Ok, taking the question seriously. Using Zion as an example, I would assume it would have to be a younger athlete who had shown a lot of potential, accomplished a bit, but wasn't quite considered in his prime when he passed away.
There's so many factors to go into it, it's very hard to quantify. Even something like the circumstances of his death, could come into play where value is concerned. (ie. Pat Tillman).
Zion's cards are already priced based on his massive potential. I think in his case his cards crater within a year (unless it's an autograph issue), and then slowly start regaining their value as nostalgia and myth-making build on his legacy and potential.
In basketball, the only two examples that quickly come to my mind are two Celtics. Reggie Lewis and Len Bias.
Reggie was a very good player, but not a higher level superstar. He was pretty much what he was going to be when he passed at age 27. His cards are priced as such. Not a lot of premium there, from what I can see. Maybe a little bit, based on his untimely passing.
I don't think Len Bias had any contemporary card issues, but based on the prices of some of his memorabilia, he has built quite a following despite never playing an NBA game. He was a high, #2 overall pick, and considered by many to be the top guy in what became a historically weak draft year (at least in the 1st round. 2nd round had lots of gems). He was supposed to be the Celtics.......and the NBA's next superstar. If he had 1 or 2 cards come out, I'd guess they'd be doing fairly well right now.
In my field of boxing, the first two that come to mind are Les Darcy and Salvador Sanchez. Sanchez passed at 23 but was already a dominant Champion, and considered an All-Timer today, even with the very short career. His stuff has always commanded a premium.
Les Darcy was an Australian fighter who died at 21 and flashed a lot of potential against several top American fighters who fought him in his home country. He came to the United Stated in 1916-17 or so, in order to build up his name, and got sick and died before he could ever fight again.
He's always had a fairly strong following, but not nearly that of somebody like Sanchez, who had the chance to prove himself a bit more, before his untimely death.
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