2024-25 Panini NBA Hoops Value Pack

Greetings!

Hope everyone is doing well.  We're right in the middle of the NBA Playoffs, and it's been quite surprising so far.  The Lakers didn't benefit from that stunning Luka Doncic trade, injuries to Stephen Curry and Jayson Tatum resulted in early exits for the Warriors and Celtics, Damian Lillard's long-term injury may lead to Giannis leaving Milwaukee, and Aaron Gordon had two game winners.  

Now there's a realistic possibility that the Finals could be between those TV-rating powerhouses, Indiana and Oklahoma!  Playoffs!

NBA Hoops was released back in January, but I didn't see it in the big box stores till about a month ago.  Kinda embarrassing when the poster boy's no longer wearing the same uniform when packs are popping up in stores.  Sure no one saw the trade coming, but I still think the visual would sting less if the set was released at the start of the NBA season.

30 cards for seven bucks.  Let's see what I got:

#77 - Derrick White

#273 - Nikola Durisic (RC)

#120 - Spencer Dinwiddie

#278 - Harrison Ingram (RC)

We start off with a nice shot of Derrick White's drive to the basket.  Hoops still uses the small transaction text to denote the change in teams.  I kinda like that more that photoshopping a new uniform on.

#296 - Shaquille O’Neal

#248 - Tristan da Silva (RC)

#44 - Kyle Anderson

#263 - Tyler Smith (RC)

Shaq shows up on the Hoops Tribute subset.  I'm cool with tributes, but I get confused if a current player or Rookie appears in it.  Tribute implies honoring a legendary player.  Nikola Jokic will be legendary, but not yet.

#112 - Kelly Oubre Jr.

#207 - Josh Hart 

#228 - Dereck Lively II

#223 - Naz Reid

There's 300 cards in the set.  Rookies start at #231 and Hoops Tribute starts at #281.  Here's the checklist if you're interested.

#113 - Jaren Jackson Jr.

#91 - De’Andre Hunter

#103 - Brook Lopez

#197 - Bol Bol

I personally enjoy the Hoops and Donruss releases because the pictures taken are from games, so there's a chance of showing other players on the card.  Panini has too many chromey single player sets.

And, common, it's Bol Bol!

#59 - Andrew Wiggins

#217 - Josh Giddey

#72 - Taylor Hendricks

#214 - Jimmy Butler

Yes, white lettering on a yellow background is real hard on the eyes.  And that game winner from Josh Giddey will live in Bulls fans' memories forever!

#50 - Keyonte George

#80 - DeMar DeRozan

#94 - Franz Wagner

#74 - Norman Powell

While DeMar has moved on to the Kings, his back-to-back buzzer beaters from 2021 and 2022 will also live forever in the minds of Bulls fans.

#149 - Miles Bridges

#118 - Gary Trent Jr. (Purple Parallel)

#222 - Duncan Robinson (Teal Explosion Parallel)

#6 - Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Pure Players)

There's so many parallels, I'm only guessing on these 2.  They're not numbered, so there's that.  Newly minted MVP SGA has his Thunder up 2-0 on the Timberwolves.

#2 - Johnny Furphy (Arriving Now)

#51 - Donte DiVincenzo (Base Premium)

Last card in the pack is what I think they call a Base Premium.  It could also be an Opti-Chrome card, who knows.

Here's some backs because Memorial Day:

How exciting.

Anyway, that's the pack.  Hoops is usually a solid release and overall, it doesn't disappoint.  Have a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day weekend everyone, and thanks for reading!