LeBron James will make a little NBA history tonight in San Antonio

When he arrived in the NBA back in 2003, he already was known as “The Chosen One” and just a couple years later people were pondering whether he was the best ever.

Then, he took his talents to South Beach, won a couple of NBA titles and then returned to where it all started for him and won a championship in Cleveland where there hadn’t been successes like that since the 1960s for any sport. His cardboard? It’s been among the royalty of the NBA since Day 1 — this isn’t about that.

But tonight in San Antonio LeBron James will likely make a different kind of NBA history but is just as significant (if not more so) from a historical perspective.

Buzz Break: 2016-17 Panini Studio 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 Studio NBA cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 10
Cards per pack: 6
Cards in this box: 60
Base set completion: 49 of 300 (16 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notable players on base cards – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James (two types), Julius Erving, Stephen Curry, John Havlicek (two types), Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Isiah Thomas, Scottie Pippen, Karl Malone, James Harden, Damian Lillard, Kevin Love, Brook Lopez

Rookie Cards (14) – Ben Simmons, Kris Dunn,  Jamal Murray, Marquese Chriss (two types, Denzel Valentine, Buddy Hield, Dragan Bender, Brandon Ingram, Taurean Prince, Patrick McCaw, Isaiah Whitehead, Juan Hernangomez, Henry Ellenson, DeAndre’ Bembry

First Buzz: 2017 Leaf Autographed Jersey Multi-sport Edition

What: 2017 Leaf Autographed Jersey Multi-sport Edition
Arrives: October/November
Box basics: One autographed custom jersey per box (eight boxes per case)

What’s buzz-worthy: Leaf expands the collecting landscape for its newest autographed-jersey-in-a-box release with this one that includes tough autographs from some of the biggest stars in sports history … like Andre The Giant.

Keep reading for more.

First Buzz: 2017 Historic Autographs Autographed Jersey National Edition

What: 2017 Historic Autographs Autographed Jersey National Edition
Arrives: July 26
Box basics: One autographed jersey per tin

What’s buzz-worthy: Historic Autographs readies this one for the National Sports Collectors Convention and the company will be offering incentives for those who pop a tin to trade in or trade up while at the show.

Keep reading for more information.

Fast Break NBA repacks seem to deliver well — even for this collector

If you’re a bargain hunter who’s awaiting some new NBA cards to arrive but needs something right now and on the cheap, there’s one option out on the retail front that’s delivering pretty well for some collectors.

These Fast Break NBA repacks include three hobby packs for around $12 depending on the chain and they typically include one of each of the packs shown on the box — all prime places to find some Giannis Antetokounmpo Rookie Cards and autographs. And it’s been done, according to users over on the Blowout NBA breaks section of the forum. 

Here’s one example that did OK on that front. Here’s one that did much, much better.

And here’s another. And another one. And a bulk buyer’s results.

But this is the 12-box bust that first got my attention with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ink in the mix.

Out of sheer curiosity, this collector has bought two — at two different times and two different chains — and each has delivered an autograph. Keep reading to see the notable cards from the latest one.

First Buzz: 2017 TRISTAR Quest autos

What: 2017 TRISTAR Quest autographs
Arrives: June 7
Box basics: Five envelopes per lockbox — each with an autographed flat or memorabilia redemption inside (three lockboxes per case)

What’s buzz-worthy: This TRISTAR line will be limited to only 50 cases of autographed items from around the sports world and beyond.

Keep reading for more.

Board Buzz: Must-read threads on the Blowout Forums (Jan. 6)

The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are five threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What’s Buzzing Today: Big pulls, bummer boxes, Giannis show-offs and much, much more.

NSCC signers: Whose autograph would you pick first?

This year’s National Sports Collectors Convention is a couple of months away and thanks to its non-traditional location — Atlantic City, N.J. — there are perhaps a few more guests on tap that we’ve not expected to see at the annual show.

It’s been a long time since the show was last in New Jersey — it’s largely been located in the Midwest for most of the last decade — so regional autograph guests such as Hideki Matsui and countless others who wore pinstripes and starred for other teams in that area make sense. They’ll also help draw in locals who might not normally hit the show … just to get that ink.

Autograph ticket pricing for the show will come soon, but Buzz has picked seven top names that may not break the bank — one per sport — at the show.

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.

Magic Johnson & Larry Bird Rookie Card commands big cash on eBay

It’s the Rookie Card of two NBA icons sandwiching a legend. It’s a relic from the past days of simpler cardboard from toward the end of the early Topps era. It’s a piece of cardboard perfection with all the flaws you’d expect from its time — and that’s got nothing to do with condition.

And this card in this condition? Well, it’s a $27,000 card after selling on eBay earlier today.