SLAM's Gold Metal Kon Knueppel Magazine Sold Out in Seconds

SLAM Magazine has been the bible of basketball culture since 1994, and the Gold Metal Edition is its most exclusive physical product. Each issue features raised gold metal lettering across the entire front cover and is individually numbered to 94 copies worldwide, sold exclusively through SLAM Goods.

Issue 261 puts Knueppel on the cover, coinciding with what has been a genuinely remarkable rookie campaign. SLAM’s description calls him “a craftsman” and “a bona fide student of the game,” which tracks with how he’s actually played this season.

The 20-year-old Duke product, selected fourth overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, is averaging 19.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game for a Charlotte Hornets team that has surprised everyone by contending for a playoff spot. He leads the entire NBA in three-pointers made and recently became the only player age 22 or younger in NBA history to connect on 250 three-pointers in a single season. His ROY odds sit at -255, making him a heavy favorite over Cooper Flagg heading into the final stretch of the season.

SLAM recognized Knueppel at the right time. A Gold Metal cover at this point in his career means this is essentially a rookie-year artifact.

The Knueppel Gold Metal hit SLAM Goods yesterday and sold out almost immediately. Resellers were able to purchase up to two copies per order before inventory ran dry. Given that only 94 copies existed, it would have taken fewer than 50 buyers purchasing the maximum to clear the entire run.

Copies are already appearing on eBay for $200 and above. At $94 retail, that’s a gross return of roughly $106 before fees. After eBay’s 13% cut, sellers are netting around $80 per copy on a $200 sale, which is a solid flip for something that required no camping out and no bot. Two copies at the maximum would put around $160 in your pocket after fees.

Not all 94 copies are equal. Each magazine is individually numbered, and two numbers carry obvious premiums. Copy #1 is the most desirable for straightforward reasons. Copy #7 is Knueppel’s jersey number with the Hornets, making it a natural target for serious collectors. Expect both to trade significantly above the current $200+ baseline whenever they surface.

This creates an interesting dilemma for resellers that copped: list now for the quick confirmed profits, or wait until your mag ships and try to pull a lucky number?

Past Gold Metal editions featuring star players have sold for over $500 on eBay. Copies featuring Knueppel’s ROY rival Cooper Flagg and icons Steph Curry and Lebron James are hot commodities for serious NBA collectors.

While the SLAM Gold Metal is the higher-end collectible opportunity here, Knueppel also dropped something a little more accessible earlier this week.

On March 26, Cheez-It launched “Kon’s Double Double Cheez-It Bundle” on their official shop, priced at $20. The bundle pairs Cheez-It White Cheddar and Cheez-It Extra Toasty, his stated off-court favorites, in packaging designed to look like a sports card blaster box. It sold out the same day.

A restock is scheduled for April 6. We haven’t confirmed any secondary market sales on the Cheez-It bundle yet, so we can’t give you hard comps. What we can say is that athlete food collabs with this kind of packaging have a track record of finding collectors.

This is a lower-stakes opportunity than the SLAM mag, and the $20 retail price means the barrier to entry is low. Anyone who missed the first drop should set a reminder for April 6 and decide at that point whether they want to grab a copy for the collection or let it pass.