Buzz Break: 2016-17 Panini Threads basketball cards (hobby box)

From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there’s a box you’d want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2016-17 Panini Threads NBA
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 20
Cards per pack: 6
Cards in this box: 120
Base set completion: 97 of 200 (49 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notable players on base cards – Paul George, James Harden, Andre Drummond, Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Stephen Curry, Karl-Anthony Towns, Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade, Vince Carter, Devin Booker, LaMarcus Aldridge, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jahlil  Okafor, Kyrie Irving

Rookie Cards (29) – Notables include Ben Simmons, Kris Dunn, Marquese Chriss, Willy Hernangomez, Yogi Ferrell, Jaylen Brown, Taurean Prince, Brandon Ingram

Buzz 12 in 12: Busting a 2015-16 Panini Prestige basketball blaster box (Hour 11)

Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today’s your day then as we launch 12 in 12 — a series of a dozen breaks of past wax boxes and wax packs in a dozen hours. We’ll post one every hour on the hour all day long today … this is Hour 11.

The box: 2015-16 Panini Prestige NBA blaster
The cost: Click here

What’s inside this one? Keep reading …

Buzz 12 in 12: Busting a 2016-17 Panini Black Gold Collegiate basketball box (Hour 1)

Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today’s your day then as we launch 12 in 12 — a series of a dozen breaks of past wax boxes and wax packs in a dozen hours. We’ll post one every hour on the hour all day long today … this is Hour 1.

The box: 2016-17 Panini Black Gold Collegiate basketball box
The cost: Click here

What’s inside this one? Keep reading …

Buzz Break: 2016-17 NBA Hoops basketball cards (blaster box)

From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there’s a box you’d want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2016-17 NBA Hoops basketball cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs per box: 10
Cards per pack: 11
Cards in this box: 110
Base set completion: 99 of 300 (33 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notable players on base cards – Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Andrew Wiggins, Dwight Howard, Jahlil Okafor, Damian Lillard, Kawhi Leonard

Rookie Cards (12) – Kris Dunn, Kay Felder, Brandon Ingram, Timothy Luwawu-Carbarrot, DeAndre’ Bembry, Michael Gbinije, Damian Jones, Malik Beasley, Henry Ellenson, Caris LeVert, Thon Maker, Chinanu Onuaku

First Buzz: 2015-16 Panini Black Gold basketball cards

What: 2015-16 Panini Black Gold basketball cards
Arrives: June 29
Box basics:  Four autographs or memorabilia cards per two-pack box (eight boxes per case)

What’s buzz-worthy: After two years on the gridiron, Black Gold comes to basketball bringing its acetate- and gold-laden lineup to the international game with some looks back at the ABA, too.

Keep reading for more info and a full gallery of images released so far.

First Buzz: 2015-16 Panini Noir basketball cards

What: 2015-16 Panini Noir basketball cards
Arrives: May 25
Box basics: Seven autographs or memorabilia cards per 12-card box (three boxes per case)

What’s buzz-worthy: Noir returns for another run on the court and it’s bringing with it the premium NBA Championship tags from players’ jerseys, striking rookie variations and “star-studded autograph checklists that showcase rookies, veterans and retired players.”

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

Elton Brand returns to NBA to mentor Jahlil Okafor — and perhaps spark some new Duke cardboard

Way back in 1999, Elton Brand was a star center for the Duke Blue Devils — a center from tiny Peekskill, N.Y., who was about to make a big impression as the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft.

Fast-forward to today and the former Chicago Bull is coming out of retirement to join the NBA’s worst team — the Philadelphia 76ers, owners of a 3-33 record — to help mentor another former Blue Devils star and first-round pick, Jahlil Okafor. Okafor, of course, has had issues off the court this season while also picking up the NBA game quickly. It’s a match made in Blue Devils collecting heaven.

“He’s not unlike most 20-year-olds you probably know, and he’s definitely not at all different than most of his fellow players,” Brand wrote in a piece for Sports Illustrated’s website. “… if camera phones were around when Brad Miller, Ron Artest and I were Jahlil’s age, we might’ve been banned from the league altogether, never mind suspended for a few games.”

So, what about Brand on cardboard?

First Buzz: 2015-16 Absolute basketball cards

What: 2015-16 Absolute basketball cards
Arrives: Dec. 16
Hobby box basics: Four packs per box — one autograph or memorabilia card per pack (five cards per pack, 10 boxes per case)

What’s buzz-worthy: Absolute returns to the basketball court after two seasons on the bench and is back with a suggested retail price of only $25 a pack as well as a focus on rookies that “will quench your thirst,” according to the company.

See a gallery and more … below.

Philadelphia’s Jahlil Okafor already leads the league in rookie hype — and it just might be right

This in from the Philadelphia Daily News after the NBA debut of Jahlil Okafor Wednesday night in Boston …

It is impossible to overstate the significance of Jahlil Okafor . . . though the Philadelphia region seemed mystifyingly indifferent. Think about it: The Sixers finally added a complete player.  This is Eric Lindros, Jim Thome, Donovan McNabb and Allen Iverson.

With apologies to Sir Charles, Okafor is the best real big man to hit town since Moses [Malone], rest his soul, except Moses wasn’t a savior. Jahlil Okafor brings salvation in short pants.

Okafor scored 26 points, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked a pair of shots in his debut. Said his coach later in the story about his ability to work on the court: “That’s a hint of Tim Duncan.”

We’ll have to wait a while to see if he’s the next Timmahhh, but we can start by looking at Okafor’s early cardboard.