It sounds like you stopped collecting NBA before Panini got the exclusive rights to all NBA cards. This sucks balls for NBA collectors like myself.
So, in answer to your question, there is now only one Brand, Panini.
Now that doesnt mean theres less cards out there. Oh no, Panini have flooded the market with dozens of products from low end, Hoops, to high end, Flawless ($2500 a box)
you can find 20 different variations of every card they make. You like the base card but wish the text was another colour?
Dont fret! Panini probably makes it in Blue, Red, Purple, Orange, Teal, Green, Silver, Gold and Black! Plus refractors, prizms, and mosaic prizms.
Do you like all those colours but wish that the card wasnt an annoying rectangle shape?
Never fear, Panini makes all those colours in die cut versions too!
But that matte finish sucks. Wish it was gloss or thicker card stock?
They've thought of that too? Just buy Prestige, which come in 3 variations! Ones normal, one gloss, the other is thick! No other difference than that though.
Looking for low numbered cards? Panini have thought of that. They have versions numbered to /499, 399, 299, 199, 99, 49, 25, 10, 5 and 1, to make you feel like your card is special! But add it up, and you'll soon see theres actually over 1500 of them out there!
Hoping to land an auto of your favourite player?
You come to the right place! Panini has got that player to sign over 10,000 tiny stickers and stuck them on their cards so you can feel like your idol once touch a very tiny part of that card.
Seriously, none of Paninis's products, are as good as the glory days, when their was some friendly competition between Upper Deck, Skybox, Fleer, Topps etc etc. but I do still collect them cos its all they have.
You'd be better off picking a price point and going from there.