WATCH: Spurs Rookie Victor Wembanyama Gives Out '1st Card Ever Signed' in San Antonio

San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama has made history more times than any other rookie in his draft class, which only continued last weekend during a San Antonio Fanatics-Topps collectors event.

Sitting at a dinner table in Paris, France, San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama was face-to-face with one of the most highly regarded names in sports memorabilia. 

Michael Rubin — CEO of Topps trading cards — shook Wembanyama's hand and introduced himself, though his product needed no introduction. After all, Rubin's company is the leading manufacturer of "liscensed sports merchandise."

Wembanyama and Rubin talked about a potential partnership: the Spurs rookie, widely regarded as the best basketball prospect in history, would get his own card — naturally. What made it special, however, was that Rubin wanted to make history at that same dinner table. So he did. 

After Wembanyama agreed to do business with Topps, he took a card that Rubin gave him and signed it: "1st card I EVER signed." 

In that moment, Wembanyama had become a part of the Topps family, but he'd also taken a big step in his personal career. 

He was now a novelty collectible. 

"This card has instantly become one of the most important cards in the sports card hobby," 'The Sports Collector' Geoff Wilson said of Wembanyama's first-ever card. 

Because of that, Wembanyama, Fanatics and Topps wanted a chance for fans to be a part of the history that came with it, launching a nation-wide promotion that gave collectors a chance to meet the rookie and win his signed card. 

"It's my first real sports card," Wembanyama said at the San Antonio event last weekend. "It's got real value to my heart." 

Added Wembanyama: "I remember as a kid, I had five bucks in my pocket. I went to buy packs of cards sometimes ... it's that feeling that you're going to get the big card."

Collectors who pulled a 2022-23 Bowman U Chrome Victor Wembanyama Green Parallel Auto redemption card were invited to San Antonio as a part of a Fanatics-Topps sanctioned event. There, their names were entered into a drawing and the winner was given the card — whether to keep or sell. 

The winner, who was identified as "Ryan" by Fanatics, was No. 15 in the drawing, and had his number called by Wembanyama himself before making his way to the stage to take a photo with the 7-4 French phenom.

"Our goal [at Fanatics] is to do everything for the fan," Fanatics VP of Partnerships Marketing A.C. Betts said. "We're trying to bring fans and collectors closer to their favorite athletes, [and] through our product, we are getting those fans to be with their favorite athlete and get something totally unique."

San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama smiles before reaching into a "Topps" envelope to reveal the winning number for his first-ever signed card.

Photo via Fanatics Collectibles

Collectors who were in attendance but didn't win the grand prize still did get to meet Wembanyama and also received a signed card, though the value that comes with the first-ever card still remains above.

And as Wembanyama continues to gain attention in the NBA world, so will his collectibles, which for a "first-ever" prospect, says more than enough.