optic Rated Rookie Holo || Find oneBay HERE || Avg Holo  Price BEFORE Summer League = $4.00

Honorable Mentions

Here are a few players that also caught my attention and are worth watching during their follow-up games.

• Duncan Robinson | Miami Heat | 30pts, 3Reb, 2Asst | FIND eBay Rookie’s HERE
• Jock Landale | Milwaukee Bucks | 25pts, 10Reb, 2Asst |NO ROOKIES YET
• Dwayne Bacon | Charlotte Hornets | 25pts, 3Reb, 2Asst | FIND eBay Rookie’s HERE
• Daniel Gafford | Chicago Bulls | 21pts, 10Reb, 1Asst | NO ROOKIES YET
• Devonte’ Graham | Charlotte Hornets | 21pts, 4Reb, 4Asst | FIND eBay Rookie’s HERE

WATCH OUT! ALERT!!

Holy Moly!! You want to see a player that came out of the gate with a bang?

Zhaire Smith | Philadelphia 76ers

Watch this video….

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hsk-rMDs9B0[/embedyt]

and then BUY HIS 2018/19 Prizm Silver Rookies>>>  RIGHT HERE  <<<<<<(or below)

We know this guy could absolutely fly out of the gym. If he puts together any resemblance of a consistent jump shot, the sky is the limit.

MOST DISAPPOINTING PLAYER

Not even close here….

RJ BARRETT

It doesn’t how much hype the kid had coming around him… but this is the big worry about RJ. Can he not completely drag down his team with his roller coaster shooting? More importantly, can he shoot consistently well enough to be relevant?

This stat line does not work…

• 22% FG om 4 for 18 shooting.
• 1 for 8 3P
• 1 Assist.

Hopefully he can respond with something of note this weekend.

Catch you tomorrow with Day 2 update! 

Please comment below if you have any thoughts/comments!