Buzz Break: 2018 Panini Contenders Draft Picks basketball (blaster 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 Panini Contenders Draft Picks (blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs per box: 7
Cards per pack: 6
Cards in this box: 42
Base set completion: 
27 of 100* (27 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards – Andrew Wiggins (2 versions), Brandon Ingram, Caleb Swanigan (2), Damian Lillard, Dennis Smith Jr., Devin Booker, Donovan Mitchell, Draymond Green, Jamal Murray, James Harden, John Collins, John Wall (2), Jonathan Isaac, Karl-Anthony Towns, Kawhi Leonard, Kobe Bryant, Kris Dunn, Kristaps Porzingis, Lauri Markkanen (2), Malik Monkm Markelle Fultz, Paul George, Vince Carter

Inserts: 14 (all inserts in gallery below with some base)
Draft Ticket Blue (2) – Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul
School Colors (4) – Robert Williams, Landry Shamet, De'Anthony Melton, Donte DiVincenzo
Legacy (4) – Chris Paul, Kyle Kuzma, Dennis Smith Jr., Lauri Markkanen
Game Day Ticket (4) – Anfernee Simons, Mitchell Robinson, Landry Shamet, Kevin Knox

Autographs/Memorabilia: 1
College Ticket (1) – Deng Adel

What’s Buzz-worthy: Contenders Draft Picks once again returns with a 50-card base set that showcases NBA players with a pair of cards per player (it appears one road, one home) and then the inserts and hits being the cards of the newcomers. Blasters include one guaranteed auto and this box included ink from 6-foot-7 former Louisville star Deng Adel who signed with the Toronto Raptors. The basic design being used for Contenders this year is an improvement over last year but the insert lineup here does feel a little simple though you get more here than in a football box. It feels like there could be some type of inserts here to mix up the feel of the box and add a little more value or variety other than the auto. The Blue parallels are a start -- I'm not sure if they are two in every box as they aren't in every blaster box for football. (You also only get one auto vs. the two in football.) The Legacy inserts are probably the highlight here with a mix of college and pro photos, while the base set is NBA only. The other two inserts are clean but feel a little basic. (The ones without school logos are for guys out of high school or for schools not under the CLC licensing deal for colleges.) Fans of the college game get a hint of that here so if you want more school colors rip into a hobby box (link above) and you'll get that and more ink -- six autos per box.

Product Grade: A-
Box Grade: B
Fun Grade: B

Follow Buzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz or send email to BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com. 

>> Click here to shop for boxes on BlowoutCards.com.

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery type="image_grid" images="128093,128094,128095,128096,128097,128098,128099,128100,128101,128102,128103,128104,128105,128106,128107,128108,128109,128110,128111,128112,128113,128114,128115,128116"][/vc_column][/vc_row]