Should You Buy 2024-25 Donruss Basketball?

The 2024-25 Donruss Basketball release is significant in sports card collecting. Scheduled for release on March 14, 2025, this set represents Panini’s final licensed NBA basketball card product under their current agreement.  This year’s release comes at an interesting juncture. The NBA rookie class lacks a standout generational talent, which typically drives card values. The set continues Donruss’ tradition of providing a comprehensive collection that balances base cards, rookies, and an extensive array of insert and parallel options. But what does the fact that this is the last release mean for its value? We have answers in our 2024-25 Donruss Basketball review.

History Donruss Basketball

Donruss didn’t start out in basketball cards. Back in 1954, brothers Donald and Russell Weiner combined their first names to create Donruss, launching what would become a trading card empire. While they began as a confectionery company, their journey into sports cards would take some interesting turns over the decades.

The company’s basketball card story kicked into gear in 2014, when Panini breathed new life into the brand. That first Panini Donruss Basketball release was something special – they cleverly folded the Donruss Elite brand, which had been a cornerstone of basketball collecting in the early 2000s, right into the base set. It was a smart move that bridged the old with the new, giving collectors a 100-card Elite subset that felt nostalgic and fresh.

Rated Rookies Change The Game

What made these cards pop was how Panini managed to keep the soul of Donruss alive while pushing things forward. They brought over the “Rated Rookie” concept that had made Donruss baseball cards so beloved, and added modern touches like jersey cards and die-cuts. The Court Kings inserts were an instant hit – so much so that they eventually spawned their standalone product line. This blend of classic design and contemporary flair helped establish Donruss as the go-to affordable basketball card brand in Panini’s lineup, a position it still holds today.

The brand hit another gear in 2016 when Panini introduced Donruss Optic Basketball, essentially creating a chrome version of the base set. It was a game-changer. Collectors went crazy for the premium feel of the Optic cards, which took everything people loved about regular Donruss – the Rated Rookies, the clean designs, the affordable price point – and gave it a high-end makeover with rainbow foil parallels and shimmering surfaces.

2024-25 Donruss Basketball Review of the Release Date and Timing

The release date for 2024-25 Donruss is March 14, 2025. That is well into the season, which is not ideal for a flagship style release. Nonetheless, we are used to many Panini products coming out well after the season ends or even into the next campaign. Therefore, we are happy with what we can get. But it is worse than last year, when the hobby boxes came out in late January. It is more similar to the year before that, when 2022-23 Donruss Basketball arrived on March 8. But since all of these are within the season’s range, Panini clearly considers this release a priority.

2024-25 Donruss Basketball Review of Release Formats

Donruss is traditionally a hobby and retail type of release.

Hobby Box:

• 30 cards per pack
• 10 packs per box
• 10 per case
• 1 autograph, 11 parallels, and 9 inserts/insert parallels per box on average.
• Hobby Exclusive Parallels: Diamond Red (#’d/75), Holo Blue Laser (#’d/49)]
• A box sells for $250
• A case sells for $2,500

Choice Box:

• 10 cards per pack
• 1 pack per box
• 2 autographs per box
• 3 Choice-Exclusive parallels per box: Choice base, Choice Red (#’d/99), Choice Blue (#’d/49), Choice Gold (#’d/10), Choice Black Gold (#’d/8)]
• A box sells for $225
• A case sells for $4,500

2024-25 Donruss Basketball Review of the Pros

As always, it’s the insert sets where Donruss shines. The set boasts an impressive array of insert sets including Crunch Time, Unleashed, Hardwood Masters, Zero Gravity, Net Marvels, Swish, and Night Moves. Particularly exciting are the Net Marvels inserts, which bring a comic book-themed aesthetic that adds extra value and visual appeal, which we have previously said, are likely to increase in value over time because of their special cultural value.

Meanwhile, there are many parallels here, and some new ones that the Collector’s Chase has. The 2024-25 Donruss release offers a treasure trove of collecting opportunities. Hobby-exclusive parallels like Diamond Red (#’d/75) and Holo Blue Laser (#’d/49) provide that extra layer of rarity.

Then we have an important factor that is a plus right now. However, time will tell if it will remain the same for a long time. This is going to be the last year Donruss appears as a licensed Panini release. The company loses its license next year. That means it is the end of an era for one of the business’s most beloved and recognizable products. That could lead people to put more value in this particular release. However, what will that mean in the long-term?

2024-25 Donruss Basketball Review of the Cons

After all, the hobby box is priced high for what is supposed to be a reasonably inexpensive flagship type of release. Yet it costs far more than its hockey or baseball equivalents.  One Blowout Forums user questioned the pricing, asking, “Does that say $240 suggested retail before big3/panini price gouge markup?” A Reddit user previously noted similar concerns about Donruss releases, stating, “I’ve bought 5 blasters, 6 fat packs and a mega box with no autos or relics to show”.

The design last year was terrible. It isn’t much better this year. Some sources suggest that recent Donruss Basketball base card designs have been problematic. One Blowout Forums user expressed broader frustration, stating, “I feel for basketball collectors right now, I do. Panini is phoning it in to a baffling level.” A user on Sports Card Arena warned potential buyers, “If you see those Donruss blasters on the shelf, leave them there. many people are complaining about the blasters only containing base cards”.

Then, there is the problem of parallels being overproduced. The parallels include Press Proofs with Silver, Purple (/199), Holo Laser (/149), Diamond Red (/75), Holo Blue Laser (/49), and Gold (/10) variations. Each hobby box promises an average of 60 inserts or parallels, with Mega Boxes offering exclusive Crystals parallels numbered to 125. One Blowout Forums user succinctly captured the parallel problem: “Nobody cares when there are that many parallels. The value of each one is less because of it. Most are completely irrelevant.”

The risk with this being the final officially licensed product is that collectors will lose favor as they move to the Topps lineup. While the set aims to build “upon the legacy of Donruss as one of the most recognizable and collector-friendly NBA card products,” there’s a sense of uncertainty about its long-term significance.

Checklist Review

The base set spans 300 cards, featuring a mix of veterans (cards 1-200) and Rated Rookies (cards 201-250), with an additional 50 Rated Rookie Signatures to round out the collection.

As for parallels. Hold on to your hat. There are quite a few:

• Choice Dragon
• Disco
• Holo Green Laser
• International
• International Holo Maroon Laser
• Red Wedges
• Silver Press Proof
• Wedges
• Winter
• Winter Holo
• Yellow Flood
• Storm – /299
• Purple Press Proof – /199
• Cubic – /175
• Holo Laser – /149
• Red Disco – /149
• Teal Explosion – /149
• Crystals – /125
• Holo Orange Laser – /125
• Hyper – /125
• International Red Stars – /125
• Choice Red – /99
• Holo Purple Laser – /99
• Holo Red and Green Laser – /99
• Red Holo Laser – /99
• Dots – /85
• International Blue Fireworks – /85
• Blue Disco – /75
• Blue Wedges – /75
• Silver Press Proof Die-Cut – /75
• Winter Blue – /75
• Holo Pink Laser – /50
• Checkerboard – /49
• Choice Blue – /49
• Holo Blue Laser – /49
• Blue Explosion – /45
• Holo Blue and Green Laser – /30
• Gold Press Proof Die-Cut – /25
• Holo Teal Laser – /25
• Holo Yellow Laser – /25
• Pink Disco – /25
• Holo Red and Blue Laser – /15
• Lava – /15
• Choice Gold – /10
• Gold Wedges – /10
• Holo Gold Laser – /10
• Winter Gold – /10
• Choice Black Gold – /8
• International Green Scope – /5
• Swirlorama – /5
• Black Wedges – 1/1
• Choice Black – 1/1
• Holo Black Laser – 1/1

Rookie Card Review

The 2024-25 NBA rookie class is generally weak. Mainly because it doesn’t have a massive standout talent, it is led by top draft picks like Zaccharie Risacher (Atlanta Hawks), Stephon Castle, and Reed Sheppard, this year’s class has generated significant interest among basketball card collectors [Bleacher Report]. The draft’s top prospects have already captured attention, with early rankings suggesting these players could become valuable long-term investments. Bronny James got the most media attention for the wrong reasons.  

Autograph Review

The 2024-25 Donruss Basketball autographs showcase diverse designs, with key types including Rated Rookie Signatures, Next Day Autographs, and the new Net Marvels Signatures. These cards typically feature on-card autographs from top NBA rookies and established players. Rated Rookies and Net Marvels are most likely to have long term value.

Insert Sets

Inserts are always the selling point for this release. This year is no different. It brings back fan-favorite sets while introducing exciting new variations to Crunch Time, Unleashed, Hardwood Masters, and Zero Gravity, alongside the new Swish insert. The Net Marvels insert set, which has previously ranked as one of the top insert sets in basketball cards, returns with additional excitement, including a new Net Marvels Signatures variation.

2024-25 Donruss Basketball Review of Value

There is some real potential value in this release. The boxes are more expensive than other flagship products but inexpensive by basketball standards. While they do not hold many autos, they have some of the best inserts and a wealth of parallels, creating an intriguing possibility of value.

Unsealed Wax Value

The range for the boxes is not as wide as in other places. They are around $200 for a weaker class and $350 for a stronger one. Zion Williamson and Ja Morant made the 2019-20 class strong and last year, Wemby brought up the prices. This year, the price is likely to be closer to $200. That means there is a good chance of losing money on this box.

Single Card Market

You can get some good cards in Donruss Basketball. But they are less valuable than their Donruss Optic counterparts. How much do these cards fetch?

The value of the singles is somewhat disappointing. There are very few big cards in this. Most of the fabulous cards in this release, and there are plenty, just aren’t worth all that much.

Final Word of the 2024-25 Donruss Basketball Review

The numbers tell a stark story. Over the past five years, Donruss hobby boxes have fluctuated between $199 and $356, with the most valuable releases tied to generational talents like Zion Williamson and Victor Wembanyama. This year? We’re looking at a potentially deflated market. The rookie class lacks a true superstar, and the pricing remains stubbornly high at $250 per hobby box. Consider the single card market. There are a few cards over $1,000. The parallel problem compounds the value issue. With over 40 parallel variations, scarcity becomes a joke.

For serious collectors and investors, this becomes a complex calculation. Do you buy as a historical artifact? As a potential future collectible? Or do you stay away, recognizing the market’s current limitations? Avoid the temptation to buy entire boxes and go after singles.