The Panini America Quality Control Gallery: 2015-16 Complete Basketball (72 Images)

It's fitting, really, that today is Thursday. In social media circles, Thursday is better known by its hash-tag acronym "#TBT," Twitterspeak or Instagramese for "Throwback Thursday." And when it comes to NBA trading card sets, it doesn't get much more #TBT than Panini America's upcoming 2015-16 Complete Basketball.

Panini America 2015-16 Complete Basketball QC Gallery3

It’s fitting, really, that today is Thursday. In social media circles, Thursday is better known by its hash-tag acronym “#TBT,” Twitterspeak or Instagramese for “Throwback Thursday.” And when it comes to NBA trading card sets, it doesn’t get much more #TBT than Panini America’s new 2015-16 Complete Basketball.

From its price point ($1 a pack) to its card stock (the matte finish of yesteryear) to its photography (a full-color mix of action shots and portraits) to its box configuration (36 packs), 2015-16 Complete Basketball is a refreshing throwback to collecting’s earlier days — when completing a comprehensive set was more important than how many hits were in a box. When a few rare-but-attainable inserts provided a chase-worthy side mission. When parallels were just starting out.

Such is the case with Complete, an old-school breath of fresh air that appeals to fans and collectors who covet lots of cards (a 330-card base set) and lots of rookies for not a lot of money. And in the middle of it all, you’ve got Silver (one per pack) and Gold (one per box) parallels, a small handful of inserts (including Home and Away Jerseys, Court Vision and NBA Cares) and the rare opportunity at a one-per-case autograph card.

The must-see Quality Control Gallery that follows showcases most of what the product has to offer. Enjoy the images and stay tuned to The Knight’s Lance for continued coverage of 2015-16 Complete Basketball.

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9 Replies to “The Panini America Quality Control Gallery: 2015-16 Complete Basketball (72 Images)”

  1. This is a great concept for the introductory collector….but…. card stock is pencil thin; (thinner than Donruss 1981 cards) and as thin as your stickers. Must do something about this- please!!

  2. Great design…great photography…great focus on building the set and not chasing hits…but at 330 cards it’s hardly complete. There are 450 players in the NBA, not to mention coaches. To be complete it would need ALL the players at the very least. A series 2 could solve that problem 😉 That would fit in well with the throwback theme also…

    I still hope to get a box. Base sets are my primary reason to collect, and this is the largest since 2009-10, so I like it already! (Not counting the sets like 2012-13 Marquee which while 540 cards, is just multiple versions of the same people for cards #251-540) It also looks like there is at least some 2015-16 photography included, which is good. I see the new Bucks jersey on Antetokounmpo’s card and Pachulia with the Mavs. Ever since I discovered the sport in 1996 I’ve always looked forward to the sets that included current season photography, especially on the rookies.

    Once again I find myself thinking that the photography is better this year than it has been the past few years, the effort in 2015-16 has really been stepped up a notch. Every returning set has been an improvement over what has come before, and that is a feat VERY hard to accomplish, yet so far it has been.

    I am intrigued by the texture. It’s really hard to capture texture in photography, but if this turns out to match how I perceive it from these pictures, that’s going to bring extra enjoyment. The 1997-98 set from the now-long out of business Fleer is one of my favorites for it’s unique texture.

    I’m also really liking the NBA Cares insert. The NBA players are always doing something nice for somebody, so it’s nice to finally have an insert recognizing that.

    Really looking forward to getting my hands on this set, when is it due to come out?

  3. I always try to complete sets and enjoy that more then hits. I always leave the hits at the front of brand of cards from that year. Somebody over the years save the base cards for me from a few people that only want hits. I did complete the clear vision set without the rookies since its maybe one rookie a pack since that count as a hit.

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