If you've paid close attention to The Knight's Lance or the Panini America Instagram feed in the last few weeks, you've no doubt seen subtle glimpses of something called 2014-15 Luxe Basketball. Today, you're going to see a whole lot more. 2014-15 Luxe Basketball is a hits-only, high-end NBA creation that will hit hobby shops in mid July as one of the most limited products of the season.
If you’ve paid close attention to The Knight’s Lance or the Panini America Instagram feed in the last few weeks, you’ve no doubt seen subtle glimpses of something called 2014-15 Luxe Basketball. Today, you’re going to see a whole lot more. 2014-15 Luxe Basketball is a hits-only, high-end NBA creation that will hit hobby shops in mid July as one of the most limited products of the season.
Each four-card box will deliver three on-card autographs and one jumbo-prime memorabilia card; the product also will feature the first metal-bordered cards in Panini America’s history (Luxe Autographs). Every card produced for Luxe will be numbered to 99 or less and will include either an on-card autograph, a jumbo piece of memorabilia or both.
We’ll have plenty more to preview on 2014-15 Luxe Basketball in the coming days here on The Knight’s Lance. Until then, though, here’s a breakdown of additional highlights . . .
- Look for dynamic die-cut autographs featuring the NBA’s biggest stars.
- The Luxe Autographs insert features the first metal-bordered cards in Panini America’s history and on-card autographs from some of the game’s top rookies, current stars and all-time legends.
- The aptly named Memorabilia Autographs chase delivers some of the finest hard-signed memorabilia cards of the year and is paralleled by a Prime version that’s numbered to 25 or less.
- The Memorabilia Die-Cuts Prime insert boasts a rainbow-array of die-cut prime-memorabilia cards (Red, Blue, Gold and Black) numbered to as low as one.
And here are the images . . .
All information is accurate at the time of posting – content is subject to change. Card images are solely for the purpose of design display. Actual images used on cards to be determined.
You have the shorty short shorts checklist definitely covered. Will need to see some more cards to get intersted at 4 cards per box and probably a price tag of over $250 a box. This will be an interesting product
ugly as sin
B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L….. More pictures please.
I’d expect bigger names for a high end set like this. A tad bit disappointed to see some of the players here.
Brian, I feel your pain. With a high-end, high-dollar product, who wants to find lovely Alex English, Dan Issel and Wayne Embry autos in your box. Or Scott Skiles, Cedric Maxwell & Tom Van Arsdale autos. When you’re payin’ $50-100 per card, it’s tough to get a reasonable sense of value with a box purchase.
This seems so unnecessary.
We already have Immaculate, Flawless, and National Treasures.
How many more high-end products do we need?
Not much longer before Kobe autographs are $50 a pop. Unbelievable the quantity.
The sports card market is shot. 10 years from now autographs will be worth what most 90’s cards are. It’d be cool if guys like Olajuwon were in 1 product or so a year, but he’s been in almost everything. Too redundant and not enough variety.
Andy, the same can soon be said for Durant too. Larry Bird, Hakeem the Dream & Blake Griffin’s autos are already there. Even Karl Malone, who didn’t sign for years and years is suffering the same fate. Then you’ve got guys like Mark Price, Cazzie Russell, Tom Chambers, Bill Laimbeer and more who were great players in their day but in today’s hobby, have very little love.
It’s a double-edged sword ’cause collectors want “hits” and “more hits” and they usually take the form of autos and/or game used. With a finite number of current and former NBA players available (and willing) to sign, you have to ask the same core group of guys to sign again and again and again. And of course the card companies have to pay the athletes for their signatures so the more hits per box = more $$ outlay by the manufactures. That tends to translate into high box prices. In order to justify higher prices per box, manufactures make the cards thicker so they’re more substantial and it’s supposed to feel like you’re getting more for your money. Many (most?) collectors nowadays don’t build sets &don’t want inserts. They’re looking for the BIG HIT to pay for their box/case. In days gone by, inserts like Jambalaya were highly sought. There weren’t as many autos to be had so you had to chase something.
Agreed on everything. The problem is those cards used to be worth a lot because they were rare. When I was collecting in the 90’s autographs were never really expected because they were so rare. Same with jersey cards. Now they are a dime a dozen. Companies have begun really making a ton of parallels for added value, but that’s not sustainable either.
You can spend $150 on a box, get an Olajuwon, Dr. J, Larry Bird or Magic Johnson auto and STILL lose money on the box.
Rookies are awful also. I would never buy a top rookie because by the end of the season between all 50 products the guy will have tens of thousands of autos on the market.
Don’t get me wrong, I love being able to get a nice Olajuwon auto for $30, but I don’t think that’s the intention of the card companies.
Lovin the LUXE! What a great set this is! Lovin the Die Cuts! And those jersey pieces are SWEET! Great Job Panini!
Some familiar names and new designs, I’m intrigued by some of the names in this product revealed thusfar. Thanks Tracy!
Fantastic looking basketball cards
Interested in seeing more
LUXE is another beautiful product developed by Panini America. All indications are that this will be a very limited product and should do well on the retail level and the secondary market. My customers are always looking for the next new product and most customer dollars at my store seem to go to high end products. Panini America is just responding to customer’s spending preferences with LUXE.
The points made about most autographed card sell prices for big stars on eBay (or other selling sites) is a valid concern. The problem is one of supply and demand. Too many people are selling their cards for whatever they go for at auction. There are not enough people at the end of the food chain who actually plan to keep these amazing hits. We need more PC collectors in the hobby. I see new collectors come into my store at a slow but constant rate. I believe the hobby is growing.
If you consider yourself to be an investor, now is the time to be a buyer. If Kobe autographs are selling for $xx.xx on eBay and he charges $xx.xx + $30 for his autograph, you should be a buyer not a seller of Kobe autographs.