After turning down millions in offers and a package from the Mavericks, Jason Williams has decided to let the market determine what Flagg's prized debut card is worth.
DALLAS - The decision is finally in.
Jason Williams, the South Carolina collector who pulled Cooper Flagg's one-of-one Rookie Debut Patch Autograph during a live break last month, has chosen to send the card to auction instead of accepting any of the offers that followed.
The card will headline Fanatics Collect's September Premier Auction, which runs from Sept. 10 through Sept. 24. It has already received a PSA Gem Mint 10 grade, strengthening its status as one of the most significant basketball cards in the hobby.
The offers Williams rejected are particularly striking. Goldin Auctions founder Ken Goldin offered a $1.5 million cash advance before the card reached the auction block. The Mavericks assembled an experience package valued between $800,000 and $1.2 million that included decades of season tickets and access to Flagg himself. Most notably, the marketplace Alt opened what it called a Debut Bounty Auction. Bidding reached $3 million, or $3.6 million with the buyer's premium, on the condition that Williams consign the card there. He declined every offer.
Williams remained quiet about his plans for several weeks. Shortly after pulling the card, he told ESPN, "It's in a safe place for right now. I'm just sort of trying to lay low."
The market will now get its answer. Every valuation so far has been speculative, ranging from Sports Cards Investor founder Geoff Wilson's early estimate of $1.5 million to projections between $3 million and $5 million. Only a completed auction can establish the card's actual value.
The closest precedent comes from another sport. Paul Skenes' one-of-one MLB Rookie Debut Patch Autograph sold through Fanatics Collect for $1.11 million in March 2025, making it one of the most expensive baseball cards ever sold. That card followed a similar path, including a franchise bounty package from the Pirates that the family ultimately declined in favor of an auction.
It remains uncertain whether Flagg's card will match or exceed that price. Baseball and basketball collector markets behave differently, so direct comparisons are imperfect. However, Flagg's previous card record is $366,000, which was set at a March auction. This card is expected to surpass that figure by a wide margin.
The card's value comes partly from the memorabilia embedded in it. The patch was cut from the jersey Flagg wore during the first half of his NBA debut on Oct. 22, 2025. That jersey sold for $1 million at NBA Auctions in February. Topps later had Flagg sign the card at Fanatics Fest in July, where he admitted that he felt a little nervous before signing it. Flagg wore three debut patches that night, and the other two were intentionally destroyed to ensure that this card remained unique.
The auction opens Sept. 10 and closes two weeks later. When it ends, the hobby will finally know what a Cooper Flagg debut patch is actually worth.
