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The box: 2017-18 NBA Hoops basketball cards (blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (several formats)
Packs per box: 11
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 88
Base set completion: 58 of 250 (23 percent)
Duplicates: 0
Notable players on base cards – Kristaps Porzingis, Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Durant, Karl-Anthony Towns, Russell Westbrook, Kawhi Leonard, Jabari Parker, Derrick Rose, Klay Thompson, Anthony Davis, Devin Booker, Tony Parker, Gordon Hayward
Rookie Cards (14) – Markelle Fultz, Dennis Smith Jr., Derrick White, Tyler Dorsey, Ivan Rabb, Frank Mason III, Tyler Lydon, Bam Adebayo, Sterling Brown, Thomas Bryant, Og Anunoby, Luke Kennard, D.J. Wilson, Josh Jackson
Inserts/short-prints: 29 (all in gallery below with some base)
Rookie Cards (14) – Markelle Fultz, Dennis Smith Jr., Derrick White, Tyler Dorsey, Ivan Rabb, Frank Mason III, Tyler Lydon, Bam Adebayo, Sterling Brown, Thomas Bryant, Og Anunoby, Luke Kennard, D.J. Wilson, Josh Jackson
Kobe Bryant Career Tribute (4) – 2000 NBA Finals, 61 points vs. Knicks, 1999-2000 season, 81 points vs. Raptors
Faces of the Future (1) – Lonzo Ball
Zero Gravity (1) – Kawhi Leonard
NBA 2K (1) – Shaquille O’Neal
NBA 2K Foilboard (1) – Shaquille O’Neal (Heat)
Class of 2017 (1) – Markelle Fultz
Swat Team (1) – LaMarcus Aldridge
Blue parallels (2) – Patrick Patterson, Pau Gasol
Lights Camera Action (3) – James Harden, Damian Lillard, Russell Westbrook
Autographs/Memorabilia: 1
Rise N Shine Memorabilia (1) – D.J. Wilson
What’s Buzz-worthy: Sorry Contenders, the first truly full NBA release of the year is here packed with Rookie Cards of players in their pro uniforms, a full slate of veterans and plenty of inserts. You get fewer cards per box in blasters this year but the basic model is the same with one hit and a ton of RCs and inserts. This one included a few highlights across the board with Markelle Fultz sightings in both base and inserts and then a good presence for stars from the past Lakers, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, to go with a Lonzo Ball cameo. Could the box have been stronger? Yes, but it’s not lacking. The base set is a meaty 250 cards capped by short-printed RCs and a Bryant tribute. About the only drawback here are a couple of intentional design touches — most of the photos are pulled-back full-body action shots or studio shots (that gets repetitive and makes it feel dated and the card backs, while jam-packed, are stark black and white. All in all, this one carries the right feel for Hoops, though there are typically others in the NBA lineup from Panini that give it a run for its money as what’s really the flagship basketball brand. Veteran collectors may default to this one since it first arrived back in 1989, but there are others that can carry that feel, too. For the price, this one can deliver pretty well and the various formats (see link above) offer plenty of options depending on how and why you collect.
Product Grade: A-
Box Grade: A-
Fun Grade: B
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