Lakers are the Most Collectible Franchise in Basketball

There are few sports franchises that command as much global attention and hobby elegance as the Los Angeles Lakers.

According to Fanatics Collect, the Lakers have a lineage that extends from legends in the game such as Jerry West, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and now even Luka Doncic. The Lakers represent a continuous chain of dominance in the sports market, and each player represents a different era.

Karpus calls all of this “the Lakers effect.”

“The name on the chest always matches the global identity of the name on the back,” he stated. “People want to collect the best cards, and the Lakers have always been collectible.”

Karpus has many ways to showcase his collectibles. Through his eBay storefront (thecoffeebreakers) and Instagram page (@anythingmade) he has built an online following that represents the Los Angeles area itself, as it delivers a high energy that is concentrated in the love of sports.

In his storefront, he offers listings ranging from serial-numbered LeBron James cards to sealed Panini basketball boxes. In return, fans and investors are given a physical place to experience one of the hobby’s most active markets.

The Luka Doncic Trade Adds to the Fire

The newest member of the Lakers sports market hype is none other than Luka Doncic, who was traded to the Lakers on Feb. 2, 2025.  According to OTIA Sports News, this move caused a massive spike in Doncic’s card prices — his rookie parallels jumped 48% in a single week. This included his 2018 Silver Prizm card in a PSA 10 jumping from around $1,800 to over $2,400 in that same timeframe.

Collectors around the world even saw his first Lakers-uniform cards as potential blue-chip investments.

The blockbuster trade pairs one of the NBA’s brightest stars with the most collectible franchise into a match made in heaven. Cards and Coffee has already seen the jump through all the sealed boxes’ prices rising over time.

Player Performance Does More Than Just Build Hype

Still, Karpus is quite quick to remind all collectors that card prices aren’t solely based on hype alone.

“Just as the stock market is performance-based, so is the trading card market,” he said. “Elite players’ performances can have major implications, whether that is good or bad. This also includes any injuries or a public perception, as either of these can collapse the card’s value.”

This observation alone aligns with that of Morrison Trading Post’s recent diagnosis of athlete performance trends.

Short-term boosts in a card only continues with consistent excellence. An example of a player who had all the hype but was often injured was Zion Williamson, who was once touted with an abundance of hype, but has been unable to consistently stay healthy.

Meanwhile, rising stars like Victor Wembanyama have seen their markets climb exponentially, as every year he exceeds expectations.

Websites such as Market Movers are able to track these changes in real time for any audience to bear witness. Essentially, collectors are able to see how much a 40-point game impacts a card’s rise versus how much a 2-15 shooting performance downgrades the market for the specific player.

Why Calabasas Has Become A Hidden Gem In the Market for Collectors

While Los Angeles itself still remains a prominent figure for Lakers lore, Calabasas has emerged as a serious hub for collectors. Cards and Coffee itself doesn’t rely on espresso; instead it thrives on authenticity.

Behind the counters and around the whole room, Karpus curates a space where young collectors and sports card fanatics can chase Luka Doncic autographs or even find Kobe refractors and Showtime Lakers cards.

“When you’re the best at the game you play, your cards hold value,” Karpus stated.  That belief itself drives both his store and his customers. Whether Michael is holding an in-store trade, an eBay auction, or even reminiscing on his Instagram page, the Lakers greatness continues to hold down the sports card market.

In Los Angeles, legends never retire and instead are graded, sealed, and sold with an unmatched story told behind it.