Disclaimer: The following is for informational and entertainment purposes only. This is not financial advice nor an endorsement of any particular collectible.

Background and Significance

The 2009 Topps Basketball set featured one of the most loaded rookie classes in modern NBA history—Blake Griffin, James Harden, DeMar DeRozan, and Jrue Holiday—but no one has stood out more than Stephen Curry.

The white-bordered flagship Topps card (complete with the old Warriors logo) has become Curry’s premier rookie card for collectors. The card’s popularity is due to a combination of factors, but primarily because it is Curry’s first mass-produced rookie from a flagship product and is one of the most widely recognized cards today. It is a must have for any collector (of which there are many) of the four-time NBA champion, two-time MVP, and legend who has revolutionized the game with his three-point shooting prowess.

Card Variations and Rarity

The 2009 Topps Stephen Curry rookie card exists in several variations, each with different levels of scarcity:

Base Version

• The standard white-bordered Topps #321 card
• Exact print run is unknown, but it is the most common version

Parallels

• Gold Parallel: Numbered to 2009 (reflecting the year of issue)
• Black Parallel: Numbered to 50
• Topps Chrome Base: Numbered to 999
• Topps Chrome Refractor: Numbered to 500
• Topps Chrome Gold Refractor: Numbered to 50
• Topps Chrome Superfractor: The ultimate prize – just 1 copy exists

Each of these variations represents increasing levels of scarcity, with the Chrome Superfractor being the holy grail that would easily command seven-figures (and maybe eight!) if it ever came to market.

Population Data and Market Values

Base Version Population

Here are the number of base Topps 2009 Stephen Curry’s that have been graded by PSA, BGS, and SGC (as of March 28th, 2025):

PSA: 4,960 (with 372 10’s)

BGS: 2,611 (with 2 10’s and 517 9.5’s)

SGC: 486 (with 13 10’s)

Current Market Values

As of March 2025, here are the current market values for different variations and grades:

Base Version:

• Ungraded: $678.75 (average)
• PSA 7: $654.85
• PSA 8: $840.00
• PSA 9: $1,405.00
• PSA 9.5: $2,049.44
• PSA 10: $5,999.88

Where Could You Get It?

The 2009 Topps Stephen Curry rookie card could originally be found in:

1. 2009 Topps Basketball Hobby Foil Packs
   • 36 packs, 10 cards per pack
   • Featured rookies including Curry, Harden, and DeRozan
   • Topps Chrome cards were included as special inserts into packs

How Much Are Boxes Now

To this day, the Superfractor has never publicly surfaced, which is one reason why unopened boxes of 2009 Topps Basketball are selling for an absurd amount.

Right now, unopened boxes are selling for $20,000+. Compare this to the ~$50 the product started at when it was first released in 2009. If you don’t believe me, check out this review from September 1st, 2009 on Cardboard Connection. This means that if you had just held a single unopened box for the past 16 years, you would have seen a ~45% annual rate of return.

To put the $20,000 that boxes are currently selling for into perspective, a base Stephen Curry PSA 10 sells for ~$6,000, and even a Topps Chrome /999 PSA 10 sells for ~$18,000. Give me the single Curry instead every day of the week rather than a minuscule chance at hitting the Curry Superfractor (assuming it hasn’t already been pulled).

Conclusion

The 2009 Topps #321 Stephen Curry rookie card stands as one of the most significant modern basketball cards and is a true “grail” for many collectors. With the combined graded population of PSA, BGS, and SGC around 8,000 copies, it is by no means the most scarce Curry you will find. However, being the premier rookie card of the greatest shooter of all time does a lot to create demand, and you will find no shortage of sellers interested in buying it. The parallels and refractors provide an even bigger chase for collectors with a significant budget.