Ranking 11 Best 2025 Topps Basketball Rookie Cards

Are you as excited as I am about collecting the best 2025 Topps Basketball rookie cards!?!

We’re talking about legendary card manufacturer Topps, now owned by Fanatics, selling cards with league and players association licenses for the first time in over 15 years!

Not since we saw a baby-faced 2009 Topps Steph Curry Rookie Card have we had Topps NBA cards with logos and team names!

I’m sure many are going to miss Panini’s basketball production, with Prizm, Donruss Optic and the like, but make no mistake, Topps having basketball cards again is a great thing for the hobby!

Check out our list of the best NBA rookie cards from every season here!

What’s Different About 2025 Topps Basketball Rookie Cards?

First, they smartly stole the idea from Panini to group all the rookie cards together on the checklist. So all rookie cards are listed between 201 and 250 (with a couple veterans sprinkled in between. There are 45 rookie cards in total in this 270-card set. That’s important because baseball card collectors understand how many rookie cards are produced for their sets, and the NBA cards have a much better ratio (excluding the ridiculous number of rookie cards in Topps Update each year).

Another interesting thing about 2025 Topps Basketball is that because NBA teams have far fewer players to spotlight for each team, compared to baseball, they have to fill out the base card set with 20 awesome legendary NBA players.

In a 270-card set, with 45 rookie cards and 20 legends cards, that leaves 205 cards for the veteran NBA players of 30 NBA teams. Each NBA team got about 6 to 7 players get cards, which means the likely starters and a couple bench players.

Something I like about this checklist is that Topps was smart enough to number the rookies (starting at 201) in the order they were drafted. Flagg is No. 201, with Harper as Card No. 202, and so forth, throughout the entire first round, with Yanic Konan Niederhauser at No. 30.

Weirdly, Luka Doncic and Zion Williamson were left off the checklist. Both players are exclusive to Panini, but it’s odd that they don’t have cards at all in Topps, since they are bound because of they are part of the NBA Players Association.

But they’re veterans – and we’re all about rookie cards here! So let’s get to it!

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Ranking the 11 Best 2025 Topps Basketball Rookie Cards!

When looking at NBA rookie cards, it’s important to distinguish those who we think will be impactful immediately, and those who we believe will be better long-term bets. For these rankings, just like we did for our “Ranking 13 Best 2024 NBA Rookie Cards” from last year, we’re looking ahead to the long-term value. These rankings are for base cards, but obviously, a numbered parallel or autographed card would be more valuable.

1. Cooper Flagg, F, Dallas Mavericks

Card No. 201 – View prices on eBay!

No one’s shocked to see Flagg flying high atop our 2025 Topps Basketball rookie cards rankings! The Duke product has drawn comparisons to elite two-way forwards like Jayson Tatum and Scottie Pippen. Card collectors would be delighted to see that, but he’s not someone that’s going to do one thing amazingly. That’s OK – card collectors are OK with well-rounded stars, like Paolo Banchero, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic.

Flagg has been the 2025 NBA Rookie-the-Year favorite for three years now. He’s the stud card to collect – and then there’s everyone else. Singles won’t come cheap, and wax prices are high because of him.

Let’s hope you pull something numbered and signed!

2. Ace Bailey, SG, Utah Jazz

Card No. 205 – View prices on eBay!

Bailey’s draft stock dropped a notch as he tried to force his way to/away from certain teams. The Jazz didn’t win the lottery, but they ended up with one of the top-three talents in Bailey.

Bailey will be leaned on for scoring immediately, and if the Jazz move Lauri Markkanen in a trade, Bailey is lined up for a heaping helping of opportunities.

Unlike some of the better talents below, Bailey can become a stat machine early.

3. Dylan Harper, SG, San Antonio Spurs

Card No. 202 – View prices on eBay!

Both the Mavericks and Spurs were delighted to see their logos come up last in the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery, as it meant they’ll get one of the two true stars in this draft.

Harper and Bailey were teammates at Rutgers, a college team that somehow missed the NCAA Tournament.

The problem (or opportunity for card collectors) is that the Spurs already have De’Aaron Fox and 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle in their backcourt, and they’re ready to win now, with Victor Wembanyama healthy again.

That means you should be able to get Harper a little cheaper as the season rolls on and he’s not getting as much publicity.

Make no mistake, though, in three years, the Spurs will be a two-star team, with Harper and Wemby leading the way.

4. V.J. Edgecombe, F, Philadelphia 76ers

Card No. 203 – View prices on eBay!

Many have Edgecombe as the second-best rookie for the 2025-26 NBA season, and he’s certainly one of the most athletic.

The Sixers have tons of talent… in the training room. From Joel Embiid to Paul George to Jared McCain, nobody can stay healthy all year. That opens up chances for Edgecombe, along with his fierce defensive ability and thunderous dunks.

5. Tre Johnson, G, Washington Wizards

Card No. 206 – View prices on eBay!

Johnson is the odds-on favorite to win Runner-Up to Flagg for 2025 NBA Rookie of the Year, as the Longhorns sharp-shooter steps into a fantastic opportunity with Washington. One of the best pure shooters in this class, Johnson will be asked to shoot a lot, as it tries to create space for their Alex Sarr in the front court.

Johnson’s shooting and collectability should mirror someone like Tyler Herro, who saw plenty of hobby love in his early years.

6. Jeremiah Fears, G, New Orleans Pelicans

Card No. 207 – View prices on eBay!

While Dejounte Murray is the Pelicans’ starter at point guard, he’s going to miss the beginning of the season with an Achilles’ injury – an injury that often affects a player well after their return.

Fears might not take the reins immediately, but the expectations are that he’ll be their playmaking guard of the future. He can shoot, he can drive, he can facilitate – a combination that excites card collectors. This is a nice pickup for future years, but one that could also pay dividends this year.

7. Kon Knueppel, F, Charlotte Hornets

Card No. 205 – View prices on eBay!

Expected to easily bring his sharp eye from beyond the arc to the NBA game, opening things up for LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller and Co. Unfortunately, most of the comps for Knueppel are Joe Ingles, who served as a great three-point shooter and team guy. That doesn’t really line up for great collectability, though.

8. Walter Clayton Jr., G, Utah Jazz

Card No. 218 – View prices on eBay!

Dreamers see Curry’s play in the Florida Gator product, as Clayton appears to be an undersized point guard with a ferocious ability to attack and long-distance dead-eye sniper.

Make no mistake, though, there is and will never be another Steph Curry.

Clayton could make a lot of noise as a deep threat in Utah, however. He’s so fun to watch, too, which certainly has some value in the basketball card market.

9. Nique Clifford, F, Phoenix Suns

Card No. 224 – View prices on eBay!

Clifford is an interesting player in this rankings, mostly because he’s someone who should see a lot of minutes, should play pretty well – but is already 23 years old and was a late first-round pick. The Suns need someone to step in and do good things, and as a five-year college player, he has the experience to help. Unfortunately, his high floor comes with a low ceiling, much like fellow Coloradoan Tristan Da Silva with the Magic last year.

That makes Clifford’s rookie card one to probably sell after he gets some early NBA love.

10. Egor Demin, G, Brooklyn Nets

Card No. 208 – View prices on eBay!

The Russian 19-year-old has a lot in front of him, but the Nets love Demin’s potential. There are few teams with as many available minutes as Brooklyn, and Demin could be their future point guard because of his elite ball-handling and facilitating ability.

11. Asa Newell, PF/C, Atlanta Hawks

Card No. 223 – View prices on eBay!

The Hawks should be a contender in the Eastern Conference and Newell has a shot at rotation minutes right away. The Hawks frontcourt is no stranger to injury, which means the former Georgia star could get even more minutes.

Other great 2025 Topps Basketball Rookie Cards to consider: Cedric Coward, SF, Memphis Grizzlies (Card No. 211), Yang Hansen, C, Portland Trail Blazers (Card No. 216), and Deriq Queen, C, New Orleans Pelicans.

Check out our list of the best NBA rookie cards from every season here!

While this article ranks the 11 best 2025 Topps Basketball rookie cards, collectors should also look at picking up 2024 rookie cards for Oklahoma City’s Nikola Topic, who is still a rookie this year because of a knee injury.