Cooper Flagg’s rise from prized rookie to record-setting card subject hit a new level Friday, when his one-of-one Topps Rookie Debut Patch Autograph sold for $8.04 million in Fanatics Collect’s September Premier Auction.
The sale did more than set a stunning price. Fanatics Collect said it established five records: the most ever paid for a basketball card featuring a single player, the highest total for any Mavericks card, the biggest auction sale ever through Fanatics Collect, and the top price for any Rookie Debut Patch card. Only two NBA cards have ever sold for more, with the record still belonging to the 2007-08 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual Logoman signed by Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant at $12,932,000.
The card’s path to that number started with a $515 break slot. Jason Williams, a 55-year-old machine shop owner from Clover, South Carolina, paid that amount on Aug. 10 for the Mavericks spot in a three-box livestream break of 2025-26 Topps Chrome Update Basketball run by RhodyBreakers, the break division of Baseball Cards of Rhode Island in North Kingstown. The redemption for Flagg’s card came out of that break, turning a modest entry fee into a windfall.
Williams told CNN’s Andy Scholes that he was watching on his phone from the living room while his 12-year-old was getting ready for bed. He knew he had a strong team in the break.
"I was like, 'Hey, we need to put this on the big screen,' and my wife was like, 'OK, whatever, do what you need to do,'" Williams said. "So I put it on."
The card itself traces back to Flagg’s NBA debut. He signed it July 17 at Fanatics Fest in New York, and the patch came from the jersey he wore in the first half of his first NBA game on Oct. 22, 2025, against the San Antonio Spurs.
Flagg finished that game with 10 points and 10 rebounds in a 125-92 loss. That jersey later sold for $1 million at auction in February.
Williams said the moment he realized he had the card was overwhelming.
"When it happened, I went to the floor like a baby in the fetal position," Williams explained. "It was just emotional because I knew.
I knew what had happened. It took me a few seconds for it to register in my mind, but it was just emotions took over me."
Before the auction, the Mavericks tried to keep the card in Dallas with a package they called "1 of 1 for 32." The offer included two premium lower-level season tickets for 32 years, a signed, game-worn Flagg rookie jersey and a trip to see Dallas play the Boston Celtics.
Flagg wears No. 32.
Goldin Auctions founder Ken Goldin also made a push, offering a $1.5 million cash advance if Williams would consign the card with his company. Williams instead chose Fanatics Collect in August, and PSA graded the card Gem Mint 10 with a 10 for the autograph.
Bidding had already been underway for two days when Williams attended the opening of Flagg Trading Co. on Sept. 12 in Bangor, Maine. The shop is co-owned by Flagg and his cousin, Tyler Flagg.
Flagg’s on-court résumé already matches the hype around the card. Last season, he was named Rookie of the Year after starting all 70 games he played and averaging 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.2 steals while shooting 46.8% from the field.
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