Final Preview Images of 2010 Gold Standard Basketball

Panini posted up some final preview images of the 2010-11 Gold Standard Basketball release, which is scheduled to hit within the next 10 days and expect to pay $175-200/pack.

Each pack contains 12 cards and breaks down:

3 Autograph cards

2 Memorabilia cards

3 Base cards

3 Inserts

I may be taking a leap here but I see this as a product that sells to a specific type of collector. With packs running $200 and the obvious use of gold foil board will turn many people away. Yes there is a chance of pulling a card that contains actual gold (Gold Medalists relics) and who can complain about a solid checklist but there is just too much gold coloring for my eyes. 

 For more preview images, 48 to be exact, head on over to Panini’s blog The Knight’s Lance and take a look at Tracy Hackler’s post.

Wade Gold Medaists Gold Relic

KJ USA Relic

Nash Gold Records Relic

Brooks Autograph

Gilmore Base Card

Mavericks Dual Auto

Gold Threads Insert

Gold Nuggets Insert

Kobe USA Autograph Relic

Durant Relic

2010-11 Panini NBA Gold Standard

Schedule Release Date: May 25, 2011

Box Configuration: 1 pack per box, 12 cards per pack
SRP: $200/box

Box Break:
3 Autograph cards
2 Memorabilia cards
4 Gold Common cards
3 “Other” inserts


My Thoughts:
Panini has gold in the mind with the current Golden Ticket in 2010 Playoff Contender Football and not the 2010-11 Panini Gold Standard Basketball coming out in May.

The crazy thing about this product is that Panini not only used gold as the theme, which you will notice the gold coloring to every card, but there will actually be gold encased in some of the cards. Each case will include 1 “Gold Rush” card plus there are 50 “Solid Gold” 14 Karat Panini 50th Anniversary Gold Cards #1/1 also available.

There are some concerns, in a product like this you would think that stickers and manufactured patches would not be included but they do make an appearance.

Pros:
Very unique

Each case will include at least 1 card containing real 14k gold #/10 or less

Each case will include at least one autograph of Larry Bird, Magic, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant or Bill Russell

Each case will contain 2 Autographed Gold Logoman Patches and 2 Autographed Gold NBA Team Logo Patches

Instant-Win Golden Tickets offering one of five unique prizes

There are 12 cards in each pack, something not common in high end single pack boxes.


Cons:
Expensive

Some patches are manufactured patches

Some autos are sticker autographs

Rating: 

If I do not take the price in to consideration, which I have seen range from $185-200, I have to give this product a 3 ½ out of 5 because considering that this is a high end product you still have the chance to pull a sticker auto or manufactured patch.