In a world where patience might not be our strongest suit, the good folks at Panini have played the hero by once again launching their compact yet action-packed marvel, the 2024-25 Panini One and One Basketball collection. Imagine the thrill of the hunt packed expertly into a box that doesn’t waste a single iota of your precious time. Here, the drama unfolds with just two cards per box, making it an adrenaline rush you can stash in your display case.
The premise sounds almost too sparse in a hobby where more is often merrier. But, oh, the beauty of this simplicity! Each of these cards comes enshrined in a delightful one-touch case, rendering it immune to the typical trials of time or an unexpected sneeze during a communal card showing. Panini, ever the maestro of wooing collectors, ensures that each box contains one autograph and one card, which might be base, might be a parallel, an insert, or perhaps even a memorabilia card. It’s like getting a handpicked two-hander of excellence every time.
Take a glance at the checklist, and there’s a wonderful riot of colors to behold, making available what feels like the spectrum’s greatest hits. Standard base cards are limited, with a numbering system that caps at 99. Yet, practically begging to stand out at any collection’s centerpiece are Orange parallels, numbered out of a neat 49. Not to be outdone, Blue, Purple, Red, Gold, Green, and the covetable Black one-of-one all join this eye-catching parade.
Panini also invites collectors to jaunt ‘Downtown’ – those staple inserts that have become a beloved tradition. Only this time, they’ve upped the shimmer with Downtown All Star variations, adding a sprinkle of stardom to the mix. But if you think that’s daring, then brace for more. Fresh faces in the insert scene include the futuristic ‘Fourth Dimension’ and ‘Metal-printed Permit to Dominate’ for those with superhero aspirations. Manga, Prizmania, and Black Color Blast infuse vibrant new zest into the collection, making you believe (correctly) that Panini is all-in on celebrating the bounty of variety.
As for the autographs? Cue the collector’s applause. Timeless Moments Autographs return, replete with the elegance of on-card signatures that capture stories both legendary and new. True to the essence of a grand return, these cards ensure excitement is never just singular with potential dual-signed options available for those who like their autographs au deux. Notice a recurring theme? Panini certainly employs a cheeky play on the ‘One and One’ moniker with a litany of signature styles: One of a Kind, One Man Show, and a parade of ‘One and One’ concepts that keep things engaging.
If, for you, it’s all about the patches and sprigs of jersey that waft through the air with the scent of authentic memorabilia, fear not. Fractal Patch Autographs await, as do Lone Star Autographs and Rookie Jumbo Memorabilia. Let’s not forget Jumbo Memorabilia and the ever-elusive Logoman cards, saving the grand flourish for those who tackle this collection with gusto.
Given the succinct nature of this series, let’s revel in some swift yet salient facts: Each pack contains just two cards. A case holds 10 boxes of these tantalizing twos, and the full checklist (somewhat mysteriously incomplete right now) will shed more light as release dates come swooshing closer on the calendar horizon.
What might you find in each sealed box, you ask? Precision at its best: one autograph card, accompanied by an Insert, Parallel, or Base Card. Such succinctness gives us more reason to ready those fastest-finger-first reflexes for when opening time arrives.
As collectors count down patiently (maybe less so as each day passes), they can delight at the anticipation of Panini’s grand parade of hues, autographs, and the ever-versatile insert designs waiting to be discovered. It’s a compact treasure trove—a homage to excellence that lives up to Panini’s bold promise of delivering swift, smile-inducing satisfaction with the tantalizing brevity of the 2024-25 One and One Basketball collection.
