Although Panini America still has a few headline-worthy 2017-18 NBA products left to release in the coming weeks, make no mistake about it: The 2018-19 basketball collecting season officially tips off on Friday. That’s when Panini America’s ink-laden 2018 Contenders Draft Picks Basketball arrives in hobby shops across North America featuring the hottest rookies from the 2018 NBA Draft as well the NBA’s biggest current stars and retired legends.

Everything collectors love about the Contenders brand across all sports — the autographs, the parallels (including Cracked Ice), the autographs, the generations-spanning checklist, the autographs, did we mention the autographs? — has found a home on the collegiate basketball scene as well. Last year’s addition of NBA veterans to the base set returns in 2018 and gives the product a well-rounded feel while allowing for some key new targets for player collectors.

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