Panini previews new NBA Hoops set

Posted Jan 18, 2012 by Bob D'Angelo

Updated Jan 18, 2012 at 11:06 PM

Basketball set builders will have a pro version of March Madness to look forward to, thanks to Panini America.

Panini released images of 2011-12 NBA Hoops, one of five basketball products the company will be offering this season. There is definitely a nod to the original 1989-90 NBA Hoops set, but as one might expect, this year’s product is a definite improvement.

I’ve included photos of some of this year’s offerings, plus a shot of the David Robinson rookie card — one of the signature cards of the 1989-90 NBA Hoops set. Note the difference. Panini, which excelled with its basketball sets last year, has definitely brought NBA Hoops into the 21st century.

This year’s effort, expected to hit hobby stores on March 14, will be extremely affordable to the set builder, at $2 for hobby packs and $1 for retail. The set is large, too, at 279 cards (a special Champions chase card will round out the set).

A Hoops Autographs set also will be massive, set at 179 different players. Big names will include Kobe Bryant, Blake Griffin, Kevin Durant, Dirk Nowitzki and Chris Paul. Robinson will make an appearance in the set too, as part of a 1989-90 Hoops buyback bonus.

I like the design that Panini is using for the base set. It seems to be a fuller, richer layout than its 1989-90 ancestor. Some of the inserts are certainly interesting. There’s a card depicting Clippers star Griffin that goes for the pun by titling it “Blake Superior.” I’m hoping Griffin doesn’t do anything weird or creepy this season, or else next year’s insert might be called “Blake Erie.”

Another insert set that looks promising is the Basketball Hall of Fame Heroes. Some of the cards will sport vintage black-and-white photos. The one I saw of Bill Russell driving to the basket around Wilt Chamberlain was particularly attractive, although I wish Wilt’s head had not been cut out of the picture.

A special “A Night to Remember” insert will have some interest, since the players who will make up the subset were selected by collectors through a vote on Panini’s blog, “The Knight’s Lance.”

This product appears to be affordable and collectible. What more could a collector want?