What: 2015-16 Absolute basketball cards
Arrives: Dec. 16
Hobby box basics: Four packs per box -- one autograph or memorabilia card per pack (five cards per pack, 10 boxes per case)

What's buzz-worthy: Absolute returns to the basketball court after two seasons on the bench and is back with a suggested retail price of only $25 a pack as well as a focus on rookies that "will quench your thirst," according to the company.

See a gallery and more ... below.

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Panini America's perennial power called its Black Friday pack promotion is coming soon and the company teased a few more of its planned cardboard on Tuesday.

A pair of sets will be found in collectors' premium packs awarded for hobby shop and online purchases during Black Friday -- one being College Legends and the other spotlighting Rated Rookies.

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LeBron James became just the 20th player in NBA history to score 25,000 points for his career, and he's done it faster than any other player -- at age 31. Including ABA stats, just 25 players in history have reached that mark.

We all know James' cards are among the priciest in the hobby but we should consider that he'll potentially be in the Top 10 by season's end. It makes one wonder if James under-appreciated when it comes to his value on cardboard.

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Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum scorched the New Orleans Pelicans for a career-high 37 points Wednesday night in Portland's home-opener.

The third-year player out of Lehigh University was the 10th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, but he has averaged just 6.6 points a game in limited time during the past two seasons. In five playoff games last season, though, he averaged 17 points a game.

>> Click here to buy 2013-14 NBA wax boxes

His start Wednesday was just the fifth of his career -- including the postseason -- but it shows there's big potential for the guy who bears a resemblance to the famed Steve Urkel.

There's especially big potential for his cardboard.

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This in from the Philadelphia Daily News after the NBA debut of Jahlil Okafor Wednesday night in Boston ...

It is impossible to overstate the significance of Jahlil Okafor . . . though the Philadelphia region seemed mystifyingly indifferent. Think about it: The Sixers finally added a complete player.  This is Eric Lindros, Jim Thome, Donovan McNabb and Allen Iverson.

With apologies to Sir Charles, Okafor is the best real big man to hit town since Moses [Malone], rest his soul, except Moses wasn't a savior. Jahlil Okafor brings salvation in short pants.

Okafor scored 26 points, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked a pair of shots in his debut. Said his coach later in the story about his ability to work on the court: "That's a hint of Tim Duncan."

We'll have to wait a while to see if he's the next Timmahhh, but we can start by looking at Okafor's early cardboard.

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The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are five threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

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The NBA returns tonight with a new crop of rookies battling for cardboard superiority -- more on that to come after they play some real games -- but there's one other season debut that might create a little buzz tonight.

When the New Orleans Pelicans take on the defending champion Golden State Warriors in the late game tonight on TNT, veteran reporter Craig Sager will be there. It marks his return -- make that a second return -- from an extensive cancer battle that's  documented here.

While the new rookies have plenty of cardboard to come, Sager appears on just a single autographed card limited to 499 serial-numbered copies. He can be found in the 2014-15 Panini Threads Voices of the Game set -- a 20-card release focusing on the broadcasters who help bring the game to those of us watching at home.

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The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are five threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

Continue reading →