First Buzz: 2025-26 Topps NBA basketball cards

[jkampis]

Originally Posted by premium1981

Bob Ross basketball would be crazy. Its done so good in baseball. It was absolutely the best value at release for 2025.

Like this?

[eastbayak]

Originally Posted by auctionjmm

That is very impressive for someone who doesn't sell. I am over 1 million in opened product since 2012 and that is inventory, so if you spent 7 figures and are not selling, that is certainly impressive.

I still don't understand why you wouldn't share your breaks though. You don't even need pictures. Nor do you need to be a seller. If you simply said "I opened 20 blasters and hated the design. Collation sucked and I couldn't even make one set", that would be a perfect discussion point. People would know that you opened the product, had a bad experience, and then shared that experience with others. If you take others' opinions seriously, then I would assume you would gravitate towards opinions that contain detail such as that. You would instantly go from troll to informed consumer if any of us actually knew you were participating in the product.

Nobody here is a threat to sales though. That's where you are wrong. My eBay store and card shows are not the least bit affected by Hermano. Nor do I need to "pump" a product. There is NOTHING that I can say on this forum that would result in customer acquisition or an increase in sales. Nothing. in fact, it would be better if people didn't open product because that would mean less singles on the market. If money was that important, I would be the loudest complainer here. I would say that every product sucked so that less would open it. Why would I invite competition if the mighty dollar overrode all?

This forum is such a tiny part of the hobby. If I wanted to pump, improve customer acquisition, generate sales, etc. I'd be better off paying for a Facebook ad, eBay ads, and linking my store all over social media. I don't even have an Instagram lol. I have a Facebook page with like 35 followers. That is the extent of my social media presence. I'm the last person who would pump a product lol.

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

My first and will be my only jumbo box break from this past weekend.

Zach Collins sticker auto

Joan Beringer patch /25

One gold common/2025, two inserts commons/250

One base Flagg

One common insert Flagg

Kon Knueppel rainbow

Can we officially hate on the product now free of judgment?

LOL, you peer pressured hermano into buying a jumbo box (and possibly his 1st box of any trading cards since the pandemic).

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by eastbayak

LOL, you peer pressured hermano into buying a jumbo box (and possibly his 1st box of any trading cards since the pandemic).

LOL, that was one of my preorder boxes, and it stank.

[JAMSC]

Originally Posted by boxbuster7

has there even been a rip of a new release in the last 3 years for any sport that makes you 50% back on average?

Didn’t see anyone mention it, but the original release of Photogenic was actually profitable to rip for those of us who got in at the direct prices.

[anusinha]

prices seems to be going up on the wax, kind of mind boggling but it is what it is

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by anusinha

prices seems to be going up on the wax, kind of mind boggling but it is what it is

Fanatics has perfected the market dynamics to their favor.

[oldgoldy97]

Originally Posted by IronCladLou

What was the blaster like? Tossing up between a blaster or a 2024-25 Mosaic Mega

This one had 9 rookie cards. My other one had 4. It really depends on the sequence you get. One pink glitter of Westbrook. The other blaster had a rookie jersey card. No numbered in either.

[yiguiri2002]

Originally Posted by anusinha

prices seems to be going up on the wax, kind of mind boggling but it is what it is

I mean, it kinda makes sense. Even hermano is buying this, demand is really high.

[glassofwater]

I waas ble to sell my Flagg Gold auto for a really good price. So after my high i tried my luck at retail, my local had tons of Hangers. Hangers are Bangers was my thought, wrong i was killed. I bought 20 hangers. 0 # cards, 0 #patch of autos. My best hit was Flagg Diamante. tons of bass and nothing to show for

[auctionjmm]

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

Can we officially hate on the product now free of judgment?

Yes. That's how it works!

I opened 30 blasters. Collation SUCKED. I think I got one Lebron in every box but only 2 Cooper Flaggs. As a dealer, this isn't good for set building, but with the 30 box max at Topps and knowing how these get packed out, wouldn't surprise me if I needed those other 10 boxes from the case to get some of the guys I was short on.

The good...hit a Knueppel All Kings Insert. The only one to sell at auction went for $530 so that's a really good card for $800 worth of blasters. Honorable mention was a Walter Clayton holo auto (approx. $100), and Khaman Maluach. Maluach doesn't seem to have much market value at this point, but I won't complain about 2 autos in 30 blasters.

Hit a couple of foil parallels of Harper and Bailey so that was cool. Plenty of Flagg inserts to offset the lack of base. I'll do just fine overall, but the case hit obviously puts a huge dent in the purchase and will make things easier on the resell.

[Scottish Punk]

Originally Posted by anusinha

prices seems to be going up on the wax, kind of mind boggling but it is what it is

Yeah, local card shop had jumbo boxes over $400 and a hobby at $250 or something like that. Are any of these basketball collectors familiar with baseball? This is the flagship release, there will be an absolute boat load of this product for the next few months. Topps Chrome is when it will get really crazy and we get to see if it mirrors Prizm prices.

[Chris P]

It was weird, was listening to Hoop Collective Podcast and one of the ads Windhorst was reading off was for Topps Basketball cards. I don't know if they ever plugged Panini cards before..I can't remember

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by auctionjmm

Yes. That's how it works!

I opened 30 blasters. Collation SUCKED. I think I got one Lebron in every box but only 2 Cooper Flaggs. As a dealer, this isn't good for set building, but with the 30 box max at Topps and knowing how these get packed out, wouldn't surprise me if I needed those other 10 boxes from the case to get some of the guys I was short on.

The good...hit a Knueppel All Kings Insert. The only one to sell at auction went for $530 so that's a really good card for $800 worth of blasters. Honorable mention was a Walter Clayton holo auto (approx. $100), and Khaman Maluach. Maluach doesn't seem to have much market value at this point, but I won't complain about 2 autos in 30 blasters.

Hit a couple of foil parallels of Harper and Bailey so that was cool. Plenty of Flagg inserts to offset the lack of base. I'll do just fine overall, but the case hit obviously puts a huge dent in the purchase and will make things easier on the resell.

Nice All kings hit!

My local shop placed another order for ten cases from his source, but he had to pay near double of his initial allocation. There will be plenty of product available even after ten more new products are released. Don’t fall for the near term FOMO.

[hermanotarjeta]

Frankly this is a boring opening experience. There’s a reason I tend to avoid flagship products and this was a confirming reminder.

All the thin stock inserts in the same spot reversed in the pack - the most annoying presentation that you can experience.

The sticker auto was one of the worst autographs technically that I have ever seen - a lazy “z”.

Predictable base card sequence and a thick brick of base just to get to the lean meat - chrome at a higher price will be a much more exciting experience.

Had I paid the going $515 rate for a jumbo while on a tight budget, I would never open another box again.

Then again, degenerate breaker Johns don’t have to touch the cards - maybe that’s the appeal?

[bub838]

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

Frankly this is a boring opening experience. There’s a reason I tend to avoid flagship products and this was a confirming reminder.

All the thin stock inserts in the same spot reversed in the pack - the most annoying presentation that you can experience.

The sticker auto was one of the worst autographs technically that I have ever seen - a lazy “z”.

Predictable base card sequence and a thick brick of base just to get to the lean meat - chrome at a higher price will be a much more exciting experience.

Had I paid the going $515 rate for a jumbo while on a tight budget, I would never open another box again.

Then again, degenerate breaker Johns don’t have to touch the cards - maybe that’s the appeal?

Flagship is barely one step above Heritage when it comes to ripping experience.

[Chris P]

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

Frankly this is a boring opening experience. There’s a reason I tend to avoid flagship products and this was a confirming reminder.

All the thin stock inserts in the same spot reversed in the pack - the most annoying presentation that you can experience.

The sticker auto was one of the worst autographs technically that I have ever seen - a lazy “z”.

Predictable base card sequence and a thick brick of base just to get to the lean meat - chrome at a higher price will be a much more exciting experience.

Had I paid the going $515 rate for a jumbo while on a tight budget, I would never open another box again.

Then again, degenerate breaker Johns don’t have to touch the cards - maybe that’s the appeal?

I do agree with this..it can be a very tedious and boring break because in reality out of 400 cards in a Jumbo, there's only like 4-5 cards (the 3-4 numbered cards and the auto) that really matter and determine whether you get completely smashed. The bulk of my value from my two jumbo boxes were in the silver packs. You take those away and I got demolished even at MSRP

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by Chris P

I do agree with this..it can be a very tedious and boring break because in reality out of 400 cards in a Jumbo, there's only like 4-5 cards (the 3-4 numbered cards and the auto) that really matter and determine whether you get completely smashed. The bulk of my value from my two jumbo boxes were in the silver packs. You take those away and I got demolished even at MSRP

The knockout punch in my jumbo were the silver packs.

I foolishly had hope that they left me some butter after the ten regular pack beat down, but all I saw was usual silver mojo - all vets and three common rooks.

Anyone paying current prices for this product is just asking for pain. Another regular opened 11 cases of jumbo and hobby - no Flagg autos.

The hobby cases yielded 1-2 autos and 10-11 jerseys. He got crushed. Good thing he makes good money as a drug dealer, allegedly.

[Asian62150]

Originally Posted by Scottish Punk

Yeah, local card shop had jumbo boxes over $400 and a hobby at $250 or something like that. Are any of these basketball collectors familiar with baseball? This is the flagship release, there will be an absolute boat load of this product for the next few months. Topps Chrome is when it will get really crazy and we get to see if it mirrors Prizm prices.

I don't think it will mirror. I think it will surpass Prizm prices. Everyone is going to be in on TC this year. Ppl will rip en masse while some will hoard boxes hoping they appreciate like 2003-04 TC or 2009-10 Topps.

It's gonna be crazy.

[yiguiri2002]

Originally Posted by Asian62150

I don't think it will mirror. I think it will surpass Prizm prices. Everyone is going to be in on TC this year. Ppl will rip en masse while some will hoard boxes hoping they appreciate like 2003-04 TC or 2009-10 Topps.

It's gonna be crazy.

Agreed. Flagship is pretty much at last year's Prizm prices.

Wax is about to get more unaffordable than ever.

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by yiguiri2002

Agreed. Flagship is pretty much at last year's Prizm prices.

Wax is about to get more unaffordable than ever.

Hopefully, basketball wax will eventually follow the baseball wax price patterns - start high, then slowly drift down as demand weans and new product comes out.

2024 heritage high started at $250, and now boxes can be found at half that price.

It’s happened to bowman chrome before as well.

As the breadth of the hoops market is shallower than baseball’s, the declines can occur more quickly if the top tier rookies don’t marvel.

[yiguiri2002]

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

Hopefully, basketball wax will eventually follow the baseball wax price patterns - start high, then slowly drift down as demand weans and new product comes out.

2024 heritage high started at $250, and now boxes can be found at half that price.

It’s happened to bowman chrome before as well.

As the breadth of the hoops market is shallower than baseball’s, the declines can occur more quickly if the top tier rookies don’t marvel.

I can't see that happening, at least in the short run.

24-25 Panini prices have gone up. Flagship wax and single prices are incredibly high and might gone down...but the same thing was said about Panini last year.

I can see retail coming down but Hobby is staying high. Chrome is probably gonna be 1K at the very least.

[Scottish Punk]

Originally Posted by Asian62150

I don't think it will mirror. I think it will surpass Prizm prices. Everyone is going to be in on TC this year. Ppl will rip en masse while some will hoard boxes hoping they appreciate like 2003-04 TC or 2009-10 Topps.

It's gonna be crazy.

I kind of suspect that as well. There will be a lot of "1st Topps Chrome card" of player driving fomo. I don't think it will have long term staying power though. At some point, collectors will just realize it is another chrome finish set like every other year. It will come down to if the rookie class will be generational or not.

There just is more stuff being printed now than 2003 or 2009.

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by yiguiri2002

I can't see that happening, at least in the short run.

24-25 Panini prices have gone up. Flagship wax and single prices are incredibly high and might gone down...but the same thing was said about Panini last year.

I can see retail coming down but Hobby is staying high. Chrome is probably gonna be 1K at the very least.

Everyone understands we’re still in the honeymoon phase, but attention spans get shorter with each generation.

Fanatics is printing TONS of product and will continue to print more than panini ever has.

There are short-term micro markets that Fanatics is starting to get very good at. This product may have been printed to the moon, but market prices have more to do with the rate of release than the actual content, as you can clearly see.

There are so many games they can play to manipulate ANY short term market, but in the long term it all eventually equilibrates. Don’t expect this product to follow the lines of 2009-10 topps.

[Bob Ross]

Looking forward to the future games Fanatics will force us to play to get any NBA product! Gouge pricing, backdoored product, marketing to make it look like every monster hit comes from a 7/11 blaster box, careless shipping, etc.

Fun times!

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by yiguiri2002

I can't see that happening, at least in the short run.

24-25 Panini prices have gone up. Flagship wax and single prices are incredibly high and might gone down...but the same thing was said about Panini last year.

I can see retail coming down but Hobby is staying high. Chrome is probably gonna be 1K at the very least.

Originally Posted by Scottish Punk

I kind of suspect that as well. There will be a lot of "1st Topps Chrome card" of player driving fomo. I don't think it will have long term staying power though. At some point, collectors will just realize it is another chrome finish set like every other year. It will come down to if the rookie class will be generational or not.

There just is more stuff being printed now than 2003 or 2009.

My guess is chrome jumbos will be $1500+ in short time. Good luck gents. That’s only $50/ random team spot.