Panini America went to work quickly after LeBron James opted to return to the Cavaliers and now the company is touting the first 2014 cards of LeBron as part of a 2014 National Sports Collectors Convention giveaway…but you’ll have to have good speed—and some luck—to get them.
Three LeBron cards are part of a Tools of the Trade Update which will include game-worn memorabilia cards from James (featuring a game-worn James Cavaliers jersey, apparently from his first go-round in Cleveland). Tim Duncan,Damian Lillard, Derrick Rose, Chris Paul and Rajon Rondo are also part of the set.
The first 200 collectors who make it to the Panini booth each day during the July 30-August 3 NSCC and open a box of certain basketball card products will get one randomly selected, blind-wrapped memorabilia card. Base versions are limited to 175 copies, Prime versions are numbered to 25 and there are also 1/1 Super Prime versions, which have a laundry tag swatch and the card pictured in their announcement appears to be from his rookie season.
You’ll need to buy one of these boxes to get one of the NSCC exclusive Tools of the Trade cards:
2013-14 Gold Standard Basketball
2013-14 Elite Basketball
2013-14 Prestige Basketball
2013-14 Pinnacle Basketball
2013-14 Totally Certified Basketball
Of course collectors looking long-term will be interested in our list of the best LeBron James rookie cards.