By Stephen Laroche | Beckett Basketball Editor
Rookie Cards featuring basketball’s brightest new stars are going to be the focus of Panini America‘s 2017-18 NBA Hoops Basketball and the latest installment of a hobby favorite is going to arrive this Wednesday at Sports Cards Plus. Now Only $74.95 per box. Limited quantities available at this LOW, Low, low PRICE.
No other basketball brand today has the tradition behind it like NBA Hoops and it is loaded up with plenty of variety in every box. While there is bound to be HUGE demand and loads of excitement for the first mass-market cardboard of players like Lonzo Ball, Markelle Fultz, and Jayson Tatum. And, there is a lot more to enjoy as you rip open packs.
BASE SET AND PARALLELS
2017-18 NBA Hoops will have a large base set featuring a strong selection of players beyond those in a starting role. As mentioned above, there are tons of Rookie Cards in the mix; and, with a strong freshman class, some of them should heat up nicely in the early stages of the season.
While sales literature for the Hobby boxes only offered up hints of three parallel versions for the base cards, this year’s design is going to look sharp with different borders. There are regular and black bordered Base Artist Proofs along with a Gold parallel.
INSERTS
Another insert set that will get some attention from collectors is a 10-card Kobe Bryant Career Tribute that examines the future Hall of Famer’s career. Also keep an eye open for Shaquille O’Neal 2K Sports inserts.
AUTOGRAPHS AND MEMORABILIA
The only memorabilia cards in Hoops are once again Rise N Shine, which tend to focus on the incoming rookie class (with a Prime version /25), but there is something called Rookie Remembrance Prime (/25) which could focus on the debut seasons of veteran players.