Who Makes the Best NBA Cards?

A card collecting blog that focuses on NBA cards. Find out which brands make the best cards, where to find them, and how to get the most out of your collection.

The Three Main Companies

Topps, Panini, and Upper Deck are the three main companies that produce NBA cards. All three companies have been in the business for many years and have a good reputation. Each company has its own way of making cards, so let’s take a look at each one.

Upper Deck

Upper Deck is one of the three main companies that produce NBA cards, along with Panini and Topps. It is also a major producer of NHL, NFL, and MLB cards. Upper Deck was founded in 1988, and its first set of NBA cards was released in 1989.

Since then, Upper Deck has been one of the most popular brands for collectors. They are known for producing high-quality cards with great designs, and they have a reputation for being especially thorough in their card designs and information.

One of the reasons that Upper Deck is so popular is that they were the first company to introduce holograms on NBA cards, starting in 1990-91. Holograms are now standard on all NBA cards, but at the time it was a pretty big deal. The company has also been known for insert cards, which are special cards that are randomly inserted into packs. These can be autograph cards, jersey cards, or just special collector’s items.

Upper Deck also produces a wide variety of other products, including trading card games, apparel, and even toys.

Topps

Topps is an American company that produces collectible trading cards. Founded in 1938, Topps also produced chess sets, booklets, stickers, and other sports-related items. It is best known for its baseball cards, football cards, basketball cards, and other sports trading cards. The company has an extensive online presence, producing digital collectibles and mobile apps. In addition to trading cards, Topps also manufactures jigsaw puzzles and board games.

Topps was founded in 1938 by four brothers: Joseph Shorin; Sylvester Shorin; Abraham Shorin; and Jack Shorin.[1][2] The company was originally located at 346 Montgomery Street in Manhattan’s Chinatown.[1][3] The oldest brother Jack Shorin was the first to enter the collectibles market after finding a box of 1950th-century tobacco cards while looking for new ideas to supplement his income as a wallpaper salesman.[2] Jack convinced his brothers to go into business with him after he showed them what he had found.[1]

The company began selling its products door-to-door and through stadium concessions stands before expanding into retail stores.[1] In 1952, Topps launched its first product: a baseball card set entitled “Bazooka” after the bubble gum of the same name which was popular at the time.[1][4] In 1953, the company produced its first football card set.[1] In 1957, it produced its first set for the game of basketball accompanying it with a gum product called “Basketball Thrills”.[1][5] That same year, Topps also introduced ” Astro-Globos “, one of the first plastic toys shaped like planets which became popular among children during the Space Race era .[6][7]

Panini

In 1986, Panini launched its first basketball set in the United States, and by the early 1990s, Panini was the exclusive trading card collaborator with the NBA. In 2009, Panini purchased Donruss Playoff LP, which produced NBA trading cards from 1981 to 2009. As a result of the purchase, Panini now has ownership of every NBA trading card license dating back to 1919. In addition to producing traditional trading cards, Panini also manufactures collectible items like figurines and laptop stickers.

The Pros and Cons of Each

In the world of NBA cards, there are many different factors to consider when it comes to who makes the best cards. Topps, Upper Deck, and Panini are the three biggest companies in the business, but there are many others out there as well. Each company has its own pros and cons, so it’s important to evaluate what’s important to you before making a decision.

Upper Deck

Upper Deck is one of the most popular manufacturers of NBA cards. They are well-known for their high quality and for producing some of the most valuable cards on the market. One of the drawbacks of Upper Deck cards is that they are often more expensive than other brands.

Topps is another major player in the NBA card market. They are known for producing a wide variety of cards, including low-end products that are affordable for casual collectors. One downside of Topps cards is that they can sometimes be lower quality than other brands.

Panini is a newer company that has quickly gained popularity among NBA card collectors. They are known for their high-quality cards and unique designs. However, Panini cards can be quite expensive, which may be a turnoff for some collectors.

Topps

Topps was founded in 1938 and has been the exclusive provider of NBA cards since 1986. In 2009, Topps acquired Upper Deck, its main competitor, making it the only company that currently produces NBA cards.

Topps is known for its high-quality cards, which feature sharp images and detailed player information. The company also produces several special sets each year, such as its All-Star and Championship sets, which are highly sought after by collectors.

One downside of Topps cards is that they are generally more expensive than those from other manufacturers. For example, a pack of Topps basketball cards typically costs $3-$4, while a pack of Upper Deck cards can be found for $1-$2.

Panini

It is hard to argue that anybody does a better job than Panini when it comes to NBA cards. Panini has been in the business for decades and has the rights to produce cards for most of the biggest names in the sport. They also produce a wide variety of cards, from simple designs that are perfect for kids to more elaborate and collectible sets that will appeal to older fans.

The downside to Panini cards is that they can be quite expensive. If you are looking to buy a lot of cards, or if you want to get your hands on some of the rarer sets, you could end up spending quite a bit of money. There are also somewho complain that Panini cards can be prone to bends and creases, which can devalue them.

##Heading:Topps
##Expansion:
Topps is another big name in the NBA card world, and they offer a wide variety of products at different price points. Their simple designs make them popular with kids, and their more elaborate sets will please collectors. Topps also offers special inserts and chase cards that can make their products even more valuable.

The downside to Topps cards is similar to the downside of Panini cards—they can be expensive, and bent or creased cards can lose value. In addition, some people feel that Topps doesn’t do enough to differentiate its NBA products from its other sports offerings, making it difficult for basketball fans to find what they are looking for.

The Best of the Best

In the world of NBA cards, there are Topps, Panini, and Upper Deck. And while all three brands have their own share of fans, there can only be one true winner.

Upper Deck

Upper Deck is one of the most popular brands among basketball fans and collectors, and it’s easy to see why. They produce some of the most attractive and well-designed cards on the market, and they have a strong roster of official NBA licensees. Upper Deck also has a reputation for quality, with thick stock and sharp printing that make their cards some of the most durable on the market.

Topps

Topps is an American company that produces collectible trading cards. These cards are most often associated with baseball, but Topps also produces football, basketball, ice hockey, soccer, racing, and more. In addition to trading cards, Topps also offers strickers sets, games, and other novelties.

Topps began in 1938 as a chewing gum company. The company founder found a new way to produce the gum which made it much more chewable and he called it “Bazooka”. This same innovation led to the development of the modern day trading card. In order to increase sales of their new bubble gum product, Topps created a series of baseball cards that could be obtained by sending in a certain number of wrappers from their product. This was an wildly successful marketing ploy and set the stage for the company’s success in the sports memorabilia industry.

Topps has remained one of the preeminent producers of sports trading cards and has been contracted by MLB, NBA, NHL, NFL, and MLS to produce their official trading cards. In addition to official partnerships with major sports leagues, Topps also has agreements with Marvel and Star Wars to produce collectibles for these franchises as well.

Panini

As the official trading card partner of the NBA, Panini produces some of the most popular basketball cards on the market. In recent years, Panini has released several highly sought-after sets, including their Prestige and Donruss lines. While Panini cards are generally more expensive than other brands, they are also widely considered to be of higher quality.