[jerodc10]

Everybody get your sticker albums out. We are all now sticker collectors.        

[jerodc10]

Doggone it I just realized all of my Blake Griffin rookies are going to be Panini's LOL I almost wish he would have come out in the draft last year now..

[wildx]

this is an american sport and an equally american hobby. for the nba to turn its back on great american companies like upper deck that brought our favorite nba superstars into our collections is totally rediculous. there is no way panini will be able to produce quality collectible nba cards that can match what we as americans are used to collecting!! this is a total dis to nba collectors in the us.<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

[lkingsley2]

And the plot thickens.  I was bummed when Fleer went under and really glad that Upper Deck picked up that line.  I have always enjoyed putting together Topps sets each year.  I guess no more.  Panini's new products will have to be outstanding for me to waste my money and time.  Their recent Hockey sticker product was ok but not great. 

Upper Deck's response.
http://sports.upperdeck.com/news/article.aspx?aid=5162

[scodellaro16]

wildx Wrote:this is an american sport and an equally american hobby. for the nba to turn its back on great american companies like upper deck that brought our favorite nba superstars into our collections is totally rediculous. there is no way panini will be able to produce quality collectible nba cards that can match what we as americans are used to collecting!! this is a total dis to nba collectors in the us.<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

+1

[hcohen211]

Very depressing. I collect Exquisite Basketball sets since 03-04 when they came out to today. I guess that means only one more year before this new company comes in. I am very disappointed -- as a high end card collector not sure if the NBA just decided to go with the masses and not focus on the higher end card collector. I am not interested in stickers. Not sure if I will give up BB collecting for the time being.

[vgqv]

So let me get this straight.&nbsp; After THIS season there will be NO MORE topps finest rookie cards?, no more topps rookie photoshoot autographs?, U.D. SP Authentic rc autos, nor Sign of the Times?, no more U.D. Ultimate Collection nor Exquiste???, No more Bowman, why? Well thats a Topps set.&nbsp; Why in the blue heck would the NBA give its hobby card license to a company that is in EUROPE when this is (no offense to European basketball) an AMERICAN SPORT.&nbsp; Which means that the company who produces the cards SHOULD (DUHHH) be AMERICAN.&nbsp; This is absurd.&nbsp; Panini is going to have to produce some nice cards to replace what has become the standard in basketball card collecting.

And I actually thought that the hobby was starting to come back.&nbsp; Now this?&nbsp; I'm sure American collectors will be quite cautious next year and PO'ed when they go to their hobby store and see no Topps or Upper Deck basketball sets and instead see....I don't even like the sound of the word...."PANINI"....

What a dark day...

[rockies17]

I was irate when this happened to Donruss.  But this is not right.  Topps and UD are the one's who got B-Ball collecting here and that is how it should stay 

[Gridiron King]

Ladies and gentlemen of the hobby world. I have not collected Basketball cards for a few years now, solely due to focusing more on Football. However, I am still very upset and hurt about this news. I feel like I've been betrayed in a way....We can all sit hear and scream and rant about what the NBA is doing to us and our love for the sport. So let's HURT them where it counts. IN THEIR POCKETS. I will never, and I say never, buy a Panini Basketball product period! I'm not here to put down the Panini brand or company as a whole, just expressing my resentment to an organization (NBA) which has sold out its loyal cutomers for the dollar. Globalization has now hit our beloved hobby, and American companies are jumping overseas to make larger profits, sacrificing our jobs in the process. Corporate greed is killing this country. This may be a wake-up call to us, to really start to think of new ways to invest and protect our savings. I bid good luck to all in the near future.   

[afff]

we'll just have to wait and see what kind of product the put out into the market