When Cooper Flagg made his NBA debut with the Dallas Mavericks in October 2025, he wore a small insignia on his jersey that would become the centerpiece of one of the most valuable basketball cards in history.
Flagg was among the first NBA rookies to wear a special Debut Patch, a concept Topps introduced in Major League Baseball in 2023 before expanding it to the NBA for the 2025-26 season. Worn during a player’s first pro game, the patch is later removed, authenticated, and incorporated into a one-of-one autographed trading card.
And few modern rookies have entered the NBA with more hype than Flagg. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft lived up to expectations, becoming only the fourth teenager in history to win Rookie of the Year.
As a result, his Debut Patch Autograph became the most anticipated chase card in the inaugural 2025-26 Topps Chrome Update Basketball release.
The chase didn’t last long, though. Just four days after the product’s early August release, South Carolina collector Jason Williams landed the Flagg redemption during a livestream break. His investment: $515.
A frenzy of offers followed. Williams eventually consigned the card to Fanatics Collect, where it sold in September for $8.04 million — the third-highest sale price ever for an NBA card.
This sale certainly raised the stakes for future NBA Debut Patches.
And with another talented rookie class already making its mark on the league, which players are most likely to inspire the next Debut Patch collecting frenzy? With the NBA season now in full swing, early indications point to the following six players:
AJ Dybantsa, Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards may have round their next franchise superstar in AJ Dybantsa, the 6-foot-9 forward who entered the NBA with expectations rivaling those of Cooper Flagg a year earlier.
Dybantsa was the nation’s top-ranked high school recruit before spending one season at BYU, where he led the nation in scoring with 25.5 points per game. His combination of size, athleticism, and shot-making ability quickly caught the attention of the NBA, which made him the No. 1 overall pick in 2026.
A sprained ankle delayed his professional debut. But once in the lineup, Dybantsa quickly showed why Washington surprised no one when they took him with the top pick.
He scored 19 points on 8 of 12 shooting against Cleveland, the highest-scoring debut by a Wizards rookie since 1992. Dybantsa followed that with 17 against Charlotte and 21 (with three steals) against Orlando.
Yes, it’s early. But Dybantsa’s NBA-ready scoring instincts already have him looking the part of a future superstar.
Darryn Peterson, Utah Jazz
Injuries limited Darryn Peterson to 24 games during his lone season at Kansas. This did little to diminish his reputation as one of the gifted scorers in the 2026 NBA Draft, however.
The 6-foot-5 shooting guard averaged a Kansas freshman-record 20.2 points per game, displaying shooting range, creativity, and the ability to score through contact that made him the No. 3 overall pick.
Peterson’s transition to the Utah Jazz has been encouraging so far, though his shooting’s been inconsistent. After a quiet nine-point debut, he scored in double figures in five of his next six games, including 18 against San Antonio.
His most complete game came in a Nov. 2 rematch with the Spurs when he recorded 14 points, six assists, three steals, and three blocks.
Utah has plenty of rebuilding ahead, but Peterson’s offensive potential and emerging all-around game offer fans plenty of reasons for optimism.
Cameron Boozer, Memphis Grizzlies
Being the son of two-time NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer definitely helped put Cameron Boozer on basketball’s radar. But the younger Boozer established his own reputation as a teen.
He won multiple national high school player of the year honors before a dominant freshman season at Duke made him the No. 3 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Now, the 6-foot-9 power forward is making an immediate impact in Memphis.
Boozer became the third-youngest player in NBA history to record 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists in a game, joining LeBron James and Cooper Flagg. He followed that performance with an 18-point, 12-rebound, 12-assist triple-double against Portland, becoming the second-youngest player ever to accomplish this feat.
Through seven games, Boozer’s averaging 17.4 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 5.6 assists, helping Memphis open the season with six straight victories.
Caleb Wilson, Chicago Bulls
It’s more than just a little unfair to compare Caleb Wilson with Michael Jordan. But the Bulls rookie is already giving fans hope they might have another superstar player on the roster.
Like Jordan, Wilson came to Chicago from North Carolina as a highly touted pick. The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds during his lone season with the Tar Heels, earning the No. 4 overall selection despite a thumb injury that cut his college career short.
Wilson’s wasted little time making an impression as a pro, scoring 30 points and grabbing 14 rebounds against Washington in his third NBA game. He then became just the second Bulls rookie, the other being Jordan, to score at least 100 points in his first five games.
Through seven games, Wilson’s averaging 21.6 points and 6.7 rebounds while showing improved three-point shooting. The surprising competence he’s shown at long range could make his already solid offensive game much more dangerous.
Yaxel Lendeborg, Golden State Warriors
Of all the players in the 2026 NBA Draft, Yaxel Lendeborg may have taken the most unconventional route to stardom.
The 6-foot-9 forward began his college career at Arizona Western, then developed into a standout at UAB. Lendeborg then transferred to Michigan, where he earned Big Ten Player of the Year honors while leading the Wolverines to a national championship.
At 24, Lendeborg was considered old for a lottery prospect, but Golden State saw enough potential to select him 11th overall. So far, the decision looks brilliant.
After earning NBA Summer League MVP honors, Lendeborg has emerged as one of the Warriors' leading scorers. He’s currently averaging 21.5 points, seven rebounds, and 3.9 assists through eight games.
His early highlights include a 31-point, 12-rebound performance against Denver and a career-high 37 points against the Clippers.
For a franchise approaching the twilight of the Stephen Curry era, Lendeborg offers an intriguing glimpse of the future.
Darius Acuff Jr., Sacramento Kings
Darius Acuff Jr. has wasted little time making NBA teams regret passing on him in the 2026 Draft.
The seventh overall pick arrived in Sacramento after a sensational freshman season at Arkansas, where his explosive scoring ability and court vision made him one of college basketball's most exciting guards.
And somehow, he's been even more impressive against NBA competition.
After a rough shooting performance in his debut, Acuff erupted for 33 points against Portland. He followed that with 34 points and 14 assists against New Orleans and 38 points against Memphis.
Acuff’s averaging a cool 26.1 points and 6.3 assists through eight games, including a 25-point performance that helped Sacramento earn its first victory.
The 6-foot-2 point guard has also become the first rookie since Shaquille O'Neal in 1992 to score at least 150 points in his first six games. His shooting efficiency needs work, but his superstar potential is becoming hard to ignore.
Get Ahead of the Next Debut Patch Frenzy
Cooper Flagg’s $8 million Debut Patch showed how fast a rookie’s value can take off once he lives up to the hype. And based on their first few weeks in the league, this year’s class could be just as exciting. Dybantsa, Peterson, Boozer, Wilson, Lendeborg, and Acuff are all making strong early cases, but nobody knows yet whose Debut Patch will set off the next bidding war. For collectors, the best time to get in on a rising star is before everyone else catches on. Pristine Auction has signed jerseys, rookie cards, and memorabilia from many of this year’s top rookies, along with legends like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Steph Curry. Start bidding today and add the league’s next big name to your collection while you still can!
