Buzz Break: 2021 Panini Chronicles Draft Picks (blaster)

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The box: 2021 Panini Chronicles Draft Picks basketball cards (blaster)
First Buzz preview: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby and FOTL right now)

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of what was in this one ...

Packs per box: 4
Cards per pack: 5
Cards in this box: 20
Chronicles set completion: 2 of 25 (8 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Rookie Cards (16) – Everything but the parallels is an RC here.

Base subsets: 16 (all cards are numbered as part of the standard set but I'm detailing them here as I would if inserts)
Chronicles (2) – Brandon Boston Jr., Evan Mobley
Donruss (2) – Ziare Williams, Jalen Johnson
Flux (1) – Brandon Boston Jr.
Gala (1) – Keon Johnson
Luminance (1) – Jalen Green
Marquee (1) – Cameron Thomas
Mosaic (1) – Scottie Barnes
NBA Hoops (2) – Chris Duarte, Cameron Thomas
Rookies & Stars (4) – Jalen Green, Keon Johnson, Ziare Williams, Ayo Dosunmu
XR (1) – Tre Mann

Inserts: 4
Pink Chronicles parallel (1) – Jaden Springer
Pink Donruss parallel (1) – Scottie Barnes
Pink Gala parallel (1) – Moses Moody
Pink NBA Hoops parallel (1) – Franz Wagner

Autographs/Memorabilia: None

What's Buzz-worthy: The first 2021-22 basketball release from Panini America is the popular Chronicles product -- but for draft picks -- with a number of brands all in one place and shots at multiple copies of notables all in one small spot. I will admit I was in a little sticker shock on this one in the retail wild -- $27.48 for a box without a guaranteed hit -- and that may have carried with me here as I generally like Chronicles but struggled here to be wowed by pink-foil parallels as my only chase cards here. That Luminance card is nice -- that's clearly the dunk-photo set now -- but I didn't think I had much of a big deal here beyond a couple of Jalen Green appearances and a few others among the top 10 draft picks. (Keep in mind I'm a very casual NBA watcher/buyer ... so he obvious may be all that grab me more than potential down the line.) There was a mountain of hanger boxes, blasters and then some mega boxes for this one on the shelf ... I went with something in the middle as I didn't want too small of a taste but I also didn't want to pay a premium (at least at retail) price for a box where I wasn't all that sure of  how interesting things might be. I bought perhaps more NBA than I ever have in 2019-20 and then essentially couldn't find much at all last year so things evened out. This year? I may wait and see what strikes me and let the diehards and the flippers grab all they need. Glancing at a Walmart shelf here in a modest/small town, there should be a lot out there for people to chew on ... at least until one of the rookies really blows up. (Right now, seven are averaging 10 a game for this young season.) Chronicles is always the home of good variety and some chase but I really feel like something should have been shaken up a little more dramatically here -- add something different of substance beyond some Rookies & Stars cards only -- that offers a "hit-like" feel to go with that higher price. That would keep the veteran collectors or budget-minded people perhaps a little more engaged. Draft picks cards are always popular early but drop off hard later once pro-uni cards arrive .., something extra in here (some thick-stock exclusive or something different) could extend the engagement here. Hobby and FOTL offer a lot for those ripping for the flip and the flash ... fans of the college game might rip in here a little more with these smaller formats.

Product Grade: B+
Box Grade: B+ (Green appearances and that Luminance card are nice)
Fun Grade: B (feel like format needs something that stands out from rest in lieu of hit)

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