The release of NBA card products for the 2021-22 season is in full swing and collectors definitely have their hands full. While Prizm Basketball will have most of the spotlight in the coming weeks, Panini PhotoGenic is one set that's currently generating a lot of hype in the hobby. With its new format, awesome checklist of active stars and legends from years past, and an eye-catching design, there's really a lot to love from this set. We take a look down below this inaugural product is worth looking into.
3 big reasons why Panini PhotoGenic is a massive win for NBA card collectors
3. The photography is top-notch
Most of the basketball card products that have been released to market boast a design that leans heavily on various graphic elements. For instance, Prizm has that iconic machined look while Optic has always used a clean vintage-inspired design. But unlike all of the NBA card sets out there, Panini PhotoGenic went in the opposite direction and focused more on quality photography.
The card's design is primarily dominated by the photo itself with the set's logo on the upper corner and the player's name and team on the lower middle portion. Even the label itself is designed to be low-key, making the photo used more prominent.
When it comes to the photography itself, Panini went above and beyond to choose the best images for the players included in this set. NBA card collectors will be treated to LeBron James' iconic chalk toss in a uniform that bears the Los Angeles Lakers' logo, Dennis Rodman's timeless moment of chasing the ball in the 90s, and everything in between. Those in the hobby can be sure that in every box of PhotoGenic, they are bound to end up with several cards that will look good in any collection.
2. The overall look screams timeless
Although the photography is just one part of the equation, the overall look of Panini PhotoGenic is, without a doubt, timeless. It uses a thicker card stock, making it more premium than other non-chrome products, like NBA Hoops or Donruss. Coupled with a minimalist approach, the end product is a card that will definitely catch the attention of collectors and help them be more invested in it.
Boxes are in!
2021-22 PhotoGenic Basketball#whodoyoucollect #NBADraft pic.twitter.com/EK8J8M22aV— Panini America (@PaniniAmerica) June 23, 2022
Of course, this is in stark contrast with how sports cards are designed these days. As mentioned above, each set from Panini is leagues apart from PhotoGenic when it comes to design, such as Prizm and Optic. Taking things up a notch in this regard are products like Revolution, Recon, Flux, Spectra, Obsidian, and Mosaic. Cards from these sets are loud, flashy, and will certainly be noticeable, even from afar.
While that may be the case for most of Panini's offerings in the NBA card market, PhotoGenic's minimalist look can still nail that timeless element and be a far better product than its contemporaries in the market. Much like what 2012 Prizm Basketball has achieved, this product's first-edition status, coupled with a design that looks good, PhotoGenic certainly has what it takes to be one of the hobby's best sets in the years to come.
1. Panini PhotoGenic blends a good mix of active stars and NBA legends
It's a given that most NBA card sets being released to the market feature a lot of active players in their checklist with a little sprinkle of legends from years past. This isn't really the case with PhotoGenic. Not including the base rookies, it has a base card set that boasts 100 players on it. 26 of those are All-Stars from the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s, such as Magic Johnson, Kevin Garnett, Dennis Rodman, Dwayne Wade, and Gary Payton, among others.
And that's just for the base set. PhotoGenic's insert offerings also offer the likes of David Robinson, Jason Kidd, Allen Iverson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell, and many more. The inclusion of these legends will definitely blend well with today's young stars found in this set, such as Cade Cunningham, Josh Giddey, Evan Mobley, LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, Ja Morant, and Luka Doncic. Even collectors will love the cards featuring the best veterans' in the league, such as LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
This is a welcome development since it does away with lesser-known players in the league for those who have established their careers in past years. Those who would want to complete the base set or breakers ripping boxes of PhotoGenic open would appreciate that they would get more quality guys with great cards of them.
Taking all of these reasons together, it's not really hard to see why Panini has landed a winner with its PhotoGenic set. With rave reviews coming from breakers, collectors, and personalities in the hobby, it's a must to join in on the fun from this good-looking NBA card product.
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