Panini's FIRST NBA Product NOW Live
October 07, 2009

In January 2009, the National Basketball Association announced that Italian manufacturer, Panini would become its exclusive trading card partner beginning with the 2009-10 season. Ever since that announcement, collectors have been anxiously anticipating the company's inaugural release.

Well, the wait is finally over ...

Fresh off the heels of signing NBA superstar Kobe Bryant, to an exclusive autograph and memorabilia contract, Panini America, Inc. began shipping its first NBA product, 2009-10 Panini Prestige Basketball late last week in preparation of its official Wednesday, October 7 release date.

A closer look at Prestige:

  • The first authentic on-card autographs of company spokesman and global trading card ambassador, Kobe Bryant
  • The first fully-licensed Rookie Cards of the new 2009-10 NBA Draft Class
  • The FIRST certified autograph trading cards from Panini America exclusives Blake Griffin, Tyler Hansbrough, Jordan Hill, Brandon Jennings, Tyreke Evans and Hasheem Thabeet
  • "Old School," an insert set that features on-card autographs of NBA greats Oscar Robertson, Bill Walton and David Thompson

Each 8-card pack of Prestige Basketball retails for $4, with hobby boxes containing two autographs and two memorabilia cards, on average.