Collector Nation Podcast
Episode: "$5K LeBron Pull… Then a Jordan Rookie Walked Into the Shop"
Date: February 6, 2026
Hosts: Ryan Alford & Brian Lut
Episode Overview
In this engaging episode, Ryan and Brian dive deep into the thrilling highs and surprises of the card collecting world by recounting two major stories: an epic “pristine” LeBron James refractor pull valued at over $5,000 and the old-school thrill of acquiring a coveted 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie set via a classic Facebook Marketplace deal. The hosts swap strategies and memories, debate which icon holds the most card value, and offer timely updates on their personal shops. They foster community engagement, encourage offers and trades, and serve up candid humor on everything from pack-ripping risks to Super Bowl ad traditions.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The $5,100 LeBron James Pull (00:00–05:24)
- Ryan details a big digital pack gamble:
- Tried the new “Hey Shop” platform ($450 a pack).
- First rip netted a $300 pull (“lost, sold it back for $250” [03:58]), did another pack and landed a 2003 Pristine LeBron James refractor PSA 10.
- “Last comp $5,100.” [04:26]
- ROI & Hobby Risks:
- Brian jokes: “This is how you become a degenerate right here. This is where. This is the path. Because, look, let me tell you, that is ridiculous.” [04:29]
2. Icon Debate: LeBron vs. Jordan vs. Kobe (06:10–10:32)
- Ryan’s Dilemma:
- Not a big LeBron fan; asks if the card should be traded for a comparable Jordan or Kobe card (“What card do you think has the most upside?” [06:10]).
- Brian’s Take:
- Jordan is both the fan-favorite and investor’s pick:
“As an investor, Jordan. Because cards are older, a little more rare and all that stuff’s going up.” [06:31] - Kobe vs. LeBron: “Kobe has different things that, that prop him up and fandom and all that. He's a different player, but similar time periods...becomes a tomato tomato discussion.” [07:53]
- Short-term (5-10 years), Jordan wins for both nostalgia and scarcity.
- Jordan is both the fan-favorite and investor’s pick:
- Audience Engagement:
- Ryan: “If I rank them, it would be Jordan, Kobe, LeBron. Because I don't...Kobe's not signing any more cards.” [08:31]
- Encouragement for listeners to DM or comment (09:49).
- “Make me an offer if you have a Jordan card or a Kobe card that's equivalent. I'm all ears, dude.” – Ryan [09:55]
3. The Facebook Marketplace Jordan Rookie Story (10:34–14:41)
- Behind the Scenes of a Major Private Buy:
- Brian details hunting a full 1986 Fleer set including Jordan rookie via Facebook Marketplace.
- Shares the suspense of verifying legitimacy (“I'm not going to get scammed...here's my cell phone number.” [10:51]).
- Memorable moment: The seller showing up with the set in a “crappiest Pokemon box I'd ever seen.” [13:06]
- Authenticity verified by renowned grader Mike Baker.
- “Yours truly has a full set of 86 FLIR, 86 Jordan, rookie and the star.” [14:19]
- “Anywhere from...the whole set, I would say four to nine [thousand].” [14:21]
- Love of Hobby & Serendipity:
- Ryan: “That's what makes this industry so, you know, it's awesome. There's stories all the time everywhere, and people want to tell people about it, and so I love that story.” [14:30]
4. Super Bowl Banter & Traditions (14:44–16:45)
- Super Bowl Hype:
- Ryan and Brian note this year’s Super Bowl feels “weird” with neither being invested in the teams.
- Traditions:
- Brian: “My honest traditions are eating a lot of food, drinking some beer, and watching the commercials like everyone else does. But I'll say this. I'm an ad guy...I kind of geek out on the ads more than like, yeah, they entertain, but I kind of geek out on the ads.” [15:50]
- Ryan jokes: “My tradition is I go to bed before the halftime show because my team's never in it. I hate that it's on a Sunday. It should be on a Saturday.” [16:23]
5. Card Shop Updates & Future Events (16:45–19:26)
- Shop Sneak Peek:
- Ryan’s Ludox Card Shop hosting a “sneak peek” on Feb 20-21. “4 to 7 is the rip night. And then after 7, it'll be invite only. DJ, food, drink, all that.” [17:00]
- Partnering with Fanatics, Beckett, VeeFriends: “Just little companies you've never heard of.” [18:13]
- Brian’s Shop, Collector Station, now open:
- “We almost did like a thousand bucks first, like, three hours... And I just turned our website on yesterday.” [18:44]
- Playing with tech innovations and in-store experiences.
6. Advice & Hobby Philosophy (19:26–21:15)
- Temptation of Being Your Own Best Customer:
- Brian jokes about tech, marketing, and the dangers of having new “toys” to play with: “Dangerous with my own budget.” [19:31]
- Ryan: “Still...don’t do your own drugs. You might get a million dollar in sales but 900,000 are you.” [20:11]
- Tips for Collectors:
- “Collection management values linkage with ebay. Sell those cards you don't want so you can buy some more and rip them like I do.” [20:31]
- Ludx App and Collector Nation App Store plugs (20:31, 21:18).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Hobby Addiction:
“This is how you become a degenerate right here. This is the path. Because let me tell you, that is ridiculous.”
— Brian [04:29] -
On Jordan’s Enduring Value:
“As an investor, Jordan. Because cards are older, a little more rare and all that stuff's going up.”
— Brian [06:31] -
Classic Deal Suspense:
“He walked into my card shop at about 8:15pm, him and a buddy, and laid it all out in the crappiest Pokemon box I'd ever seen...Proceeds to pull out exactly what he said. He had a pretty damn good condition full set of 86 FLIR, all stickers, all Jordan, and an 84 star Jordan on top of that.”
— Brian [13:06] -
On Collecting Culture:
“That's what makes this industry so...awesome. There's stories all the time everywhere, and...people want to tell people about it, and so I love that story.”
— Ryan [14:30] -
On Shop Ownership:
“What I get to play with...having your own retail space. I always did this for other people...So now, like, bringing it to life and being able to like visualize it within your own retail space. It’s fun.”
— Brian [19:31]
Timestamps for Important Segments
- LeBron James Pull & Digital Pack Talk: 00:00–05:24
- LeBron vs. Jordan vs. Kobe Debate: 06:10–10:32
- Facebook Marketplace Jordan Set Story: 10:34–14:41
- Super Bowl Traditions & Ad Critique: 14:44–16:45
- Ludox/Collector Station Shop Updates: 16:45–19:26
- Closing Hobby Advice & App Recommendations: 19:26–21:18
Tone & Style
Candid, energetic, and packed with hobbyist camaraderie. The episode blends sharp investment insight, classic “shop talk,” and playful banter, inviting listeners to participate and share their opinions, trades, and collecting stories.
For more stories, highlights, and to engage with the Collector Nation community, check out collectornation.com or find the Collector Nation App in the App Store.