2023-24 Phoenix Basketball Checklist Review: A New Mid-Tier Release In A Crowded Market

Phoenix Basketball makes its hoops debut in the 2023-24 card collecting season.

Known for its vibrant and intricate designs, the Phoenix brand has been a staple in football, and now it’s spreading its wings into the basketball arena. 

But it’s a product that doesn’t exactly set the hobby world on fire. Positioned as a mid-tier option in Panini’s lineup, Phoenix Basketball offers collectors another chrome-based set, but it arrives at a time when the season’s excitement has largely waned.

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An introduction to 2023-24 Phoenix

Releasing on September 25th, Phoenix Basketball comes with a pre-order price of $499.95 per box. Each box contains 12 packs, with 5 cards per pack. Collectors can expect the standard fare: two autographs, one memorabilia card, 12 parallels, and six inserts or insert parallels.

The product enters a crowded market of chrome sets, following heavyweights like Prizm, Select, and Optic, which have already garnered most of the attention.

With its late-season release, Phoenix Basketball feels like it’s coming in at the tail end of the excitement, and many collectors might see it as just another option rather than a must-have.

Unpacking the 2023-24 Phoenix Basketball set

Phoenix’s design is its most notable feature, but even this might not be enough to stand out. The cards are full-bleed, with a busy aesthetic that’s typical of the brand. While this approach might appeal to some collectors, it doesn’t offer much that hasn’t been seen before.

The parallels and inserts, while varied, feel more like standard offerings rather than anything groundbreaking.

The one big benefit of this product, if any, is that it’s not a product focused on autographs. Without Victor Wembanyama autos, that could help a bit — you can still hit nice Wemby parallels.

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Parallels and Inserts: What to Expect Here’s what Phoenix Basketball offers in terms of parallels and inserts:

• Base and Rookie Parallels: These are numbered from 199 down to 1, with the usual array of colors and patterns. While the lower-numbered parallels will always have appeal, there’s nothing here that feels particularly new or exciting.
• Hobby-Exclusive Parallels: Parallels like Color Burst and Dream Weaver are exclusive to hobby boxes, but their impact on the market might be limited. Collectors have seen these types of designs in other products, and the appeal might be waning.
• SP and SSP Inserts: The SSP inserts—Shooting Stars, Phoenician, and Archetype—are rare, but their late-season release means they might not generate as much buzz as they would have earlier in the year.

What’s in the Box? Each box of 2023-24 Phoenix Basketball includes the following:

• 2 Autographs: Autographs from top rookies, superstars, and legends are included, but with the season nearing its end, the excitement around rookie autographs might not be as high as it was earlier in the year.
• 1 Memorabilia Card: Memorabilia cards add a touch of value, but again, there’s nothing here that really sets Phoenix apart from other products.
• 12 Parallels and 6 Inserts or Insert Parallels: These provide some variety, but the overall feeling is that Phoenix Basketball is just another chrome set in a sea of similar products.

Parallels and inserts

With that said, here’s the list of parallels we can expect to see from 2023 basketball (based on last year’s set).

• Color Burst
• Silver
• Silver Lazer
• Sprinkles
• White Shimmer
• Red #/250
• Pink #/199
• Lava #/175
• Teal #/150
• Red Lazer #/150 or #/125
• Purple #/125
• Orange #/99
• Purple Lazer #/99
• Orange Lazer #/75
• Yellow #/75
• Fire & Ice #/50
• Fire & Ice Lazer #/50
• Blue #/35
• Green #/25
• Green Lazer #/25
• Black #/10
• Black Lazer #/10
• Red Mojo #/10 or less
• Onyx #/5 or less
• Gold 1/1
• Gold Lazer 1/1
• Printing Plates 1/1

Should you invest in Phoenix Basketball?

Phoenix Basketball doesn’t scream investment potential, especially when compared to other products released earlier in the season. Here’s a look at what collectors might consider:

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Investing in a sealed box

At $499.95, Phoenix Basketball is a mid-tier option that might not see much appreciation. With many collectors focusing on Prizm and Select, it’s hard to see Phoenix standing out as a long-term hold. The late-season release further diminishes its appeal, as most collectors have already spent their budget on more highly anticipated products.

While we don’t have any historical numbers for this new NBA release, I’d still advice staying away from this product.

Investing in Singles

If you’re looking to invest in singles, the best cards would be numbered Phoenix parallels and rookie autographs. If you can buy raw and get them graded, bonus points for that. 

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

Phoenix Basketball 2023 presents itself as a product with notable visual appeal, unique parallels, and a comprehensive selection of autograph and memorabilia content. The set caters to collectors who value diversity and rarity in their basketball card collections, but it’s never really caught on.

What do you think of this product? What will it be worth in 5 years? Let us know on Twitter @card_lines.

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Shop for boxes of 2023-24 Phoenix Basketball on eBay