EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK: 2009-10 Prestige Basketball

Basketball collectors from around the globe have been on pins and needles since the landscape-altering announcements earlier this year that Italian collectibles giant Panini had a) secured an exclusive license from the NBA and b) subsequently acquired Donruss.

Obviously, such massive hobby headlines signaled the dawning of a new era for the NBA trading card category. Yet, all most collectors really wanted to know was what on earth the new cards would look like.

The wait is over.

Panini America officials on Friday afternoon unveiled key information on the company’s first hoops product – 2009-10 Prestige Basketball, set to release Oct. 7.

PRODUCT INFORMATION:
250-card base set, including 100 Rookie Cards
Cards Per Pack: 5
Packs Per Box: 24
SRP: $4
Release Date: Oct. 7, 2009

What They Say: “We looked closely at our brands and determined Prestige was the perfect fit for Panini to launch into the NBA market. As in other sports, it’s the first shot that collectors will get at the new rookie class, with the Rookie Cards falling one per pack – and you can count on short prints. We’ve also introduced a few insert themes that we think collectors are really going to like.”
– Brand Manager Mike Payne

First Impressions: Prestige promises four autograph or memorabilia cards per box and looks to follow the tried-and-true product recipes set forth by its football forefathers: Tons of parallels, tons of limited autographs and tons of limited memorabilia.

Three Bonus Shots parallel sets are numbered to 300 (Orange), 25 (Green) and 10 (Black), respectively. Prestige boasts 13 stand-alone insert sets (virtually every one of which includes scarce memorabilia and autograph versions). In addition, Preferred Materials and Preferred Signatures have no plain-insert counterparts.

Hardcore hoops collectors will no doubt appreciate such a hobby-friendly debut.
— Tracy Hackler

INSERTS
Draft Pick Rights (100)
Signatures from the top NBA rookies can be found on these cards.

Preferred Signatures & Materials (10)
Signatures and materials from the NBA’s top names.

NBA Draft Class (36)
This insert features some of the top prospects and performers from the 2009 NBA Draft Class, including signed embroidered Draft and NBA patches.

Stars of the NBA (20)
The stars of the NBA are included in this insert.

Stat Stars (20)
This insert features the top statistical performers from the 2008-2009 NBA season.

Connections (10)
This insert features the NBA’s top duos.

Hardcourt Heroes (20)
The top players of the hardcourt are featured here.

Prestigious Pros (50)
Some of the most dynamic players in the NBA are featured in this insert.

Prestigious Picks (50)
This insert features the cream of the crop from the 2009 NBA Draft, including collegiate game-used material cards.

Inside The Numbers (10)
Take a look inside the numbers of the 2008-2009 NBA season.

True Colors (10)
This insert includes NBA players with their NBA Team Colors.

Old School (18)
This insert features some of the legendary players from the NBA.

Playmakers (18)
This insert features some of the NBA’s top game changers.

Super Sophs (9)
The top rookies from the 2008-2009 NBA season are featured in this insert.

Franchise Favorites (27)
This insert features some of the game’s fan favorites.