Buzz Break: 2018-19 Donruss Optic NBA cards (Mega Box)

From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and break down the results here. Like this and want to see more -- or maybe there's a box you'd want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2018-19 Donruss Optic basketball cards (Mega Box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for a few formats)

Packs per box: 10 (eight standard, two Hyper Pink)
Cards per pack: 4 per standard, 5 per Hyper Pink
Cards in this box: 42
Base set completion: 18 of 150 (12 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards: LeBron James, Tony Parker, Jayson Tatum, Chris Paul, Bradley Beal, Serge Ibaka, Paul Millsap, Jarrett Allen, Julius Randle, Will Barton, Otto Porter Jr., Malcolm Brogdon, Og Anunoby, Willie Cauley-Stein, Elfrid Payton, Kyle Korver, Nikola Vucevic, Tobias Harris

Inserts/short-prints: 24 (all inserts/short-prints and some base in gallery below)
Rated Rookies (SP) (4) – Svi Mukhailiuk, Elie Okobo, Trae Young, Bruce Brown
Rated Rookies Holo Prizms (1) – Omari Spellman
Holo Prizms (2) – Jeff Green, Will Barton
Rated Rookies Hyper Pink Prizms (3) – Aaron Holiday, Omari Spellman, Jarred Vanderbilt
Hyper Pink Prizms (7) – Reggie Jackson, Kemba Walker, DeAndre Jordan, Jeff Green, Zack Randolph, Avery Bradley, Jaylen Brown
Express Lane (2) – Lonzo Ball, Tony Parker
Franchise Features (1) – Russell Westbrook
League Leaders (2) – Stephen Curry (2)
Winner Stays (1) – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Winner Stays Prizms (1) – Tony Parker

 Autographs/Memorabilia: None

What's Buzz-worthy: If you want the chase and the color of Prizm but perhaps without the elevated price -- and most importantly on-card autographs -- then you should take a strong look at Optic. The base set of this one is just as Optichromed as Prizm but with more traditional photography frames for the base cards, a good comfy design for the Rated Rookies and a smattering of inserts and parallels. It's the inserts I'm not that big of a fan of -- the 1980s Miami Vice-inspired colors and typography (especially the typography) seem better suited to stay in the past. I don't think they work here and that hurt the grade of what would have been an A release to me. This box wasn't that great for its $35 price tag (a Walmart version of the Mega Box) but you get two packs of Pinks only found here. Another possible find (not in this one) are Checkerboard parallels and those are the only parallels to be found here. Autographs are possible, too, with Holo and Purple versions -- also not here. If you're chasing Luka Doncic Rookie Cards, then this is a place to look. The stars in the inserts and base cards I pulled here weren't bad but there were some badly centered finds here and my names could have been better in spots. This is one of those brands to try a couple boxes at a time and see if they deliver. This one wasn't bad, but it wasn't great. For the money, there could be some strong boxes to be found with big names only found in this format.

Product Grade: B+ (1980s-style inserts hurt this one in my mind)
Box Grade: B
Fun Grade: B

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