One-of-one autographed Cooper Flagg rookie card with NBA debut patch found in New England
PORTLAND, Maine —
The most sought-after Cooper Flagg trading card to date was recently found in New England.
A one-of-one rookie card that was autographed by the Maine native and features his NBA debut patch is estimated to be worth millions of dollars.
On Monday, the Rhode Island card shop RhodyBreakers was opening packs for one of its buyers on a livestream when it pulled the coveted card.
“Oh my God,” said the RhodyBreakers member who revealed the card during the livestream. “We actually did it. This is insane. I’m shaking a little now, not going to lie. … This is going in the bank vault.”
The buyer then called in during the livestream to share his reaction.
“I’m booking a first-class ticket there tomorrow,” the buyer said. “I’m emotional, man.”
The current record-high price for any Flagg card is $366,000, which was paid at an auction in March, according to ESPN.
On Aug. 6, the Dallas Mavericks offered a “bounty” to the person who found the Flagg rookie debut patch autograph card.
In exchange for the one-of-one card, the Mavericks offered the following package in return:
- Two Mavericks season premium lower-level tickets for 32 years;
- An autographed, game-worn Flagg jersey from his rookie season;
- A postgame photo with Flagg;
- A private photo shoot with the NBA Rookie of the Year trophy that Flagg won, as well as the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy the Mavericks won in 2011;
- A VIP tour of the Mavericks’ practice facility with a team meet-and-greet;
- A private basketball experience at American Airlines Center, the Mavericks’ home arena, for up to 10 guests; and
- A road trip experience to see the Mavericks play the Boston Celtics at TD Garden, including round-trip airfare, hotel accommodations and game tickets.
Flagg, 19, of Newport, Maine, was named NBA Rookie of the Year after leading all rookies with an average of 21.0 points per game and ranking in the top five among rookies in rebounding (6.7 per game, 4th), assists (4.5 per game, 2nd), steals (1.2 per game, 2nd) and blocks (0.9 per game, 5th).
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft also became the youngest player to score at least 35 points, 40 points, 45 points and 50 points in an NBA game at different points during his rookie season.
RhodyBreakers is the card break division of Baseball Cards of Rhode Island, a brick-and-mortar retail store in North Kingstown that has been in business since 1988.