Panini America Inks Exclusive Deals with 12 Top Picks in Advance of 2013 NBA Draft

Panini America, the world’s largest sports and entertainment collectibles company and the exclusive trading card manufacturer of the NBA, announced today that it has reached exclusive trading card agreements with 12 projected first-round picks in advance of Thursday’s 2013 NBA Draft, including projected No. 1 overall pick Nerlens Noel (Kentucky), and fellow projected top-five selections Ben McLemore (Kansas), Otto Porter (Georgetown) and Alex Len (Maryland).

The agreements grant Panini America exclusive rights to produce officially licensed NBA Rookie Cards and autographed trading cards of these future NBA stars. The first Rookie Cards and autographs of the 2013-14 NBA Draft class will arrive in late October inside the company’s 2013-14 NBA Hoops product, which carries a $1.99 retail pack price.

In addition to the four players mentioned above, Panini America also inked exclusive agreements with: Victor Oladipo (G, Indiana), Anthony Bennett (F, UNLV), Michael Carter-Williams (G, Syracuse), Trey Burke (G, Michigan), Shabazz Muhammad (G/F, UCLA), Cody Zeller (F/C, Indiana), C.J. McCollum (G, Lehigh) and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (G, Georgia). Panini has also signed non-exclusive trading card agreements with Jamaal Franklin (G, San Diego State), Shane Larkin (G, Miami), Dennis Schroeder (G, Germany) and Tim Hardaway Jr. (G, Michigan). 

“We’re coming off of a truly historic NBA season that featured a double rookie trading card class that captured the excitement of collecting the NBA’s hottest young starts,” said Panini America CEO Mark Warsop. “Adding so many talented new faces to the Panini America NBA family for 2013-14 ensures that our momentum will continue and we’re excited about delivering the first Rookie Cards and autographs from this next class of NBA stars.”

Stay tuned to The Knight’s Lance for continued coverage.