Skyrocketing Card Values Lately - Theories?

[packs]

Is the global market that much of a factor? eBay allows you to filter overseas auctions and block overseas buyers as a seller.

I honestly think the jump in prices you're referencing (Dr. J rookie, Bird / Magic rookie) is due to two factors:

The Last Dance
Kobe Bryant's untimely death

I think the real question is whether or not the prices are now standards or at their ultimate height.

[Dpeck100]

Just this past week a guy I know on EBAY turned down $23,500 for his 1986 Panini Italian Mike Tyson PSA 10.

The buyer settled for the BGS 9.5 at $11,750.

The market is on fire. It is across the board and there is money coming in from every direction.

[Natswin2019]

I'd agree the price jumps are people who are jumping back into the hobby or joining for the first time because of the lock down. I'm definitely a member of that group, I got re interested in cards because I was bored sitting around the house and was going through my old collection. I'm not one of the people spending thousands on a card but I have spent my fair share getting back into my old collecting interests.