Is 2021-22 Panini Illusions Basketball Worth Investing In? (With Review and Checklist)

For the third time, Illusions is back in basketball. The 2021-22 release stays true to form, combining unique inserts and parallels with some holographic, too.

In this post, we’ll look at the 2021-22 product release and answer a big question: is this an investment opportunity… or a mirror trick on the eyes?  

Buy a 2021-22 Panini Illusions Basketball hobby box on eBay

Illusions Basketball product introduction

Illusions is coming into its third year after showing some improvement in the 2020-21 season, which we reviewed here. Anything that debuted during the Zion and Ja season had an advantage when it came to selling well, it’s stuck around for two more years now and Illusions has at least a small fraction of fans.

Each hobby box comes with 1 autograph, 14 inserts and 14 parallels.

The case for Illusions

For collectors who are into Illusions, there’s a common reason why: it’s one of the most affordable boxes for basketball cards. It’s a sport that demands a premium, so having a low-cost hobby option is a nice thing for collectors on a smaller budget.

This product was a Panini Direct release, but you can buy one on eBay for around $300.

The rookie autographs come in a nice variety of autos and RPAs, plus there are some nice veteran autos. You can hope to pull autos of Luka, Shaq, Jayson Tatum, Durant, Trae Young, and more.

The case against Illusions

One of the main reasons people were passing on Illusions – particularly at a blaster level – was a lack of emphasis on rookies. The rookie cards were tough to pull and still not worth much if you did manage to pull any.

The hits are also rare, with only one auto of each hobby box, so it can feel like you’re paying good money for a lot of common cards.

The biggest downside with a product like Illusions – one with minimal rookies and hits – is that you will probably have to heavily rely on parallels to get your money back.

Check eBay for the latest prices on 2021-22 Illusions Basketball rookies

What to expect from 2021-22 Illusions Basketball

This year’s rainbow of Illusions hopes to improve the ripping experience a bit, with “trophy collecting parallels” in a number of different tiers, including:  

• Asia
• Bronze
• Emerald
• Orange
• Pink
• Red Asia
• Starlight
• Ruby – /125
• Red – /99
• Teal – /75
• Black – /49
• Blue – /25
• Gold Asia – /25
• Gold – /10
• Lucky Envelopes – /8
• Green – /5
• Purple – 1/1

Find examples of 2021-22 Panini Illusions parallels

Panini 2021-22 Basketball Illusions checklist Information

This year’s Illusions set includes 200 total cards: 150 veterans/legends and 50 rookies.

The autographs have enough variety to be interesting, but there are only 5 different designs or themes. The first, and probably most notable, are the hobby-exclusive First Impressions Jersey autos.

Rookie Retro Signatures feature past and present superstars early in their careers (so no, they’re not actually rookie cards).

There are also Superlative Signatures, which consists of veteran and legends, Trophy Collection, and Rookie Signs.

Panini 2021-22 Illusions basketball autographs are available now on eBay

Panini advertises the chance to find eight inserts or insert parallels in each box, including hobby-exclusive inserts:

• Franchise Favorites
• Illuminated
• Mail Call
• Mystique
• Rookie Vision.

There’s also a new SP called the Rookie Hologram, which brings a new chase element to Illusions.

Value of 2021-22 Illusions Basketball:

If you’re hoping to invest in Illusions 2020-21, the first question to answer is if you should buy singles or wax.

Panini Illusions 2022 Basketball wax value

While this year’s boxes have only been selling for about $300 on eBay, that still feels like nearly a premium considering what you’re getting.,

The 2019-20 boxes have been selling for about $225 on average lately while the 2020-21 boxes are going for about $210.

The Cunningham, Mobley and Barnes-led 2021-22 class is as good and promising as either of the years before it, but it’s not better. And, by that logic, the 2021-22 Illusions should not be significantly outselling the 2019-20 or 2020-21 versions of the product.  

For that reason alone, I’d be staying away from Illusions sealed products regardless if you’re looking to rip or stash.

Investing in 2021-22 Panini Illusions Basketball singles:

Illusions is not like Optic, Prizm, or even Select: you’re probably not going to get any base rookie cards (or parallels) that are going to be big money-makers.

If you’re adamant on investing in the product, the best bet would be to buy a rookie autograph, grade it, and stash it. But, even at that, there are almost always going to be better cards elsewhere that will age better and gain more value.

Bottomline of 2022 Panini Illusions Basketball : Rip, hold or pass?

It doesn’t take a crystal ball to get a read on Illusions: it’s a stay-away no matter what you’re looking for in sports cards. It’s overpriced this year with a very low hit-to-pack ratio, and even on the hits, the ceiling is low enough that you shouldn’t buy with confidence.

What do you think of illusions? Let us know on Twitter @card_lines. Be sure to sign up for our free newsletter to get all the updates, offers and industry buzz delivered straight to your mailbox multiple times a week.  

Full 2022 Panini Illusions Basketball checklist