REVIEW:2015/16 Panini Preferred Basketball

If you prefer high-end basketball products and prefer them to come with on-card autographs and prefer that they come with booklets, well, I am about to introduce to you Panini Preferred. Or maybe you have already met once.

Either way, here we go!

 

In every box of 2015/16 Panini Preferred Basketball there are two packs. Each pack comes with an autograph and memorabilia booklet giving you two on-card autographs and 2 booklets per box. Boxes, well I said high-end, will run you about $220.

The base set, yes, there is a base set, but it is strictly all autographs and is a big set to collect. There are 300 autographed cards in the base set composed of Silhouettes, Rookie Silhouettes, Autographs, Crown Royale, and Unparalleled. Every Autograph in Preferred is #'d/99 or less and is on-card.

 

Here were my two autograph pulls from my box. One of them is from my favorite all-time autograph memorabilia autograph set in Silhouette while the other is actually a blue parallel numbered to 15 and is the better card of the two. It's nice to see on-card content in a high-end product.

The base set consists of top rookies, veterans and legends of the game. There are parallels for the set as well numbered to 49 or less.

 

Like I mentioned above, you also find two booklets per box too!

Leading the way for the booklets are 2015 NBA Finals Memorabilia Booklets that have a vertical design and offer rarities like the one-of-one Finals Logo parallels. Stat Line Memorabilia Booklets include Tags (1/1) and focus on single-game performances from top stars.Vs One on One Memorabilia Booklets are a trifold layout with two players per book. 

 

There are also other book offerings like Board Members, Crazy Eights (8 players), Dual Memorabilia, Playbook Rookie Jumbo Relics, Playbook Jumbo Veteran Relics, Quads relics (4 players), Trending Upward, and Triple Memorabilia.

 

All booklets also have Prime and Super Prime parallels numbered to 25 or less. But, for some of them, not all players are included. 

The booklets are also nicely designed and have a high-end feel.

Here are the booklets I pulled,

 

 Board Members:

 

 

And 2015 NBA Finals:

 

 

Overall, like with most high-end products it's a gamble. This one was definitely that and it didn't quite live up for the price. However, there is plenty of offerings in Preferred that could help a box live up to it's price when you start to look at the checklist.

 

There's Kobe, Durant, Bird, among others in the autograph checklist. That's also not counting all of the booklets with prime pieces you can pull as well.

For me, when it comes to a product like this, you have three options I believe.

1. If you are a gambler, then take a chance. There are some beautiful cards waiting in here for you.

2. If you are looking for specific cards, buy singles. Like I said, they look great and the autographs are on-card.

3. If you want to take the gamble but don't want to pay full price, buy into a box break. That way you still have a chance of landing some of the sweet cards but for a third of the price.

By the way, make sure you thank Panini America for this review box and check out their site for products like this one and others.You will find one or more of these hits in the Super Bowl Contest going on now!

MINDBLOWING Surprise Mail Day From The Pack Gambler

It was just a normal day, slight breeze, partially sunny and a bit cold. I was making my usual morning run to the post office to pick up the mail always in anticipation of awaiting packages. I did get one of the packages I was counting on however there was a bigger one waiting for me. I read the label and saw that it was from The Pack Gambler. The package was very shocking since I wasn't expecting anything, what was inside was even more shocking.

I opened the box to find the this:

I first pulled out the 12 packs of 1991 Action Packed football (gonna save them for a Monday break 'em), and found these two sweet items!

Upon further digging...it was all about the base, about the base, no inserts. Sorry, that song is catchy though I hate it.

In this base card lot was Giants, NY Rangers and Yankees

Rookie cards!

Hakeem Nicks rookie and some inserts including my guy Randle.

I wonder which Eli face is on these...

Then found 4 Topps Chipz

Then this sweet baby from 2004! Shiny! I have never seen one of these.

Then the hit parade rained and boy did it rain....Two Nassibs. Love the Triple Threads.

Nice Eli addition!

Look at these patch cards!

WOW!

If you have read this blog, you know how I feel about Crown Royale auto silhouettes!

Then I found this. AMAZING!

Overall, my mind was blown. The surprise alone was amazing, but looking at what the contents were, wow. I am still speechless.

I would like to say a MONSTER THANK YOU to The Pack Gambler. They will be missed! It's really hard to lose someone great and trustworthy for the hobby but hopefully someday The Pack Gambler will return to full force.

I just have to end this again with another thank you to The Pack Gambler. Words cannot express the thanks for your kindness as your kind gesture will remain in my memory forever. Good luck on your next journey and keep in touch!