Kon Knueppel and Cooper Flagg are continuing to make big news after their jaw-dropping duel a few nights ago.
While Knueppel and the Hornets are dueling the Spurs, he got even more news, this time from Topps.
Topps announced a new Topps NOW chase tied to the duo’s 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 “AVAILABLE UNTIL FEB 1,” and Fanatics’ 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 Hornets’ win.
Topps NOW Unveils a Wild 1/1 Sneaker-Relic Chase
The chase is straightforward, and that’s why it’s 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 “mid-six figures” as a potential value, but that’s 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.)
Heavy
What It Means for Knueppel and Flagg’s Hobby Momentum
Flagg and Knueppel aren’t just putting up rookie-season headlines, they’re becoming a repeat collectible storyline.
Fanatics’ release noted prior Topps NOW dual cards for the pair, plus strong individual demand markers (including Flagg’s massive Topps NOW print-run ceiling and notable high-end sales for both players). In other words: Topps isn’t treating this like a one-off, it’s 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 “you had to be there” 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.
The Bottom Line
The Flagg-Knueppel rookie showdown already produced a memorable night on the court, and now it’s 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 Fanatics’ release pointing to a 5 p.m. ET cutoff.
Kon Knueppel Gets Big News After Epic Showdown vs. Cooper Flagg