In more normal times, this would be opening week in the 2020-21 NBA season.
Normal, we ain’t right now.
It took nearly a full calendar year to finish the ’19-20 season, the draft is still four weeks away and next season isn’t likely to start until mid-January. With logistical details presumably still being worked out and the next few months abnormally quiet on the schedule front, we do know a little more about when in-season 2020-21 basketball cards will start arriving. They might as well call it the “2021” season and do away with 2020-21 since it’s a virtual certainty there won’t be any games prior to the new calendar year, but we suspect the league will stick with tradition.
On Monday, Panini offered a glimpse of the schedule it has planned. As usual, Hoops will tip things off, with the release date lined up pretty closely with what most NBA observers believe will be the start of the regular season. Sorry, Prizm fans. You’ll have to wait until March for the new NBA-branded cards.
Of course, there are still some 2019-20 issues set for release between now and the end of December, which, in this crazy year, is the “off-season.” Encased, Clearly Donruss, Hoops Premium Stock, Immaculate, One and One and Flawless will all arrive over the next two months.
Here’s a look at the 2020-21 release schedule so far, a list that is always subject to change:
January 2021
- NBA Hoops 1/13
- Certified 1/20
- Donruss 1/27
February 2021
- Revolution 2/10
- Absolute 2/24
March 2021
- Prizm 3/3
- Origins 3/10
- Contenders 3/24
- Crown Royale 3/31
April 2021
- Donruss Optic 4/14
- Impeccable 4/28
May 2021
- Select 5/12
- Noir 5/26
June 2021
- Court Kings 6/2
- National Treasures 6/16
- Mosaic 6/30
There will also be some pre-season draft products with next season’s branding that will hit the market well before next season including Contenders, which releases this week and Prizm, set for next month.
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