Isiah Thomas 2004-05 Exquisite Titleists Auto Sells

The 2004–05 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection remains one of the landmark high-end basketball releases, and Isiah Thomas’s “Titleists” insert sits right in the middle of that story. On April 12, 2026, Goldin sold a major copy of that card: a 2004-05 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Titleists Jersey Autograph #ET-IT Isiah Thomas, serial-numbered 2/2, graded PSA EX-MT 6 with a PSA/DNA GEM MT 10 autograph. The card realized $33,062.

Below, we’ll unpack what this card is, why collectors care about it, and how this sale fits into the broader Exquisite and Isiah Thomas markets.

Card overview

Let’s start by clearly identifying the card:

• Player: Isiah Thomas
• Team: Detroit Pistons
• Year: 2004–05
• Set: Upper Deck Exquisite Collection – Titleists Jersey Autograph insert
• Card number: #ET-IT
• Serial numbering: Hand-numbered 2/2 (only two copies produced)
• Autograph: On-card autograph (signed directly on the card surface)
• Relic: Game-used jersey swatch (relic patch)
• Grading:
  • Card grade: PSA EX-MT 6 (Excellent-Mint)
  • Autograph grade: PSA/DNA GEM MT 10
• Era: Early “modern premium” (post-2000, pre-ultra-modern)

This is not an Isiah Thomas rookie card—his true rookies are from 1981–82—but it is a key premium autograph relic of a Hall of Fame point guard from one of the hobby’s most historically important high-end products.

Why Exquisite matters so much

For newer collectors, it’s worth pausing on why 2003–04 and 2004–05 Exquisite Collection still sit on a pedestal:

• Early super-premium format: Exquisite helped define the $500+ per box, limited-production, high-end formula that later products copied.
• On-card autos and patches: The combination of hard-signed autographs, game-used jersey patches, and low serial numbering was ahead of its time.
• Star power: While much of the conversation centers on LeBron James in 2003–04, the brand as a whole became a benchmark for high-end basketball.

Within that context, Titleists is a themed insert celebrating NBA champions. For a player like Isiah Thomas, the theme fits perfectly: he led the “Bad Boys” Pistons to back-to-back titles in 1989 and 1990.

Collector significance of this card

Several factors make this specific card stand out for collectors and market watchers:

1. Hall of Fame, championship narrative
   Isiah Thomas is a two-time NBA champion, Finals MVP, and one of the defining point guards of the 1980s. Championship-focused inserts like Titleists line up cleanly with that legacy and tend to resonate with dedicated player and team collectors.

2. Ultra-low print run (2 copies)
   A serial number of 2/2 means there are only two examples of this exact card in existence, regardless of grade. That makes it more of a “trophy card” than a chase card you’re likely to see often. In practice, many ultra-low-number Isiah cards from this era sit in long-term collections.

3. Exquisite-era, on-card autograph
   On-card signatures, especially from early Exquisite products, remain a core demand driver. Many collectors prefer this to sticker autographs because the signature feels more integrated with the design and photo.

4. Autograph grade GEM MT 10
   The PSA/DNA GEM MT 10 label indicates the autograph itself is strong: clean ink flow, good placement, and no visible flaws. Even when the card grade is mid-tier, a 10 auto can be a big plus for collectors who focus on eye appeal.

5. Grade versus rarity
   An overall PSA 6 is a technical mid-grade—light corner wear, surface or edge issues—but on a /2 Exquisite card, the grade is only part of the story. With just two copies made, many collectors will accept some condition issues in exchange for simply owning one of them.

Market context and comps

Because this card is numbered to 2, there are very few direct comparables. Instead, collectors and analysts usually triangulate using:

• Other Isiah Thomas Exquisite autos and patches (from 2003–04 and 2004–05)
• Other Titleists inserts from Exquisite (for different players)
• Rarer low-serial Isiah autos from mid-2000s high-end brands

Across public auction data from major houses and marketplaces, a few patterns emerge:

• Common to mid-tier Isiah autos (non-Exquisite, higher print runs, sticker autos, or single-color swatches) generally sell in a much lower band, often in the low hundreds to low four figures depending on scarcity and eye appeal.
• Premium Exquisite-era Isiah autos with patches and low numbering tend to command a clear premium. Prices step up sharply as serial numbers drop and as the card is tied more closely to championship or legacy themes.
• Certain Titleists and Exquisite patch autos of other Hall of Famers from this period have realized strong mid four-figure to five-figure results when the combination of player, rarity, and visual appeal lines up.

This Goldin sale at $33,062 places the card toward the upper end of the Isiah Thomas market, reflecting both the rarity and the Exquisite brand weight, rather than just the technical card grade. It’s not typical of “everyday” Isiah autographs; it’s more in line with true centerpiece cards that rarely surface.

Because there are only two copies, there isn’t a clean curve of past sales to compare against. Instead of calling this a new “record” in a precise sense, it’s more accurate to say this sale confirms strong demand for ultra-rare Exquisite-era Isiah Thomas pieces when they do come to market.

How the grade factors into value

For newer collectors, a quick breakdown of the grading labels on this card:

• PSA EX-MT 6 (card):

  • Indicates some visible wear—possibly soft corners, a surface line, or edge chipping common to thicker Exquisite stock.
  • On a mass-produced, modern card, this might be a major drag on value. On a /2 Exquisite, it’s often treated more as a descriptive note than a dealbreaker.

• PSA/DNA GEM MT 10 (autograph):

  • This is the highest autograph grade PSA assigns and can help support strong demand from collectors who prioritize signature quality.

For ultra-low print cards, scarcity and eye appeal often overshadow the exact numeric grade, especially when the autograph is strong. That appears to be the case here.

Where this sale fits in the broader hobby

A sale like this touches a few broader hobby themes:

1. Enduring strength of early Exquisite
   Exquisite’s status as a foundational high-end brand continues to matter. Collectors still assign a premium to the combination of craftsmanship, on-card autos, and limited print runs.

2. Respect for overlooked legends
   While hobby attention often skews toward modern stars, this result shows there is serious collector depth for historically important Hall of Famers like Isiah Thomas—especially when the card’s design aligns with their championship resume.

3. Emphasis on true rarity over population reports
   For ultra-low serial cards like this /2, traditional “pop report” (population report) metrics from grading companies are less central. What matters more is absolute scarcity and whether copies are locked into long-term collections.

4. Data point, not a guarantee
   As always, one sale is a data point, not a promise. Market levels can move over time with changes in collector focus, broader economic conditions, or new supply. But a $33,062 public auction result at a major house like Goldin provides a clear reference for how the market currently views this tier of Isiah Thomas Exquisite card.

What this means for different types of collectors

For Isiah Thomas player collectors

This sale reinforces that the top of the Isiah market sits in ultra-rare, story-rich cards like Exquisite autos, Titleists inserts, and low-number patch autos. More common issues may remain accessible, but centerpiece-level Exquisite pieces are likely to trade infrequently and at strong prices when they surface.

For Exquisite and high-end collectors

If you focus on early-2000s super-premium sets, this result is another example of:

• How collectors continue to prioritize on-card autographs and very low serial numbering.
• The way insert themes (Titleists, Emblems, etc.) can add narrative value beyond just the autograph and patch.

For newer or returning hobbyists

A $33,062 sale can feel distant from everyday collecting, but it provides useful context:

• It shows what the very top tier of Hall of Famer non-rookie cards can look like when they combine the right brand, era, and scarcity.
• It can help you understand why some collectors talk about early Exquisite in almost “blue-chip” terms, even if you mainly collect more affordable issues.

Key takeaways

• The card is a 2004–05 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Titleists Jersey Autograph #ET-IT Isiah Thomas, serial-numbered 2/2.
• It sold at Goldin on April 12, 2026 for $33,062.
• It is not a rookie card, but it is a top-tier, championship-themed, on-card auto relic from one of the most important high-end basketball sets ever produced.
• The combination of Exquisite branding, Hall of Fame player, ultra-low print run, and GEM MT 10 autograph places it firmly in the upper echelon of Isiah Thomas collectibles.
• With only two copies made, each public sale becomes an important data point for understanding the high-end Isiah Thomas and Exquisite markets.

For collectors tracking the evolution of high-end basketball, this Goldin result is a clear reminder: early Exquisite, paired with the right legend and true scarcity, continues to command serious attention.