First look: 2011-12 Gold Standard basketball
By Chris Olds | Beckett Basketball Editor
Panini America‘s Gold Standard was a memorable rookie and it’s going to be back for a sophomore season.
While full details are not yet available for the sophomore release of the high-end brand, the basics on the sterling product are. When 2011-12 Gold Standard arrives on June 20, it will include one 2011-12 Draft Class Redemption Autograph in every box, three additional sigs and two memorabilia cards to go with a selection of base cards in every $200 (or so) pack.
The solid gold and gold inlay cards will be back — obviously with a name like that there’s a bit of a standard to maintain — with redemptions for the 2012-13 NBA Draft class to be found as well.
Some of the other highlights teased by the company?
– A redesigned Gold Rush set, which will better service the gold disc on the card.
– 24-karat Autographs, a set showcasing players who scored 24,000 or more points in their careers.
– 14-karat Autographs, a set showcasing those who topped the 14,000-point mark.
– Greatest Graphs, an autographed selection from the NBA at 50 honorees.
We’ll have more on this one right here when it becomes available.
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In other NBA card news from Panini, the company is planning a product exclusively revolving around its top spokesman, Kobe Bryant. In each 2012-13 product that is released, there will be a pack of the Kobe cards included with autographed and game-used cards in the fold. We’ll have more on this one right here when it becomes available as well.
Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Basketball magazine. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an email to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.
