Cherry popped on NBA boxs (Fleer, Bowman, Chrome)

G'day,

I used to be a big NBA collector back in the early 90's when we went through that massive NBA boom with all the low-end sets. I focussed on a few sets and my main player to collect was Sprewell.

A couple of months ago i was walking past a newsagent and for some reason i bought a packet of NRL cards just to see what they look like these days. I got a gem card in that packet (1:18) and that was enough to capture my curiosity and thrust me back into the hobby (how weak is that? No, i did not marry the first girl i kissed )

Anyways, i've already completed the NRL set and my attention has been directed back to basketball. It's a bit overwhelming seeing how many different sets there are, i sort of have no idea what i'm doing. I decided to buy a couple of low-end cheap boxes on ebay just to start and get a taste for it again. The boxes were: Fleer Hot Prospects, Topps Chrome and Bowman Draft Picks and Stars. I think they are retail boxes too (Which i'm only just learning about), are retail boxes just available to capture noobs unaware on ebay?

I've been trying to decide which players to focus on. Favorite player is Chris Paul but i realise he will probably send me broke to collect and i'd be competing with plenty of other collectors already. Maybe Monta Ellis and Brandon Roy are currently next in line.

So i've just opened the cheapy boxes (Didn't do it live because i wanted my first time to be special )

Topps Chrome: Didn't appear to have anything special in it at all, they all look the same to me.

Fleer Hot Prospects: Just had the Supreme Court, Notable Newcomers and Stat Trakers cards which appear to be inserts that you get in every packet. Some good base players but nothing rare.

Bowmans: I'm a bit confused about these ones. There is one chrome card per pack which seems to be a seperate base set. The standard base cards have a black border but i also got-
Jason Smith Rookie with a bronze border #/399
Alando Tucker Rookie with black border #/2999
Aaron Gray Chrome Rookie #/2999
Brandon Wright Rookie Chrome Signature #/479 :v: Signature is on a sticker.
Aaron Brooks Rookie with a gold border #/99

My first Signature card which is a start i guess.

Anyway, sorry for the long winded post but it's a box break/intro all in one.

if its one thing that will confuse you when returning to the hobby, it will be the 500000 parallel sets that topps products seem to have haha. I actually enjoyed your post mate, best of luck with your future breaks. :v:

Nothing wrong with the Bowman box....nice pulls!!!

great first post, i too wasted a lot of my youthful money on crappy early 90s basketball cards, which are worth nothing these days

hard hobby to stay out of, considering how cheap a box of fun costs

grats on the brandon wright, i reckon hes gonna have a big season this year

Nce post mate. I also was a collector back in the 90's when I was growing up and only got back in to the hobby after a similar thing... Bought a single pack lol.

The Topps Chrome are as far as I can tell released for the Rookie cards. They have a very high value for the top picks and the refractors are even better.

I would suggest getting some new upper deck boxes. Try a box of 06/07 SP Game Used. You will get a hit in every pack (either a jersey or sig) or if you want to spend a bit more get the 07/08 SP Game Used and you will get two hits per pack. These boxes are awesome to break for someone who has been out of the game for ages!

yea i been spending too much recently on the 07-08 SP GU, they are awesome boxes, plus even the base cards look good!

im still planning to grab a box at the card show this weekend though, Digeze should pop in if you have the time

Yeah, i was thinking about dropping into that card show on Sunday.

Where do you normally get the SP GU from?

I get mine from dacardworld. There is usually a link to it at the top of this forum. You can also now buy pretty well priced new boxes from another member from here. His ebay store is Dream Cards I think. Or if you want to bid on old skool boxes you can visit my store ALL-STAR SPORTZ

Would recommend the SP Game Used for sure though.