Arriving not long after its NFL brother, 2016-17 Panini Select basketball makes its return on Friday, March 17. It’s once again a kind of hybrid product with a large base set that has three progressively difficult tiers, plenty of shiny stuff and parallels but enough autograph and memorabilia cards to keep big hit chasers interested.
Each box will have 12 packs with five cards per pack. Panini says there will be three autograph or memorabilia cards in each box.
Base Set
Select’s base set is 300 cards. Concourse (1-100) ranks as the most plentiful, followed by Premier Level (101-200). The set’s final 100 cards will prove much more difficult with Courtside (201-300) likely falling about two per box…and there are plenty of big stars and rookies in that final group including Russell Westbrook, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and multiple cards of LeBron James.
Each base tier will have parallel versions numbered from 299 all the way down to 1-of-1.
Autographs and Relics
Among the autograph subsets is In-Flight Signatures which includes both past and present players known for their above the rim exploits. Signatures are on-card. You’ll also find on-card autographs in the Signatures (veteran players) and Rookie Signatures sets. Each features the following parallels: Orange (#’d/60), Tie-Dye (#’d/25), Gold (#’d/10), and Black (#’d/1).
Die-Cut Autographs and Rookie Autographs usually prove popular and Panini has included them in Select with some unique card designs and shapes housing autographs. Several levels of low-numbered parallels will also be part of the mix.
Collectors can also find autographs and memorabilia in Select Swatches, Rookie Swatches, Duets, and Sparks, all with the requisite parallels.
The relic card program will be highlighted by Throwback Memorabilia, a 50-card set that features player photos and memorabilia swatches from their previous NBA Teams. There will also be Prizm parallel versions numbered anywhere from 1/1 (Black) to 99.
Boxes of 2016-17 Panini Select can be found online for around $110-$120.
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