Demystifying Panini America’s 2011-12 NBA Dual Rookie Redemption Programs

[blowoutcards]

Demystifying Panini America’s 2011-12 NBA Dual Rookie Redemption Programs

May 29, 2012 at 2:38 PM



Almost since the day it was announced more than five months ago, Panini America’s decision to include a unique Dual Rookie Redemption program in three of its 2011-12 NBA products has been the subject of many a spirited hobby discussion.

And those discussions have only intensified in the few weeks since the first redemption cards made their debut in 2011-12 Past & Present Basketball. So we decided now might be a good time to address the most pertinent, talked-about or misunderstood elements of the program.


The Checklists
The checklist for all 2011 Rookie Redemptions will be determined during a live drawing right here on The Knight’s Lance beginning at 9 p.m. CST on October 29, 2012. All three programs (2011-12 Past & Present, 2011-12 Limited and 2011-12 Gold Standard) will include matching checklists for for the 2011-12 Rookie Redemptions.

The checklist for all 2012 Rookie Redemptions will be determined based on the actual results of the 2012 NBA Draft that will take place on June 28.

The Cards
All 2011 Rookie Redemption cards will be autographed. All 2012 Rookie Redemptions will not be autographed. Also, despite sharing checklists across all three programs, each set’s Rookie Redemption cards will be unique to their respective program. So, Past & Present will include its own Rookie Redemptions, Limited will include its own and Gold Standard will include its own. (Spoiler alert: Gold Standard’s 2012 Rookie Redemptions will be made of metal.)

The Rationale
From the very first day Panini America product developers set out to create the 2011-12 NBA line, the idea was to incorporate this year’s batch of rookies only as part of the Dual Rookie Redemption program. Why? Well, for starters, the lockout created time and resource constraints that prevented us from producing a traditional Rookie Card crop in 2011-12 NBA Hoops and essentially impacted every product that followed.

In addition, the situation created an opportunity for us to create a double Rookie Card class in all of our 2012-13 products that will undeniably make those releases even stronger than they otherwise would’ve been.

“If we would have included ‘true’ Rookie Cards in the five releases we produced for 2011-12, key NBA players like 2011-12 Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving, San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard and Denver’s Kenneth Faried would have missed many of our most popular sets,” said David Porter, Panini America’s NBA Brand Manager. “With the time constraints produced by the NBA’s ‘extended off-season,’ this just wasn’t possible.

“The Dual Rookie Redemption program in 2011-12 provides us the opportunity to create a unique chase this year while also putting us in a position to offer collectors the most dynamic and comprehensive Rookie Card program ever produced throughout 2012-13. We’re truly excited about it.”

Stay tuned to The Knight’s Lance for additional details.

Demystifying Panini America’s 2011-12 NBA Dual Rookie Redemption Programs The Official Panini America Blog (http://paniniamerica.wordpress.com/2012/05/29/demystifying-panini-americas-2011-12-nba-dual-rookie-redemption-programs/)

[Yaga]

Very interesting. So they are trying to treat the 2011 autos almost as XRC's and they believe the 2011 rookies in the 2012 sets will be true rookie cards?

Not sure if I'm reading it right, but that's what I got out of it.

Ugh, Oct 29 to find out who the redemptions are for? That's a LONG time away!

[Kingbudd]

Honestly, I don't think Panini knows what the h@!! they are doing. Last week I asked Tracy if the cards from P&P, Limited, and Gold are the same or different and he said they were the same. Now after reading this, it reads like each set will be different. Please make up your mind already, you had over a year to decide on how to handle the strike. But no, they continue to throw basketball collectors through hoops because they don't know what they are doing. *Rant over*

[hairyangryfella]

Anyone who pulls a redemption card could conceivably list it on ebay stating that it's a certain player, and by the time they're actually announced the deadline to claim 'not as described' will have long since passed. POOR FORM Panini, you've gotta have an idea of the hobby before you do stupid things like this.

[blastman]

Metal RC cards sounds cool.

[drob50]

At least the 3 releases will each have their own RC's. I was told that they were all going to be the same type of card.

The XRC idea is probably better really, for them and us. This way they will be able to make NT RAP's as an actual RC!

I also like the sound of metal RC's. The wood ones from threads were pretty cool imo

[blastman]

I just listed my redemptions on eBay; I'm not waiting that long to find out who is assigned to what.

[Kingbudd]

I just listed my redemptions on eBay; I'm not waiting that long to find out who is assigned to what.

I'll give you $15

[Kingbudd]

At least the 3 releases will each have their own RC's. I was told that they were all going to be the same type of card.

I talked to Tracy about this last week and told me the same thing; I don't think they know what they are doing at this point. But, if it's true, I am happy they will have three variations of this years rookies instead of the one. I didn't understand how you could give the same card across three different series; especially when two are higher level series.

[Brad]

So for a product like Gold Standard, if I'm reading the blog correctly, you'll have:

2011 rookie cards (auto) (from 11-12 GS redemptions)
2012 rookie cards (non auto) (from 11-12 GS redemptions)

2011 rookie cards (from 12-13 GS packs)
2012 rookie cards (from 12-13 GS packs)

So which will be the "true" RCs for each class?

For just those 3 products this year, they are double-dipping with the 2 rookie classes, and then for ALL of the 2012-13 products, they will again have 2 years worth of rookie autos.

[Yaga]

I'm reading it the same way... and in my opinion, the "true" rookies for 2011 will be the auto redemptions from the 2011 products. And the "true" rookies for 2012 will be all 2012 cards for the 2012 draft class. The 2012 redemptions from the 2011 packs would be considered XRC's (like Topps Finest redemptions used to be).

As for the 2011 rookie cards in the 2012 season. I don't know what they would be considered? To me, they're not rookie cards.

That's my thoughts on this REALLy confusing process!