2012-13 Panini Threads Basketball Cards

Product Review

2012-13 Panini Threads Basketball Product Review

Reviewed by Kerwin Leong

Good: Five-card pack of Kobe Bryant Anthology cards inserted in every box, three autographs and one game-used card per box, autographs are signed on-card, rookie autographs on wood card stock, first cards of Dwight Howard, Steve Nash, Ray Allen, Jason Kidd, Andre Iguodala, and Jeremy Lin in their new team uniforms, first Steve Nash Lakers Autograph, Team Threads die-cut jerseys return.

Bad: Some players who changed teams this past offseason are not shown in their new uniforms. Andre Iguodala has an insert with his new Nuggets uniform, but his base card shows him with his old 76ers jersey. With the exception of the Jason Kidd, there are no other base cards from anyone on the Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, or Portland Trailblazers. Takes more than 1 box to complete full 150 card base set.

The Bottom Line: 2012-13 Panini Threads Basketball is an affordable mid-end product. Collectors who have been anxiously waiting to get their hands on the next iteration of the Team Threads insert as well as their autograph counterparts can rejoice. Lakers fans will no doubt love the first base cards of Dwight Howard and Steve Nash donning their new Lakers jerseys.

Card Design: 4.0/5.0

The Threads base card design is usually one of the nicest of the year. This year's set is similar to 2003-04 Upper Deck, which is one of my favorites. The base cards have three parallel versions: Silver, Gold, and Platinum. The only difference is the color on the bottom of the card. They are also serial numbered.

There are several different inserts in this product. Returning is the Kobe Bryant Anthology, a 200-card set which will be inserted in all 2012-13 Panini basketball products.

Century Greats inserts look very clean and crisp with a solid white background and the player clearly focused in the center of the card. Floor Generals showcases point guards doing what they do best. I don't really like this particular card design as it seems that it will be better suited in Hoops instead. High Flyers highlights some of the top dunkers in the NBA. The cards of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and DeAndre Jordan look superb. Inside Presence reflects the NBA's top big men and is the worst-looking design in this whole product. This is another insert set better suited for the Hoops product. Talented Twosomes focuses on teammates and has lots of great photography.

Team Threads is always a favorite and one of the main selling points of the product. The popular die cut jersey design was first introduced by Fleer with the 1996-97 Ultra Fresh Faces and again with 2000-01 E-X E-Xciting. Panini was smart to make this insert a staple in Threads. There are home and away versions for veterans and rookies, making a challenge for set builders.

The Authentic Threads game-used relics come in single swatches, multi-colored patches, and triple player variations. These designs are very generic and not the best ones they could have produced.

Autographs are all signed on-card and come in many different variations: Base Rookie Autographs, Autograph Team Threads, Signage, and Private Signings. The Base Rookie Autographs are signed on wood card stock and look amazing in person. This is a very unique innovation to use a wood design and feel on the card. It makes the card stand out more.

Team Threads Autographs has signatures from all the main rookies and several big name veterans and comes in home and away uniforms. This is a genius idea that Panini gets a slam dunk for.

Checklist: 3.0/5.0

The base set is comprised of 150 cards. There are 100 rookie autographs covering both the 2011 and 2012 NBA Draft classes. This product really takes a hit in the checklist area for the base cards, even though the autograph checklist is full of top-tiered talent. With the exception of the Jason Kidd Knicks base card, there are no other base cards from anyone on the Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, or Portland Trailblazers. How do you include only one total card from three teams? There are no Carmelo Anthony, Jeremy Lin, Amar'e Stoudemire, or Deron Williams base cards. Insert cards from those teams are present, but it seems really weird that Panini made a base set where two teams were left out completely and another almost completely ignored.

Value: 4.0/5.0

For less than $100 you get three autographs and a game-used card per box. Rookie Autographs come in either a wood card stock design or the Team Threads die-cut jersey design. The autograph checklist from this product is top-tier with names like Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, Kobe Bryant, Blake Griffin, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, David Robinson, and Steve Nash in a Lakers uniform.

The Fun Factor: 4.0/5.0

Panini Threads has been one of my favorite basketball products since Panini started releasing basketball cards three years ago. Like Prestige, collectors have a chance to pull rookies from two different draft classes. The rookie autographs in this product are look spectacular. The wood card and die-cut jersey autographs are huge selling points that should drive collectors to the product.