For a quick background on the significance of this Stephen Curry card, here is an excerpt from a July 29, 2021 story from Emile Avanessian in SPORTS COLLECTORS DAILY on a similar, rare Panini card of Giannis Antetokounmpo:
Every year since 1986, shortly after the draft, the NBA and the National Basketball Players’ Association have held the Rookie Transition Program (RTP). Typically (in non-COVID years) held in New Jersey, the RTP is effectively a “new hire orientation” for professional basketball players. Through presentations from league officials and current and former NBA players,, the mandatory gathering aims to prepare the league’s latest crop of draftees for the transition – on and off the floor – to life in the NBA. The Program also educates attendees about the resources provided by the league to ease that transition, and deal with the challenges that arise.
The four-day event also includes the annual Rookie Photo Shoot (RPS), during which the players are first captured in their professional jerseys. Since 2009 (though not in 2011 or 2012), the players’ RPS photos have been used to create the Panini Court Kings Next Day Personal Edition set. In 2013, the photos of 35 players were used to create the Panini Court Kings Next Day Personal Edition set. The 35-card set has a total non-serial-numbered print run of 95. Each player received his own complete set, as well as another 60 of his own card to sign and do with as he pleased.
That these ultra-rare cards are the first cards to feature the draftees in their new NBA threads makes them exceedingly cool and highly collectible. That they are hand-signed, on-site – by definition, the first autographed card to feature each player in an NBA jersey – makes them potential treasures.
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SCP Auctions is excited to present one of these rare, signed Panini cardboard gems of basketball icon Stephen Curry. This card was signed at the time and presented to our consignor, who has held it dear since then, but has decided to give it a new home, to let someone else enjoy it for the next decade or more. As noted in the story excerpt above, 2009 was the first time these "Next Day Personal Edition" cards were issued, coinciding with Steph's debut.
Steph's unique and classic penmanship has been authenticated by PSA/DNA, a MINT 9 autograph, and looks just beautiful in encapsulation.
The first card of the player that transformed the game of basketball in his NBA Golden State Warriors jersey, the greatest shooter of all-time, limited edition production, boldly signed at the time. Where are you going to find another one of these? Wow!