Experience is overrated. At least it was for the NBA's Class of 2008, with players who played just one year of college basketball taking many of the top spots. Headlined by Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley and O.J. Mayo, a bunch of those youngsters (and yes, some more experienced players too) will find their NBA rookie cards highly sought after by basketball collectors as the 2008-09 season unfolds.
Here's a look at the cream of the collectible crop of 2008 rookies:
1. Derrick Rose, G, Chicago Bulls
Nick Tylwalk
The first player picked in the draft isn't always the favorite of collectors, but Rose has everything he needs to make collectors fall in love. He'll provide scoring and stability to a team that was in desperate need of both after a lost 2007-08 season, and he proved to be a winner in just one year of college. It almost doesn't need to be said that Chicago is a great market for basketball cards and collectibles, going all the way back to the time of a certain No. 23.
2. Michael Beasley, F, Miami Heat
Speculation ran rampant leading up to the draft that the Heat would either trade out of the No. 2 spot or take someone other than Beasley. In the end, Miami couldn't pass on a player who toyed with college competition to the tune of over 26 points and 12 rebounds a game. Teamed with a player who's already very popular in the hobby (that would be Dwyane Wade), Beasley could turn around the fortunes of a woeful squad in short order.
3. O.J. Mayo, G, Memphis Grizzlies
An electric talent who's been hyped up since he was a young teenager, Mayo already has a lot of name recognition among collectors. He may need it too, as a draft night deal sent him from Minnesota to Memphis, where he'll be following in the hobby footsteps of... well, let's just say that he'll immediately become the franchise's most collectible player ever. He may be asked to shoulder quite a bit of the scoring load right away, which will only help his cards.
4. Eric Gordon, G, L.A. Clippers
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This guy can flat out score, and he's headed to a Clippers team where that particular talent will be in high demand - especially if Corey Maggette and Elton Brand don't stick around for long. Even though the Clips are a distant second to the Lakers among L.A. fans and collectors, the massive size of the market definitely works in Gordon's favor. He also played for a school with a rich basketball tradition (though it's been soft recently) and may bring some college collectors along for the ride.
5. Jerryd Bayless, G, Portland Trail Blazers
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The young Blazers are shaping up to be a Western Conference power in the making, and Bayless gets to join in the fun after a trade sent him from Indiana to Portland. He looks like he'll be able to score from any range, which is something that collectors always value. Add that to a market which is turning into a strong one for basketball cards thanks to Brandon Roy and Greg Oden and Bayless looks like a winner.
6. Brandon Rush, G, Indiana Pacers
More solid than spectacular, Rush is the exception on this list so far with three years of college seasoning. He'll likely enjoy some additional early attention as a member of Kansas' championship 2007-08 team. Indiana is in an interesting state of flux, and Rush is likely to always be linked to Bayless since they were essentially traded for each other, but the immediate future of his cards still seems fairly bright.
7. Kevin Love, C, Minnesota Timberwolves
There's always at least one boom-or-bust player on a list like this, and Love looks like he fits the bill for this class. Will his college production and heady game translate to the NBA, or will he be done in by a perceived lack of athleticism and questions about his position? Expect him to have an equal chance of moving up this list or falling off completely in a year or two.
8. Courtney Lee, F, Orlando Magic
Lee is a bit of a sleeper, as he played his college ball for Western Kentucky and didn't get picked until No. 22. Don't sleep on him though, as he can shoot the rock and play strong 'D' as well. He could fit in nicely as a wingman for emerging superstar Dwight Howard and turn the Magic into a force to be reckoned with in the East.
9. Russell Westbrook, G, Seattle SuperSonics
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Westbrook might be the player from this class most likely to see his stock climb after his first season. The Sonics will be in Oklahoma City in a year or two - and not called the Sonics any more - and everyone will know more about whether or not the UCLA product can translate his raw athleticism into NBA scoring ability. In the meantime, Westbrook will benefit from sharing some of the large hobby spotlight that shines on teammate Kevin Durant.
10. Chris Douglas-Roberts, G, New Jersey Nets
Plenty of recent NBA stars have made an impact despite getting drafted in the second round. So why not Douglas-Roberts, a versatile scorer at the college level who joins a Nets team in need of some of that skill after trading Richard Jefferson? His rookie cards should be a bargain early and have the potential to grow.