Talk about catching a lucky break.<\/p>\n
The lucky collector who acquired the one-of-a-kind NBA Debut Patch card of Mavericks star Cooper Flagg <\/a>has come forward to describe the moment he took ownership of the prized collectible \u2014 which has already prompted multimillion-dollar offers.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen it happened, I mean, I went to the floor like a baby in the fetal position,\u201d Clover, South Carolina, resident Jason Williams told CNN <\/a>in an interview Saturday. \u201cI mean, it was just emotional because I knew. I knew what had happened. <\/p>\n Here\u2019s the VOD pic.twitter.com\/vC0nH34gjE<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Cole (@Zaccole6) August 11, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n Jason Williams, wearing an Indiana Fever jersey, and his family pose with the Cooper Flagg redemption card. Parker J. Asel<\/p>\n \u201cIt took me a few seconds for it to register in my mind, but it was just emotions took over me.\u201d<\/p>\n Williams, 50, purchased a spot in a \u201cbreak\u201d with Rhode Island-based RhodyBreakers this past Monday night and watched the livestream on his phone.<\/p>\n Breaks are a popular part of the modern trading-card hobby in which collectors purchase spots in a livestreamed box or case opening rather than buying the product outright, with cards distributed based on the players or teams assigned to each participant.<\/p>\n RhodyBreakers hit the Flagg NBA Debut Patch Auto redemption card. RhodyBreakers\/Youtube<\/p>\n The father of five revealed that his spot in Monday\u2019s break cost him $515.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was an expensive one to me, but well worth it,\u201d Williams said.<\/p>\n When it became clear that the breakers had hit a major card, Williams said he put the livestream on a big screen inside his home for the big reveal.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was intense,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n The one-of-one collectible is a rookie card of Flagg, bearing his autograph with an embedded NBA Debut Patch that he wore in his first game. The Topps Company, Inc.<\/p>\n The one-of-one collectible is a rookie card of Flagg, bearing his autograph with an embedded NBA Debut Patch that he wore in his first game.<\/p>\n The hit was a big deal for everyone involved, including RhodyCards, who called this particular card \u201ca unicorn.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve had some good ones, but a big pull for us is 15-20 grand. This is just a unicorn,\u201d\u00a0breaker Christopher Card told The Providence Journal<\/a>. \u201cThis is one of the most anticipated cards in modern card history.\u201d<\/p>\n Naturally, the value of the card and what it may fetch if it reaches auction has been at the forefront of talks.<\/p>\n Flagg, 19, signed the card at Fanatics Fest in New York City last month. X \/ Fanatics<\/p>\n The Mavericks put out a lucrative bounty<\/a> to acquire the card from whoever pulled it, which included 32 years of season tickets, signed Flagg merchandise, a meet-and-greet, and a tour of the team facility.<\/p>\n Auction platform Alt began a \u201cbounty auction\u201d<\/a> the day after the card was pulled, allowing interested buyers to submit\u00a0bids for the card that become binding if the platform can consign the card.<\/p>\n As of Sunday afternoon, the bounty auction sits at $3.1 million after 12 bids.<\/p>\n The expectation has been that the Flagg card would easily go for over $1 million, especially given that a similar card of Pirates star pitcher Paul Skenes sold for $1.11M in 2025<\/a>.<\/p>\n Flagg averaged 21 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists and shot 46.8 percent from the field in 70 games en route to Rookie of the Year honors. Charles Wenzelberg \/ New York Post<\/p>\n Other rare trading cards have sold for big bucks recently, including a one-of-one dual gold logoman of Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani that sold for $10 million.<\/a><\/p>\n Flagg, who took home Rookie of the Year honors, urged the lucky collector that ends up with the card not to sell right away.<\/p>\n \u201cHold on to it, hold on to it,\u201d the teen star said at Fanatics Fest in New York City after signing the card. \u201cI think it will gain in value as I go on through my career, so it will be a good piece to hang on to.\u201d<\/p>\n It seems that, at least for now, Williams is following Flagg\u2019s advice.<\/p>\n