In a surprising slam dunk that’s bound to have NBA card collectors buzzing from the bleachers to the basement, Topps is dramatically expanding its foray into the world of basketball trading cards. The company, quite established in the baseball card universe, is taking a sharp pivot and introducing two ground-breaking programs — the Rookie Debut Patch and the Gold Logoman — to the NBA for the 2025–26 season. Grab your popcorn and trading card binders because the world of collecting just got a whole lot more intriguing.
The Rookie Debut Patch is the crown jewel in this initiative. Imagine this: a rookie athlete shakes off the nerves, dons their jersey for their very first professional game and steps onto the arena shimmering with anticipation. On that jersey is a patch — a specially-designed, one-of-a-kind piece — worn just for that monumental occasion. After the game, this patch goes through detailed authentication processes before being lovingly embedded into a one-of-a-kind Topps card. Not just any card, but a card that boasts having a game-worn item directly from that unforgettable debut. And once completed, this card is a soliloquy in card form, never to be duplicated. The concept already created seismic waves in Major League Baseball, where Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes’ debut patch card fetched a jaw-dropping $1.1 million in a sale to Dick’s Sporting Goods.
As Topps eagerly unfolds this initiative onto the NBA scene, the anticipation is almost palpable. With the 2025 NBA Draft class shining brightly, headlined by none other than Cooper Flagg, the attraction towards rookie cards is expected to skyrocket. Just envision Flagg’s Rookie Debut Patch card — the stuff of legends, likely to stir a collectible whirlwind. Although the exact set of cards that will include these debut patches remains under wraps, Topps Chrome Basketball, given its proven success with Chrome Update in baseball, is inevitably a strong contender.
Transforming the courtside landscape further, Topps is also rolling out the Gold Logoman program for NBA cards. Reserved exclusively for players who receive prestigious honors from the 2024–25 NBA season, this program adds a celestial touch to player recognition. For instance, picture MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle, and Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley sporting jerseys adorned with a golden NBA logo patch. These patches, once plucked from the athletes, seamlessly transition into unique, chase-worthy Topps cards — some boasting autographs and the much-coveted 1/1 status.
There’s an exhilarating prospect in the air with these Gold Logoman cards poised to replicate the levels of excitement seen in the baseball card community earlier this year. Card collectors, brace yourselves! The allure of owning an autographed patch card with direct ties to on-the-court achievements is likely to drive pursuits as fervent as a last-second three-pointer.
Both programs playfully align with Fanatics’ strategic vision of knitting closer ties between collectors and the sports they cherish, all while elevating the authenticity stakes. In a card market where many find themselves overwhelmed with a plethora of options, Topps dares to stand apart. By integrating authentic, game-used memorabilia directly into the visual and tangible narrative of cards, they are stitching stories that resonate well beyond the box scores.
It’s clear that with this shift, the NBA card-collecting realm is bracing for a transformative era, as exhilarating as a Game 7 finale. With the introduction of Rookie Debut Patches and the illustrious Gold Logomans, the stage is undeniably set for the 2025–26 NBA trading card season to become an unparalleled mecca for card enthusiasts, connecting them viscerally to the players and pivotal moments of the game. So, bring out your lucky pens and card sleeves, because it’s time to prepare for the tempest that is about to electrify the trading card scene.
