2024-25 Topps Chrome Sapphire Basketball Brings Chrome’s Crown Jewel Back to the NBA

• Posted: August 5, 2025, 3:08 pm
• in Sports Card News
• by bionic

* We may earn a commission from purchases made through our affiliate links.

Basketball meets Sapphire once again with the release of 2024-25 Topps Chrome Sapphire Basketball — a chromium-based set that mixes polished design with color-splashed rarity. Long a fan favorite in baseball, the Sapphire line returns to the NBA with a format built around premium parallels and low-print autographs.

This is a short-format product with a strong focus on quality over quantity. Every card you pull feels designed to stand out, and there’s a good balance between veterans, rookies, and legends.

---

What You’ll Get in a Box​

Each hobby box contains eight packs, with four cards per pack. That gives you 32 total cards, including:

• One guaranteed autograph
• Multiple colorful Sapphire parallels
• A clean mix of base cards, stars, and rookies

It's a tight rip, but each pack has the potential to produce something big.

---

Base Set Breakdown​

The base set mirrors the layout of the regular Topps Chrome basketball set, coming in at 200 total cards. The majority of the checklist is made up of today’s stars, but there’s also representation from rookies and NBA greats from past eras.

Cards are printed on Sapphire’s distinctive blue-ice foil stock — a signature look that sets them apart from most other chromium cards on the market.

---

Sapphire Parallels​

This is where things really get interesting. The parallels in Sapphire aren’t just for show — they’re numbered, colorful, and always in demand. Here’s how they fall:

• Green Sapphire /99 – 1 in 7 packs
• Gold Sapphire /50 – 1 in 9 packs
• Orange Sapphire /25 – 1 in 17 packs
• Purple Sapphire /10 – 1 in 42 packs
• Red Sapphire /5 – 1 in 84 packs
• Padparadscha Sapphire /1 – 1 in 417 packs

These parallels offer a chase element in nearly every box, and they hold strong long-term value in the secondary market.

---

Autograph Lineup​

Each hobby box guarantees one autograph, and the autos span five themed sets:

• Base Sapphire Autographs
• Certified Autograph Rookies
• Next Stop Signatures
• 1973 Topps Autographs
• Sky-Light Signatures

Every autograph line features parallels in Orange (/25), Purple (/10), Red (/5), and the ultra-rare Padparadscha one-of-ones.

Whether you're hunting top rookies or iconic veteran signatures, this checklist gives you a range of names and designs to chase.

---

Inserts​

Two insert sets appear in this year’s release, both offering something a little different.

• Sapphire Selections, inserted about once in every 11 packs, highlights standout rookies from the 2024 draft class
• Infinity, a short print insert, shows up roughly once in every 160 packs and features a lineup of established stars and big names

While inserts aren’t the main focus here, they offer added variety and some impressive visuals.

---

Quick Product Details​

Cards per pack: 4
Packs per box: 8
Boxes per case: 10
Total base set: 200 cards
Release date: July 16, 2025

Box content:

• 1 autograph
• A variety of numbered Sapphire parallels
• A small chance at pulling rare inserts

---

Topps Chrome Sapphire Basketball isn’t about volume — it’s about making every card count. Between the slick blue-foil design, the low-numbered parallels, and the built-in autograph guarantee, this release delivers a focused and rewarding break for collectors chasing premium NBA content. Whether you're building rainbows, chasing rookies, or looking for a clean auto to hold long-term, this set brings it together.