Buzz Break: 2022-23 NBA Hoops (blaster)

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The box: 2022-23 NBA Hoops basketball cards (blaster)
First Buzz preview: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (a few formats)

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

Packs per box: 6
Cards per pack: 15
Cards in this box: 90
Base set completion: 78 of 300 (30 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jaylen Brown, Jalen Green, Draymond Green, James Harden, Dejounte Murray, DeAndre Ayton, Anthony Edwards, Ja Morant, Allen Iverson, Dwyane Wade

Rookie Cards (14) – Chet Holmgren, Kenneth Lofton Jr., Nikola Jovic, Jalen Williams, Shaedon Sharpe, Moussa Diabate, Caleb Houstan, Peyton Watson, Vince Williams Jr., Tari Eason, Christian Koloko, Walker Kessler, E.J. Liddell, Keegan Murray

Inserts: 12 (all in gallery below with some base)
Purple parallels (2) – Brandon Boston Jr., Ayo Dosunmu
Blue parallels (3) – Jonathan Kuminga, Keldon Johnson, John Collins
Arriving Now (2) – Chet Holmgren, Patrick Baldwin Jr.
Arriving Now Holo (1) – Jalen Duren
Rookie Greetings (1) – Ousmane Dieng
Skyview (1) – Brandon Ingram
Frequent Flyers (1) – Joel Embiid
Pure Players (1) – Luka Doncic

Autographs/Memorabilia: None

What's Buzz-worthy: I didn't rip any of this one back when it arrived -- I prefer the retail-only parallel Winter version that includes a hit per box -- but as part of my revisiting some releases on the cheap from the past this one did pretty well with a pair of Chet appearances and then some top stars. That's about all you can ask for here in most cases, though there are exclusive memorabilia cards (with patch versions) and ink to be found here ... just not every time. Land the right name in one of those rare spots? You could come out way ahead if you're dabbling from the bargain bin like I did with this one. The bigger boxes obviously deliver a little more here -- they should -- but if you're looking to build a set on the cheap or chase some names this is a perfect place to start. Is this one the flagship for basketball or is it Donruss? I think both make their case but in different ways. This one's base set is perhaps a little drier but there's a lot of insert heat to be found here -- or at least heat in variety and some volume -- and the rookie volume isn't bad, either with you getting about 25 percent of the rookie presence in a blaster. The only drawback here is the skinny stock -- damage can be found easily and the gray borders probably don't help and other parallels show it, too -- but at least it's not just plain white borders ... there's plenty of that in the past for cards in all sports. All in all, this one is right there in the Hoops wheelhouse but I think I like the guaranteed Winter hit along with everything being frosty over basic Hoops. But ... hit those larger-format boxes if you want to chase stuff. That's you best bet for the best stuff found here.

Product Grade: B+
Box Grade: A- (it can be topped but finding Chet helped)
Fun Grade: B- (still very heavy base here)

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