2023-24 Panini Crown Royale Checklist: Is This Release More Than Kaboom! SSPs?

Crown Royale Basketball brings back Kabooms and some big hit potential in a $549.95 box that is set to hit shelves on May 3rd. 

But is this mid-tier product a hold, pass, or perhaps a rip? Let’s look at the numbers and the important notes for this year.

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2023-24 Panini Crown Royale: At a glance

• Release: 5/3/24
• $549.95 pre-order price
• 1 pack of 8 cards
• 1 autograph
• 2 inserts/parallels. 
• Most notable cards are the Kaboom! SSPs

An Introduction to 2023-24 Crown Royale

 Beyond offering one of the most distinctive base sets in the sport, the collection features a wide array of autographs, memorabilia cards, and other insert themes.

The Crown Royale brand, originally launched in the 1990s by the since-closed Pacific Trading Cards, is celebrated for its signature die-cut crown shapes—a hallmark that persists in the current base set design.

A look at what is in the 2023-24 Crown Royale Basketball set 

The 2023/24 Panini Crown Royale Basketball series presents a continuation of its distinctive die-cut designs, accompanied by a diverse array of Inserts, Parallels, and Autographs. 

Each box offers one Autograph card, highlighting a selection of NBA superstars, legends, and rookies, with the Rookie Silhouettes in both prime and super-prime versions being particularly notable.

The series also introduces new autograph sets such as Royal Rookie Showcase, Treasured Autographs, and Noblemen, with items numbered from 99 to 1/1, broadening the variety for collectors.

 In addition, there is one Memorabilia card per box, featuring sets like Heirs to the Throne and Knights of the Round Table, among others. Insert sets include Rookie Royalty and Snow Globe, along with rare Kaboom variants like Kaboom Gold and Kaboom Green.

Especially given that Wemby doesn’t have any autographs in 2023-24 Panini products, there’s a chance this could be his best rookie card to many collectors. Or, at least, the best Kaboom card in the super popular set’s history. 

Shop for 2023-24 Panini Crown Royale Basketball boxes on eBay

This year’s parallels are all crystal-themed, with the following colors slated for the set: 

• Crystal
• Royalty
• Blue Crystal – /99
• Pink Crystal – /75
• Red Crystal – /49
• Purple Crystal – /25
• Gold Crystal – /10

Should you invest in Crown Royale Basketball?

Is the 2023-24 Crown Royale Basketball release worth the dice roll? If so, how should you approach it?

Shop for 2023-24 Panini Crown Royale Basketball boxes on eBay

Investing in a sealed box

Is it a good hold as a sealed product? Considering a $549 release day price, let’s look at how 2023-24 Crown Royale Basketball stacks up to years prior.

Here’s the value of the last few years based on recent sales (as of 4/5/24)

• 2023-24: $549
• 2022-23: $290
• 2021-22: $225
• 2020-21: $380
• 2019-20: $440
• 2018-19: $800

The numbers paint a clear picture: stay away from this product as a sealed investment. The release price of this year’s set is so out of line with the previous year’s resell value, that I’d guess the release price of 2023-24 will drop before it hits shelves.

The only box selling for more than this year’s box is pre-ordering for is 2018-19 (Luka, Trae, SGA rookies). So, as usual, the rookie class can dramatically swing the price of a box, and we see it with Crown Royale more than most products since Crown Royale has been around for a while. 

So, for that reason alone, I’d warn against investing in this one as a long-term hold as a sealed box. Of course, the sports card market could rise again, but from the numbers above I can’t imagine this box will ever be a good long-term hold.

This is especially true without Wemby rookie autos. Yes, his licensed rookies will be worth a lot, but Crown Royale probably isn’t the brand you want. 

Shop for 2023-24 Panini Crown Royale Basketball boxes on eBay

Investing in singles

If you want to invest in singles, the best cards would be the Kaboom cards. Even the rookie autographs from this set do well on the resell market – something about that 90s design doesn’t hit as well anymore.  

Bottom line: Should you rip, hold or pass 2023-24 Panini Crown Royale Basketball?

Crown Royale Basketball is a mid-tier product kept alive by the Kaboom! insert, but realistically it’s a product that should be killed after rehoming the Kaboom! elsewhere. 

It won’t be a great long-term hold. What do you think of this product? What will it be worth in 5 years? Let us know on Twitter @card_lines.

Shop for 2023-24 Panini Crown Royale Basketball boxes on eBay

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