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!

Review:2014-2015 Panini Preferred Basketball (BIG HIT!!)

High end is something I don't usually get to open as I can't ever afford to. So when it does happen, it's a rare occasion. So far the few boxes of high end that I have opened I have had some decent success. This time I wanted to hit the hardwood and try Panini's newest basketball release, Panini Preferred. I like the variety and different parts it offers and this years version comes packed with some pretty impressive booklets.

To me the most important part of the product is the iconic Silhouettes. Those are simply a thing of beauty and have been since Panini released them in Crown Royale. My luck either doesn't land me one in a box of Crown Royale or it lands me a poor one. Up to this point the best one I have pulled is a LeVeon Bell.

I may have pulled my best one yet in this box however....as always..you gotta read on to see.

BOX BREAKDOWN:

In each box of 2014-2015 Panini Preferred basketball is 4 cards. Three of those cards are on-card autographs and the final one is a memorabilia booklet. Boxes run just under $190. Yup, as I said, very high end.

BASE CARDS:
N/A. This is all about the hits!

INSERT CARDS:
N/A. This is all about the hits!

MEMORABILIA CARDS:
It's all about the booklet cards and there are many to choose from. You can get booklets from Game 2 of the 2014 NBA Finals to the eventual champ Spurs to Crazy Eights (shown below and of 8 players of a team) to Jumbo Booklets to more. If you like to collect booklets, some of these are totally wack!

Here is mine. It wasn't anything crazy like others you may see, but still a pretty cool 8-jersey lineup from the Miami Heat. 

  
AUTOGRAPHED CARDS:
My first two autographs from Preferred were very unimpressive for a high end product. Up to this point I was a bit concerned about value vs what was paid. The one thing that hadn't concerned me up to this point was design. Panini nailed that.

Here were my first two on-card autos from the box:
Rudez led all rookies in three point FG percentage but scored a avg a measly 4.8 PPG. 

Dantley wasn't a bad pull for a 6-time All-Star and NBA HOFer. But still lacks "star" qualities you would expect.

Then came the BOOM!!!!!!!That's when I landed this beauty that changed my outlook on this box. An Autographed Silhouette of Kyrie Irving. I can't wait to get this bad boy in hand and to share it right here with you guys! My first Irving autograph and it's a Silhouette!

OVERALL THOUGHTS:
A bit of a rough start in this box before landing a Kyrie auto. That kind of boom may not happen in every box but as high risk high reward buyers know, if you don't take the chance you won't ever know.

This product has plenty of boom involved from the booklets to the autographs and a nice checklist of players to help, but I think a product like this is specifically for those high end thrill seekers or for ones who may wanna jump in on a box break.

HOBBY TOPIC: 2014-2015 Panini Preferred Basketball

This series is all about you, the readers. My opinion is mum on every subject, however, you guys have the open mic per say on here. So without further ado, here is today' topic:

BREAKING NEWS! I am going to add Hobby Topic more often throughout the week when more products are previewed or released. That way you can leave your opinion on each of these products along with other hobby topics as well. I have also changed the POST TITLE and added what the topic is about. I have also added info on the products when the topic is about them. This should be fun!!

What are your guys thoughts on Preferred 14-15? Do you like the new look booklets? Have you tried this product in the past? What are your thoughts on it? Do you like the price point for four cards? Do you like not having base and having all hits instead?

Here are some images and information for you to nibble on to help with this discussion.

 

Pre-Ink

 

  

Every four-card pack of 2014-15 Preferred Basketball will deliver three autographs numbered to 99 or less and one booklet card. With some new booklet additions you could find in your pack as well.