Starting Lineup Relaunch Includes NBA Basketball Figures, Exclusive Panini Cards
Starting Lineup figures are slated to return this September. While not a lot is known about the relaunch, some of the details are beginning to come together.
Hasbro and Fanatics are kicking off the returning action figure line with basketball. Also part of the mix? Exclusive Panini basketball cards.
“The NBA and NBPA are tremendous partners for the return of the Starting Lineup brand, and we cannot wait for fans to experience some of the biggest names in the league as action figures,” said Eric Nyman, President and COO of Hasbro. “The return of one of the most beloved sports collectibles brands of all time would not be complete without the inclusion of fan-favorite NBA superstars.”
Collectors will be able to pre-order figures starting September 22. They’ll be available through the Hasbro Pulse website and various of Fanatics sites.
While no images of final figures have been shown, a teaser video offers some hints as to what’s in store. These likely won’t be like the original figures that often required some imagination to connect them with the player they were meant to be.
The new SLU figures will have articulation, which means they can be posed. They also stand approximately six inches in height, making them bigger than the originals.
The Panini basketball cards will be packaged in with the figures. Cards were common inclusions with the originals, both SLU-branded and in partnership with licensed manufacturers at the time.
Starting Lineup got its start in 1988. The line continued originally through 2001, covering several sports and eras. A recent comeback saw the brand used for figures that were part of various stadium giveaways.
