Ty Jerome, Tyler Herro and Walker Kessler Open 2026-27 Hot

Early 2026-27 NBA surprises are already taking shape

Every NBA team has now played at least two games in the 2026-27 season, giving fans an early look at new rosters, offseason moves and players stepping into bigger roles. With a busy 2026 offseason reshaping the league, a few names have already separated themselves as early surprises.

Among the players drawing attention are Ty Jerome, Tyler Herro and Walker Kessler. Each has opened the season with production that stands out for different reasons, and each has seen renewed interest in the hobby as a result.

Ty Jerome delivers a career night for Memphis

Ty Jerome made the biggest early-season statement of the group with a career-high 45 points against the Utah Jazz. In his second season with the Memphis Grizzlies, Jerome led the way in a win by more than 20 points and helped set a franchise mark for the highest-scoring performance in a season opener.

The performance was notable because Jerome had only topped 30 points once before in his NBA career, and he is now in his eighth season. With Memphis having moved on from both Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant over the past year, there were questions about where the offense would come from. Through two games, Jerome has been the answer.

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His hobby market has reflected the strong start. Jerome's 2019 Panini Prizm Rookie Silver Prizm #268 PSA 10, with a population of 86, sold for an all-time high of $99.99 on October 22. That marked a gain of $69.99, or 233%, over the previous 2.5 months.

Tyler Herro steps into a featured role in Milwaukee

Tyler Herro arrived in Milwaukee as a key part of the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, and he has quickly become the focal point of the Bucks offense. In Milwaukee's 132-125 loss to the Chicago Bulls, Herro was the only Bucks player to score 20 or more points, finishing with 34 points, five rebounds, four assists and one steal.

That outing followed his team debut, when he led the Bucks in shot attempts and scored a team-high 24 points. Through two games, Herro has totaled 58 points, which is a career high for him through the first two games of a season. That kind of usage suggests he is likely to remain the No. 1 option in the offense going forward.

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Herro's card market has moved with the production. His 2019 Panini Prizm Rookie Silver Prizm #259 PSA 10, with a population of 864, sold for $56 on October 20. That price represented a $32.56 increase, or 139%, over the previous month.

Walker Kessler gives the Lakers the interior presence they needed

The Los Angeles Lakers entered the season looking for a center who could serve as a steady presence behind their stars, and Walker Kessler has made an immediate impression. Kessler spent his entire NBA career with the Utah Jazz after being selected with the No. 22 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, but the offseason brought a sign-and-trade deal that sent him to Los Angeles.

As part of the deal, the Jazz received two first-round picks, in 2031 and 2033, along with two first-round swaps in 2028 and 2030. Kessler signed a four-year, $130 million contract with the Lakers.

On the court, the fit has been strong through two games. Kessler has scored 48 points across his first two appearances in a Lakers uniform, with 22 points in one game and 26 in the other. His 84.6% field goal percentage leads the league.

His debut was especially efficient, as he shot 12-for-12 from the field, the second-best shooting performance in franchise history. He followed that with a game in which he became the eighth Lakers player to record six blocks and three steals in a game.

Kessler's card market has surged as well. His 2022 Donruss Optic Rated Rookie #213 Holo PSA 10, with a population of 15, sold for an all-time high of $119.99 on October 24. That was a $94.99 increase, or 380%, over the previous 1.5 months.

Why these early performances matter in the hobby

Early-season production often has an outsized effect on player perception, especially when it comes after major offseason movement. Jerome, Herro and Kessler are all tied to teams with new expectations, and each has already produced a performance that gives collectors a reason to pay attention.

Jerome has emerged as an early offensive engine for Memphis. Herro has taken on a featured scoring role in Milwaukee. Kessler has given the Lakers the kind of interior production they were seeking. With the season still in its opening stretch, their early numbers are already shaping both team storylines and card-market momentum.

For collectors, the first two games have been enough to push all three players into the spotlight, with recent PSA 10 sales showing how quickly the market can react when a player opens the season with a breakout stretch.