After more than a decade away, Topps is officially back in the NBA market with the launch of its 2025-26 flagship basketball set. This release is the first licensed product under the new long term Fanatics–NBA trading card agreement and signals a new chapter for collectors. A presale begins on Topps.com at 12 p.m. EST on Friday, October 3.
The checklist includes 300 cards, highlighted by 45 rookies and 30 combo cards. The design matches what collectors saw earlier this year in 2025 Topps Baseball, keeping a consistent look across both sports. Topps’ history with basketball stretches back to 1957, then returned in 1969 before running consistently through 1981. The brand reappeared from 1992 through 2010 before Panini’s exclusivity deal. Now, with licensing back in hand, Topps reclaims its place as a flagship NBA card maker.
Parallels add layers of chase to the release. The Golden Mirror short prints make their basketball debut, offering alternate photos and a gold themed back for every base card. The 1/1 First Card parallel stamps the first copy of each player’s card off the press. Other variations include Blackout, Clear, and Team Color Borders, along with special Player Number Variations serial numbered to match a player’s jersey number.
Autographs headline the product, especially with Victor Wembanyama’s first licensed signatures. As a Fanatics exclusive signer, his earlier Panini cards never featured his autograph. Flagship Real One Autographs cover both veterans and rookies. To mark the 45th anniversary of the 1980-81 Topps set, four themed autograph checklists have been created — veterans and rookies each appear in both Base and Chrome versions. Other signature sets include Contemporary Marks, Havoc Marks, Marks of Excellence, New Applicants, Rookie Photo Shoot Autographs, Signed and Sealed, Topps Notch Signatures, plus multi-player cards like Dual Rookie Photo Shoot and 1980-81 Triple Autographs.
Relic cards also return, led by Own The Game, a nod to a mid-2000s insert line. Additional memorabilia themes include Flagship Real One Relics, Franchise Fabrics, Rise to the Occasion, Rookie Roundball Remnants, Swish and Stitch Relics, and Woven Wonder Relics.
As with Topps Baseball, inserts are plentiful. Familiar concepts such as Stars of the NBA, 8-Bit Ballers, Power Players, and All Kings are joined by retro revivals like New School (1997-98), No Limit (2000-01), Rise to Stardom (2000-01), Clutch City Prospects (2006-07), and Generation Now (2007-08). New concepts debut as well, including Daily Dribble, Levitation, Comic Court, Home Court, Sonic Boom, Sole Ambition, Hardwood Stars, and Class of ’25. MVP Vault highlights past MVP winners from the years Topps was absent in the basketball market. The retro 1980-81 inserts feature 100 players, with 99 getting Chrome treatments.
Configuration details:
- Hobby: 12 cards per pack, 20 packs per box, 12 boxes per case
- Jumbo: 40 cards per pack, 10 packs per box, 8 boxes per case
- Mega: 14 cards per pack, 16 packs per box, 20 boxes per case
- Value: 12 cards per pack, 12 packs per box
- Full set size: 300 cards
- Scheduled release: October 23, 2025 (subject to change)
With its blend of rookies, parallels, autographs, relics, and inserts — plus Wembanyama’s first licensed autos — 2025-26 Topps Basketball is set to be one of the most important basketball releases in years, officially marking Topps’ return to the NBA spotlight.