Panini America’s #HoopsRookie Challenge, Next Day Cards Highlight 2014 NBA RPS

August 04, 2014

Panini America Andrew Wiggins Next Day

TARRYTOWN, N.Y. — On a highlight-filled Sunday when some of the brightest young basketball players on the planet transformed the New York Knicks practice facility into a personal playground, there were likely two marquee attractions that observers will remember most about Panini America’s 2014 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot — one showcased the gravity-defying ability of the assembled talent, the other showcased the first NBA Rookie Cards of the 38 players in attendance.

In one corner of the massive, two-court gym, Panini America officials were conducting the premiere @PaniniAmerica #HOOPSRookie Trick Shot Challenge, a made-for-Vine spectacle that attracted seemingly every camera and smartphone in the building to document the rookies competing against one another in a fun, often-high-flying display of “top this.”

In another back-corner halfcourt, just after lunch, Panini America officials presented the rookies with  their first officially licensed NBA Rookie Cards, literally hot off the presses and many featuring photography taken just days before. To be sure, those two events — not to mention the thousands of photographs taken for use in upcoming Panini America products — will be enough to keep NBA fans and collectors “ooohing” and “aaahing” all season long and likely longer.

At the end of this post, you’ll find a compelling gallery detailing just some of the day’s events, including a look at each of the 38 Rookie Cards. But before we get to that, the @PaniniAmerica #HOOPSRookie Trick Shot Challenge deserves a closer look. Below are the Vine videos featuring some of our favorite moments of the competition, including an off-the-wall work of art from T-Wolves rookie Zach LaVine that earned LaVine the title and a brand new iPad . . . a cartwheel-included Aaron Gordon slam . . . another Andrew Wiggins wonder . . . and a six-player combo-job sure to be looped on Vine from now on. Enjoy.

To check out all of the other must-see Vines from Panini America’s inaugural @PaniniAmerica #HOOPSRookie Trick Shot Challenge, check out Panini America’s Vine account. Now, let’s get to a Vine featuring a different kind of highlight:

There’s no denying the cool factor of watching former Michigan teammates Nik Stauskas and Mitch McGary check out their first officially licensed NBA Rookie Cards. We’ll let that Vine take us into some of the still images from yesterday’s Panini America 2014 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot. Enjoy and stay tuned to The Knight’s Lance, the Panini America Twitter account and the Panini America Vine account for additional coverage.