Hoops Collectors: Basketball & Sports Cards Podcast

Max @PutnamCards breaks down the #1 rule to win in the sports card market - and why it’s the key to enjoying collecting and making better financial decisions.

He also compares the trading card performance over the past two years of today’s young stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Dončić, and Victor Wembanyama to legends like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Kobe Bryant.

Plus, a brief discussion of the recent $324K 2000 Flair Showcase Kobe Bryant Masterpiece 1/1 PSA 8 sale and thoughts on the new NBA Garbage Pail Kids inserts in Bowman Basketball cards.

Chapters

00:00 Episode Introduction

01:19 NBA Playoffs

02:39 GOATs or Current Superstars?

10:33 #1 Rule for Successful Sports Card Collecting

15:21 Recent Interesting Sales

20:32 2000 Flair Showcase Kobe Masterpiece 1/1

22:00 Bowman Garbage Pail Kids

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Social links

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoopscollectors/

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Max @PutnamCards breaks down his top 5 predictions for the basketball card market for the rest of 2026.

From upcoming Topps releases and their potential impact on the hobby, to how the NBA Playoffs could shift player values and legacies in real time, this episode covers the biggest forces shaping the market throughout the remainder of the year.


He also explores the current state of the trading card market and why more collectors are moving away from ultra high-end cards in favor of “value” plays.

Chapters
00:00 Episode Introduction
01:41 Prediction 1
08:16 Prediction 2
12:10 Prediction 3
16:39 Prediction 4
24:01 Prediction 5
24:51 Bonus Observation
26:43 Conclusion

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Social links
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoopscollectors/
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Which year of Topps Chrome basketball has the BEST design ever?

In this episode, Max @PutnamCards ranks all 15 NBA-licensed Topps Chrome basketball releases from 1996–2009 and the brand new 2025 release — going from #15 all the way to #1.

This iconic run includes legendary draft classes and rookie cards of:

• Kobe Bryant (1996)
• LeBron James (2003)
• Stephen Curry (2009)
  

From the original chrome shine of the late 90s…to the bold ultra modern comeback in 2025…Max breaks down which designs truly stand the test of time.

Chapters

00:00 Episode Introduction

00:46 Criteria for Ranking Topps Chrome Designs

03:56 Official Topps Chrome Basketball Ranking

35:15 Conclusion

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Social links

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What if there was an official basketball card museum…and you could only choose 10 cards total?

In this episode, Max @PutnamCards is joined by Adam Gray @thereal27guy as they draft the ultimate top 10 basketball cards to put in a museum — featuring everything from Michael Jordan ‘90s grails, to 2003 LeBron James rookies and legendary Kobe Bryant cards.

From 1/1 ghost cards to the hobby’s most recognizable vintage icons, this is our take on what belongs in a true basketball card shrine.

Chapters
0:00 Episode Introduction
3:19 Basketball Card Museum Draft
26:00 Draft Snubs (Honorable Mentions)
36:28 John Stockton Ultimate Logoman Auto 1/1

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Social links

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Max @PutnamCards breaks down the final Panini NBA-licensed 2024-25 basketball products, including Prizm Black, Donruss Optic, Flawless, and National Treasures.

Highlights include:

• Top inserts: Downtowns, Color Blast, Manga, Slammy
• Insane NBA Finals game-worn materials
• Key rookies, stars, and rare parallels

Chapters

00:00 Episode Introduction

03:25 Mosaic

07:14 Photogenic

09:52 Noir

14:21 National Treasures

19:44 Donruss Optic

23:07 Silhouette

29:00 Obsidian

30:37 One and One

34:52 Immaculate

39:16 Flawless

42:09 Eminence

44:34 Prizm Black

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Social links

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The 2024-25 season marked the final year of Panini holding the exclusive NBA trading card license—and it’s one of the most important years for basketball card collectors in modern hobby history.

In Part 1 of this breakdown, Max @ PutnamCards dives deep into the first half of Panini’s 2024-25 basketball releases — analyzing every product, underrated sets, and what actually matters for collectors going forward.

From Prizm and Select to Kabooms, Revolution Galactics, Court Kings, and Manga inserts, this episode covers it all. This is your complete guide to how Panini closed out its NBA-licensed trading card era.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction
• 01:04 Dallas Card Show, Stacking Slabs, & Cade Injury
• 04:57 Hoops
• 09:03 Prizm
• 16:59 Donruss
• 22:02 Court Kings
• 28:23 Prizm Monopoly
• 29:49 Totally Certified
• 32:38 Origins
• 34:43 Prizm Deca
• 36:40 Revolution
• 41:53 Select

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Social links

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoopscollectors/

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Max @PutnamCards gives out his early 2026 Basketball Card Awards, comparing current hobby trends and modern basketball cards to players across the NBA.

Topics include 2025–26 Topps basketball releases, Topps Chrome Gold Refractors, Topps Finest Aura inserts, Topps 3 Basketball, Panini Downtown inserts, and patch autograph cards of Stephen Curry.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction
• 02:34 Panini Revolution Galactics
• 05:55 High-End Stephen Curry Patch Autos
• 08:30 Topps Finest Base Set Design
• 12:11 Topps Chrome Gold Refractors
• 14:03 Topps Finest Aura Inserts
• 16:25 Topps 3 Basketball
• 18:37 PSA 10s vs. PSA 9s
• 21:13 Gold Logomans & Speciality Patches
• 23:49 Panini Downtown Inserts
• 28:33 “Not-Associated” Memorabilia Cards
• 30:47 Unlicensed Panini Basketball Products
• 31:53 Dallas Card Show

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Social links

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoopscollectors/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hoopscollectors

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Max @PutnamCards breaks down the 2012-13 and 2013-14 Panini NBA releases including 2012 Prizm, 2013 Kaboom inserts, Flawless, Immaculate, and Select.

Featuring cards of LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant, Max analyzes why this era shaped the modern basketball card market — plus a quick detour into Kevin O'Leary’s walk down the red carpet.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction
• 03:23 2012-13 Panini Basketball Releases
• 29:37 2013-14 Panini Basketball Releases
• 40:44 Reflections on the Early Panini Era

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Social links

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Max (@PutnamCards) breaks down early pre-Prizm Panini basketball cards (2009–2012) to uncover what’s truly valuable and potentially underrated. He also discusses recent Victor Wembanyama and Josh Rosen Green Kaboom 1/1 sales, and explores the growing intrigue around TAG Grading and its role in the future of card grading.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction
• 01:35 Green Kaboom 1/1 Sales
• 05:40 TAG Grading
• 08:00 Overview of Early Panini Deep Dive
• 11:24  2009-10 Panini Basketball Releases
• 27:43 2010-11 Panini Basketball Releases
• 37:35 2011-12 Panini Basketball Releases
• 43:42 Wrapping Up

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Social links

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoopscollectors/

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Max (@PutnamCards) and Anthony Summerlin (@Summertime1of1) break down the impact of the $16.5M Pokémon Pikachu Illustrator PSA 10 sale on the sports card and basketball card market. They compare trading cards to fine art investments, explore 1/1 collecting, and analyze early basketball releases from Fanatics—including 2025 Topps and Topps Chrome—highlighting key inserts, chase cards, and long-term outlook.

Chapters
00:00 Intro: Sports Card Market & Investing
01:36 $16.5M Pokémon Sale Impact
09:07 Trading Cards vs Fine Art Markets
17:39 1/1 Card Collecting Strategy
22:37 Favorite 1/1 Cards (Anthony’s Collection)
25:13 BackYard Breaks: 11 Nebulas in One Case
29:57 2025 Topps Basketball Overview
43:18 2025 Topps Chrome Basketball Breakdown
54:50 2025 Topps Midnight Basketball Review

Subscribe to the podcast and leave a review if you enjoyed listening. Thanks for tuning in!

Social links
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoopscollectors/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hoopscollectors
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hoopscollectors
Twitter/X: https://x.com/hoopscollectors