Buzz Break: 2018-19 Panini Contenders NBA cards (blaster)

From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post 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 Panini Contenders basketball cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs per box: 5
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 40
Base set completion: 32 of 100 (32 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Kyrie Irving, Kristaps Porzingis, Tony Parker, Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook, Damian Lillard, Chris Paul, Lauri Markkanen, Klay Thompson, Donovan Mitchell, Draymond Green, Blake Griffin, Kevin Durant, Kyle Kuzma, Paul George

Inserts/short-prints: 7 (see gallery below)
Game Ticket Red parallel (2) – Jusuf Nurkic, TJ Warren
Front-row Seat (1) – Lauri Markkanen
Lottery Ticket (1) – Miles Bridges
Winning Tickets (1) – Gary Payton
Playing The Numbers Game (1) – Clint Capela
Hall of Fame Contenders (1) – Dirk Nowitzki

Autographs/Memorabilia: 1
Rookie Ticket Swatches (1) – Jevon Carter

What's Buzz-worthy: Contenders is popular and known for its rookie autographs but you won't find rookie ink in many boxes for this format. You get one hit per -- a Rookie Ticket jersey card or autographed versions -- but that's about it on the rookie front other than a small insert presence. I like the base set design here to a degree -- there's more going on on those fronts than last year's release, though the design last year was better suited for showing tall NBA players. This design is better in other ways. But, there's one glaring thing I don't like on the backs -- there's no stat line. You get a big bio box and one might wonder if height and weight are necessary there if we know they're part of the ticket numbering routine on the front. There is a blurb that contains some info but if I wanted to compare every player in the box to another one, say for the most-basic stats like points per game, I can't do it. We do get one "from" line to note a player's college or school -- a necessity if you ask me -- but that feels a little oddly placed. In some ways some of these missing things make me wonder. (Yes, I know this brand hasn't used them often in the past.) There's more to a brand than just the autographs. Ripping hobby seems like the best place to go here if you like the look of this one.

Product Grade: A-
Box Grade: B- (closer to an average box)
Fun Grade: B

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