Kon Knueppel and Cooper Flagg are already turning their rookie duel into a collectorâs frenzy.
Topps announced a new Topps NOW chase tied to the duoâs Hornets-Mavericks matchup Thursday night: a true 1/1 dual-autograph, dual-relic card featuring pieces of the sneakers both players wore in the game. The drop is a limited-time window, with Topps listing the card as âAVAILABLE UNTIL FEB 1,â and Fanaticsâ release noting sales close at 5 p.m. ET on Feb. 1.
Flagg scored 49 points in Dallas, while Knueppel hit for 34 in the Hornetsâ win.
Topps NOW Unveils a Wild 1/1 Sneaker-Relic Chase
The chase is straightforward, and thatâs why itâs getting attention fast.
Topps NOW cards are sold in short windows, then printed after orders close, meaning the final print run is determined by demand.
For this specific Flagg/Knueppel card, Topps is dangling the biggest possible carrot: one collector who buys the base card will receive the 1/1 dual auto + dual sneaker-relic card.
Collectors on social media have floated âmid-six figuresâ as a potential value, but thatâs purely speculation until an actual sale happens. A more concrete data point: the hobby has already shown serious appetite for rare Flagg/Knueppel dual-autograph items, with a reported $91,499 sale for a 1/1 dual-auto PSA 10 Bowman U Now card. (Values vary wildly based on timing, grading, and the buyer pool.)
What It Means for Knueppel and Flaggâs Hobby Momentum
Flagg and Knueppel arenât just putting up rookie-season headlines, theyâre becoming a repeat collectible storyline.
Fanaticsâ release noted prior Topps NOW dual cards for the pair, plus strong individual demand markers (including Flaggâs massive Topps NOW print-run ceiling and notable high-end sales for both players). In other words: Topps isnât treating this like a one-off, itâs leaning into a rivalry/duo narrative that collectors recognize immediately.
And the sneaker-relic twist matters. Autographs are one thing; game-worn sneaker pieces from the same night adds a âyou had to be thereâ element that plays well with the Topps NOW concept of real-time moments.
Cooper Flagg, a 6-foot-9 forward out of Duke University, was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and has quickly become a centerpiece for the Dallas Mavericks, averaging 19.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists this season. Knueppel, a 6-foot-6 guard-forward and fellow former Duke standout, went No. 4 overall to the Charlotte Hornets and is putting up 18.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game heading into the matchup with the San Antonio Spurs.
How to Watch Spurs vs. HornetsÂ
With Knueppel now carrying even more buzz into the weekend, the Hornets are back in the spotlight for their next game.
San Antonio Spurs at Charlotte Hornets tips at 12:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 31. The NBA announced the game was rescheduled earlier in the day due to inclement weather in North Carolina.
How to watch:
- Streaming: Prime Video (national)
- Local TV (Spurs market): KENS 5
The Bottom Line
The Flagg-Knueppel rookie showdown already produced a memorable night on the court, and now itâs producing one of the more intriguing modern chases Topps can offer: a true 1/1 dual auto with dual sneaker relics tied directly to the game.
For collectors, the clock is the story as much as the card: Topps lists the drop as available until Feb. 1, with Fanaticsâ release pointing to a 5 p.m. ET cutoff.Â
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