Victor Wembanyama & The Hobby

Charting Wemby’s Topps Ascension

Victor Wembanyama’s potential is downright frightening. But what’s just as scary for the NBA is what he’s already a titanic force. A monstrous two-way player, Wembanyama has the San Antonio Spurs rolling to start this NBA season.

The gaudy stats, the video-game-cheat-code highlight reels, have turned the terrifying notion of just how unstoppable he may become into the feeling that he may already be unstoppable. Only 21 years old, Wemby’s already an early favorite for league MVP, and he continues to establish himself as the present and future of the league and The Hobby. 

With the chase for 2025-26 Topps Basketball underway, Wemby has unsurprisingly emerged as one of the most sought-after players in the release. As the year unfolds across the Topps Basketball landscape, collectors are sure to have plenty of options when it comes to building a compelling collection of Victor Wembanyama.

Topps NOW, Top of the Draft 

The hype surrounding Wemby is hardly new. The consensus top overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, his unique size and skill had the basketball world abuzz. The Spurs were more than happy to have yet another generational big man to build around with the French phenom. 

Topps NOW® commemorated the moment with this card from Wemby’s draft night. This version, inscribed by Victor with “2023 No.1 Pick,” sold for $22,000 through Fanatics Collect in 2024. An overall print run of 72,171 was an early indication of the massive attention the big man was already getting in The Hobby.

Wemby and Topps Join Forces

In 2023, Victor Wembanyama signed an exclusive deal with Fanatics and Topps that included rights to Wemby’s autograph for a wide array of collectibles. A year later, Topps issued Mercury, a unique set of Wembanyama cards that gave notice that the young star was on his way to the very top of The Hobby.

In addition to solo cards and autos, Mercury also provided a small number of dual cards featuring Wembanyama alongside the likes of David Robinson and Shaquille O’Neal.

On February 21, 2025, this phenomenal dual auto card with LeBron James and Wembanyama sold for $168,000, making it the most expensive Topps Wemby card sale to date.

Wembanyama has gotten into The Hobby himself. Although he does have some of his own cards, he also loves to chase Star Wars cards.

Wemby Makes the Leap to Topps Basketball

With the release of 2025-26 Topps Basketball, Victor Wembanyama continues to establish himself as a centerpiece of the Hardwood Hobby. An array of cards including base, parallel, variation, insert, auto, and relic card offerings give collectors a ton of exciting options to capture the prodigy as he carries the Spurs back to prominence. 

Wemby’s entry in the popular All Kings insert leads off the 25-card subset, and it’s a fitting chase card of the kid who just might become king. The player image, featuring Wemby in his Spurs uniform, creates an intriguing sort-of-color-match with the playing card background.

The case-hit Home Court insert puts stars in the heart of the city they go to battle for. Wemby’s Home Court feels Texas-sized, complete with cowboy boots and a depiction of the Alamo. For good measure, a UFO pays respect to Wembanyama’s otherworldly talent.

There are times when you watch Wemby play that he feels like he could only be possible in a video game. His 8-Bit Ballers insert card puts the unicorn right into that world, with this uniquely stylized offering.

Chase cards of the Spurs superstar include his Hardwood Stars card, as well as autographed cards including the coveted Flagship Real One Auto card and his 1980/81 Topps Basketball Veteran Auto. If you’re looking for a great relic option, look no further than this Woven Wonders release card that pops out of the hand.

Wemby’s Rise is NOW

There’s no doubt that Victor Wembanyama will remain a massive piece of the basketball Hobby moving forward, and one way for collectors to keep up with Wemby’s ascension is through NBA Topps NOW.

Victor’s first Topps NOW card of the year came on the heels of a ridiculous opening night performance, as the Spurs crushed rival Dallas behind his 40-point, 15-rebound, three-block effort. With a print run of over 13,500, the release includes Autograph Redemptions to be chased, including one for this spectacular 1-of-1.

The back of the card is nothing short of ominous for the rest of the NBA, capturing this quote from Wemby: “It’s also the beginning. There’s so much more I want to add to my game.”

Basketball, beware. Victor Wembanyama is here to stay.

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