If you’ve been in the sports card community for a while, you know the collector spotlight series is a fan favorite. Today, I want to bring you a unique conversation with my good friend Pang Ming Wee, all the way from Malaysia. This interview covers everything from basketball card investing and collecting to the evolving sports card market, vaulting, grading, and differences between the US and Southeast Asian markets. Let’s dive into the insights he shared, in his own words.

Pang's journey back into the hobby began during the pandemic, inspired by the finance-minded approach of some well-known collectors like Gary Vee and Geoff Wilson. With a background in finance spanning over 20 years, Pang approaches sports cards primarily as an investment. But here’s a twist: while he invests broadly, he only collects FIVE cards for himself — and no exceptions to this rule.

His personal collection is sharply focused on just five cards, one each from Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Steph Curry — with the fifth card being any choice among these four legends. Pang explained he constantly looks to upgrade these five cards to the best possible version out there. This method ensures clarity and focus, a stark contrast to many collectors who juggle multiple sets or players.  I thought consolidating my collection to 23 cards was difficult, imagine only hyper focusing on 3 cards!!!

When talking about player priority in his collection, Pang ranks Kobe Bryant first, then LeBron James, Steph Curry third, and Michael Jordan fourth—not because he doubts Jordan’s legendary status as the GOAT, but because collecting and investment priorities don’t always align with fan favorites. This unique perspective shows the blend of emotional and financial reasoning behind his collecting strategy.

We also discussed the concept of the collector-investor spectrum. Pang identifies as a “builder” — someone who is not purely an investor or collector but builds towards a long-term goal with tangible results. I personally consider myself a hybrid (and www.thehobbyspectrum.com confirmed that exactly!) and it’s clear many of us exist somewhere on this continuum.

Pang's perspective on the evolving hobby reflects major trends: the growing flood of parallels and inserts dominating modern products, especially with brands like Topps Chrome entering basketball cards after Fanatics took over. He doesn’t collect Topps – yet admires the aesthetics – but is wary of the overwhelming variety of parallels and inserts financially motivated buyers chase. According to Pang, true rookie cards will regain importance as collectors mature and understand their limited print runs and rarity better.

One of the most eye-opening parts was hearing about the differences between collecting cards in Malaysia and the United States. Malaysia’s sports card market is extremely small, with only about 50 to 60 basketball card collectors nationwide. Unlike the US, where you can visit local stores or shows easily, Malaysian collectors mostly buy online due to geographic and economic challenges. Hobby boxes in Malaysia cost almost as much as an average month's salary, making collecting there a very different experience.

The humid climate also plays a role — cards are vulnerable to warping and damage if not stored carefully. Vaulting is not just a convenience but a necessity. Pang uses vault services like Fanatics Collect, which securely store his cards abroad, saving on shipping, taxes, and protecting cards from climate-related damage. Import taxes can be as high as 32% for trading cards imported into Malaysia, making vaulting even more critical.

We also talked grading and the acquisition process. Pang uses grading services that allow direct shipment from sellers to graders without touching the cards himself. While this saves time and money, it’s also risky, especially with ultra-modern cards which can be prone to surface damage or imperfections. He advises collectors to inspect and clean valuable cards when possible but understands why remote grading works for international collectors like himself.

Lastly, we touched on some prospects and strategies. While Pang mostly avoids ultra-modern hype cards, he admitted missing the surge on players like Nikola Jokic, whom he believes will become a top-10 all-time great. When forced to name a modern prospect (post-2022), he chose Paolo Banchero, showing a preference for familiar or solid bets.

In conclusion, Pang's approach is grounded in focused collecting with a strong investment mindset shaped by his international perspective. His story underscores the realities of global collecting outside the US — the challenges, the solutions, and the evolving nature of the hobby.

You can find Pang creating content regularly on his YouTube channel, Courtside Investor Podcast, and on Instagram @thecardboss2021. This interview was a pleasure to share with you, offering an invaluable outside-the-US perspective.

This article is based on the video interview between Bryan and Pang, originally published on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rVDhwScIY0.