Explore every episode of the podcast Hoops Collectors: Basketball & Sports Cards Podcast
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Why Early Panini Basketball Cards Are Still Undervalued (2009–2011) | 11 Sep 2026 | 00:24:56 | |
Max @PutnamCards explores why early Panini basketball cards from 2009–2011 might still be undervalued compared to the rest of the sports card market. | |||
| The Art in Sports Cards: Finding Meaning in Card Design w/ Chris McGill @Chris_HOJ | 27 Aug 2026 | 00:49:52 | |
Max @PutnamCards is joined by Chris McGill @Chris_HOJ, CardLadder Co-Founder and host of the HOJ Cast and The Crossover, to explore the intersection of art and sports cards: how looking at card design through a critical lens can reveal deeper meaning and enhance our appreciation of the cards themselves. Chris discusses how art movements of the past can influence our understanding of sports cards, why design can shape the way we value and interpret a card, and how collectors can approach their collections with a more thoughtful eye. They also dive into a few of Chris’s recent Michael Jordan ‘90s 1/1 pickups, including the first-ever Michael Jordan Upper Deck 1/1. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoopscollectors/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hoopscollectors | |||
| Ranking Every Year of Prizm Basketball Cards (2012-2024) | 21 Aug 2026 | 00:48:14 | |
Max @PutnamCards ranks every year of Prizm Basketball cards from 2012 to 2024, covering all 13 years of Panini’s most iconic sports card brand. | |||
| Why I Haven't Been Buying A Ton of Basketball Cards Recently... | 07 Aug 2026 | 00:29:16 | |
Max @PutnamCards explains why he's been buying fewer basketball cards lately and why he believes today's basketball card market feels eerily similar to the 2021–22 COVID-era bubble’s peak. | |||
| Dissecting Brand Popularity: Why Basketball Card Products Are Similar to Movies | 23 Jul 2026 | 00:31:21 | |
Max @PutnamCards breaks down what makes sports card brands popular (or not) — from iconic products like Topps Chrome, Panini Prizm, Exquisite, and Flawless to the factors that drive collector demand over time. Plus, a new pickup is revealed at the end of the episode. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoopscollectors/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hoopscollectors | |||
| How to Estimate Sports Card Print Runs w/ @CardChannel | New Platform Announcement | 08 Jul 2026 | 00:39:48 | |
Max @PutnamCards is joined by Paul from @CardChannel to explore the math and science behind estimating sports card print runs. The conversation also dives into Paul's journey building Card Channel, the most surprising print run discoveries he's uncovered in the basketball card market, and why his research has influenced the cards he collects today. Paul shares several Michael Jordan and Shaquille O'Neal cards from his personal collection and explains why he likes them. Lastly, Paul announces the upcoming Card Channel analytics platform, shares what collectors can expect from the new tool, and explains how you can be one of the first 50 people to receive early access. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoopscollectors/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hoopscollectors | |||
| The Most Overvalued & Undervalued Basketball Cards Right Now w/ Brent Weyer @DeepValueInvestor | 01 Jul 2026 | 00:52:20 | |
In this episode, Max @PutnamCards is joined by Brent Weyer @DeepValueInvestor to break down the most overvalued and undervalued areas of the basketball card market today. They explore the market forces and collector psychology that drive prices, creating both opportunities and risks for collectors. The conversation dives into the concept of front-loaded risk and why so many of the hobby's most hyped players face incredibly high expectations that are difficult to live up to. They also discuss how narratives, recency bias, fear of missing out, and investor behavior can lead to mispriced cards—and how collectors can recognize those situations before the market catches on. Along the way, Max and Brent touch on a handful of the worst public sales from 2026 to illustrate these ideas in action before wrapping up the episode by sharing some of their favorite recent pickups and the thinking behind each one. 00:00 Episode Introduction 02:59 Most Overvalued 12:14 Most Undervalued Leave a rating if you enjoyed listening and thanks for tuning in! Selling cards? Sign up with The Wharf Sports Cards and use promo code HOOPS95 to get 95% of the final sale price on any cards submitted in your first consignment here: https://wharfsportscards.com/r/HOOPS95 Social links Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoopscollectors/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hoopscollectors | |||
| The Ultimate Guide to 2008-09 Basketball Cards | Every Topps & Upper Deck Release | 26 Jun 2026 | 00:38:53 | |
Max @PutnamCards takes a full deep dive into every 2008-09 basketball card release from Topps and Upper Deck, breaking down the underrated sets, hidden gems, and insane grails. The 2008-09 season is especially significant in hobby history. It’s the rookie year of Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook, and it also serves as the final year before Panini took over the exclusive NBA trading card license, making it a true end of an era for Topps and Upper Deck basketball releases. Across the episode, Max highlights the best cards, most important parallels, and under-the-radar finds from each product, with a heavy focus on some of the biggest names in the hobby, including LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Michael Jordan. Some of the key products covered include Topps Chrome, Upper Deck Exquisite, and Bowman Basketball. Chapters: 00:00 Episode Introduction 05:28 Breakdown of 2008-09 Releases 37:47 Weekly Alley-Oop Leave a rating if you enjoyed listening and thanks for tuning in! Selling cards? Sign up with The Wharf Sports Cards and use promo code HOOPS95 to get 95% of the final sale price on any cards submitted in your first consignment here: https://wharfsportscards.com/r/HOOPS95 Social links Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoopscollectors/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hoopscollectors | |||
| Top 3 Basketball Card Market Hot Takes After the NBA Finals | 19 Jun 2026 | 00:22:55 | |
Max @PutnamCards shares three basketball card market hot takes post-NBA Finals, including what the New York Knicks’ championship means for Jalen Brunson cards, whether the Knicks winning is actually good for the hobby, and how the NBA’s era of parity is impacting basketball card collecting and long-term market growth. Chapters: 00:00 Episode Introduction 03:44 Hot Take 1 08:53 Hot Take 2 15:52 Hot Take 3 22:11 Weekly Alley-Oop: NBA Finals or Championship Cards Leave a rating if you enjoyed watching and thanks for tuning in! Selling cards? Sign up with The Wharf Sports Cards and use promo code HOOPS95 to get 95% of the final sale price on any cards submitted in your first consignment here: https://wharfsportscards.com/r/HOOPS95 Social links Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoopscollectors/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hoopscollectors | |||
| What Basketball Cards Will Today's 15-Year-Olds Want When They Grow Up? | 12 Jun 2026 | 00:28:45 | |
Max @PutnamCards explores how the next generation of basketball card collectors—those growing up during the later years of Panini and the beginning of the Fanatics era—could shape the future of the hobby. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hoopscollectors Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hoopscollectors | |||
| 3 Big Warning Signs in the Basketball Card Market Right Now | 04 Jun 2026 | 00:23:36 | |
Max @PutnamCards breaks down three big reasons why he's becoming increasingly cautious in the basketball card market right now—and how he's approaching collecting in today's rapidly rising sports card market. He discusses the market's explosive growth, the PSA Value Service pause and its potential ripple effects, as well as some notable trends and behaviors he's observed at recent card shows. He also discusses the NBA Playoffs, Victor Wembanyama cards, Topps case hits, and introduces his new $1,000 LeBron James PC Challenge.
00:00 Episode Introduction 11:16 PSA Value Tier Pause 16:15 Card Show Behavior Leave a rating if you enjoyed listening — and thanks for tuning in! Social links | |||
| What Do We Value Most in Sports Cards? | $5.11M Wemby Prizm 1/1 Sale w/ Brett McGrath @StackingSlabs | 27 May 2026 | 00:49:57 | |
Max @PutnamCards is joined by Brett McGrath @StackingSlabs to answer one of the biggest questions in the hobby: what actually drives value in sports card collecting? What do we value most? Is it rarity? Player greatness? Brand power? Nostalgia? Status? Investment Potential? 00:00 Episode Introduction Leave a rating if you enjoyed listening — and thanks for tuning in! Social links | |||
| 5 Areas of Opportunity in the Basketball Card Market Right Now | 22 May 2026 | 00:27:37 | |
Max @PutnamCards breaks down 5 areas of the hobby that present interesting opportunities for collectors right now — spanning multiple eras of basketball cards, from ‘90s inserts to the newest 2025-26 Topps releases. 00:00 Episode Introduction Leave a rating if you enjoyed listening — and thanks for tuning in! Social links | |||
| The Most Intriguing 2018-19 Panini Basketball Cards Part 2 | Luka, SGA, Brunson Rookies | 14 May 2026 | 00:34:58 | |
In Part 2 of this deep dive series, Max @PutnamCards breaks down the most intriguing sets, parallels, rookie cards, and sales from the second half of 2018-19 Panini Basketball products. 2018-19 was also LeBron James’ first season with the Lakers, Kawhi Leonard’s only season with the Raptors, and the start of back-to-back Giannis Antetokounmpo MVP seasons. This episode covers National Treasures, Court Kings, Flawless, Immaculate, and many other products. 00:00 Episode Introduction 02:00 Beckett New Label 03:50 Status 11:05 Threads 11:58 National Treasures 15:35 Mosaic 19:03 Noir 25:42 Encased Social links Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/hoopscollectors/ YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@hoopscollectors Tiktok:https://www.tiktok.com/@hoopscollectors Twitter/X:https://x.com/hoopscollectors | |||
| The Most Intriguing 2018-19 Panini Basketball Cards Part 1 | Luka, SGA, Brunson Rookies | 07 May 2026 | 00:36:58 | |
In Part 1 of this deep dive series, Max @PutnamCards breaks down the best and most underrated cards from 2018-19 Panini Basketball products — the legendary rookie year of Luka Dončić, SGA, and Jalen Brunson. This was also LeBron James’ first season with the Lakers, Kawhi Leonard’s only season with the Raptors, and the start of back-to-back Giannis Antetokounmpo NBA MVP seasons. This Part 1 episode covers Prizm, Donruss Optic, Select, Contenders, and more — highlighting key cards such as Kabooms, Downtowns, Galactics, and Cracked Ice Rookie Tickets. Chapters Follow the podcast if you enjoyed listening — and thanks for tuning in! Social links | |||
| Shifting Collecting Strategies in a Red Hot Basketball Card Market w/ Kaushik Mohan @TheIronSheek | 29 Apr 2026 | 00:34:19 | |
Max @PutnamCards is joined by Kaushik Mohan (@TheIronSheek) to break down how they’re evolving their collecting strategies in today’s red hot basketball card market. Chapters 00:00 Episode Introduction 02:14 The Detroit Pistons Stink 02:32 Shifting Collecting Strategies 08:50 Importance of Storytelling 14:36 LeBron Logomans 18:29 Thoughts on New Collectors Social links Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoopscollectors/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hoopscollectors Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hoopscollectors Twitter/X: https://x.com/hoopscollectors | |||
| The #1 Rule to Win in the Sports Card Market | 23 Apr 2026 | 00:23:56 | |
Max @PutnamCards breaks down the #1 rule to win in the sports card market - and why it’s the key to enjoying collecting and making better financial decisions. He also compares the trading card performance over the past two years of today’s young stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Dončić, and Victor Wembanyama to legends like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Kobe Bryant. Plus, a brief discussion of the recent $324K 2000 Flair Showcase Kobe Bryant Masterpiece 1/1 PSA 8 sale and thoughts on the new NBA Garbage Pail Kids inserts in Bowman Basketball cards. Chapters 00:00 Episode Introduction 01:19 NBA Playoffs 02:39 GOATs or Current Superstars? 10:33 #1 Rule for Successful Sports Card Collecting 15:21 Recent Interesting Sales 20:32 2000 Flair Showcase Kobe Masterpiece 1/1 22:00 Bowman Garbage Pail Kids Social links Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoopscollectors/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hoopscollectors Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hoopscollectors Twitter/X: https://x.com/hoopscollectors | |||
| Top 5 Basketball Card Market Predictions for the Rest of 2026 | New Topps Releases + NBA Playoffs | 16 Apr 2026 | 00:27:32 | |
Max @PutnamCards breaks down his top 5 predictions for the basketball card market for the rest of 2026.
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| Ranking EVERY Topps Chrome Basketball Design From Worst to Best (15 Years) | 09 Apr 2026 | 00:36:50 | |
Which year of Topps Chrome basketball has the BEST design ever? This iconic run includes legendary draft classes and rookie cards of:
From the original chrome shine of the late 90s…to the bold ultra modern comeback in 2025…Max breaks down which designs truly stand the test of time. Chapters 00:00 Episode Introduction 00:46 Criteria for Ranking Topps Chrome Designs 03:56 Official Topps Chrome Basketball Ranking 35:15 Conclusion Social links Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoopscollectors/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hoopscollectors Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hoopscollectors Twitter/X: https://x.com/hoopscollectors | |||
| Drafting The Top 10 Basketball Cards We'd Put in a Museum w/ Adam Gray @thereal27guy | 01 Apr 2026 | 00:39:58 | |
What if there was an official basketball card museum…and you could only choose 10 cards total? In this episode, Max @PutnamCards is joined by Adam Gray @thereal27guy as they draft the ultimate top 10 basketball cards to put in a museum — featuring everything from Michael Jordan ‘90s grails, to 2003 LeBron James rookies and legendary Kobe Bryant cards. From 1/1 ghost cards to the hobby’s most recognizable vintage icons, this is our take on what belongs in a true basketball card shrine.
Social links Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoopscollectors/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hoopscollectors Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hoopscollectors Twitter/X: https://x.com/hoopscollectors | |||
| Are Panini’s FINAL NBA Cards Worth It? (2024-25 Prizm Black, Flawless, NT & More) | 26 Mar 2026 | 00:49:23 | |
Max @PutnamCards breaks down the final Panini NBA-licensed 2024-25 basketball products, including Prizm Black, Donruss Optic, Flawless, and National Treasures. Highlights include:
Chapters 00:00 Episode Introduction 03:25 Mosaic 07:14 Photogenic 09:52 Noir 14:21 National Treasures 19:44 Donruss Optic 23:07 Silhouette 29:00 Obsidian 30:37 One and One 34:52 Immaculate 39:16 Flawless 42:09 Eminence 44:34 Prizm Black Social links Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoopscollectors/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hoopscollectors Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hoopscollectors Twitter/X: https://x.com/hoopscollectors | |||
| Analyzing 2024-25 Panini Basketball Cards: Prizm, Select, Kabooms & More | Part 1 | 20 Mar 2026 | 00:45:06 | |
The 2024-25 season marked the final year of Panini holding the exclusive NBA trading card license—and it’s one of the most important years for basketball card collectors in modern hobby history. In Part 1 of this breakdown, Max @ PutnamCards dives deep into the first half of Panini’s 2024-25 basketball releases — analyzing every product, underrated sets, and what actually matters for collectors going forward. From Prizm and Select to Kabooms, Revolution Galactics, Court Kings, and Manga inserts, this episode covers it all. This is your complete guide to how Panini closed out its NBA-licensed trading card era. Chapters
Subscribe to the podcast and leave a review if you enjoyed listening. Thanks for tuning in! Social links Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoopscollectors/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hoopscollectors Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hoopscollectors Twitter/X: https://x.com/hoopscollectors | |||
| The Early 2026 Basketball Card Awards 🏆 | NBA Player Comparisons (Topps Chrome, Finest & Downtowns) | 11 Mar 2026 | 00:32:52 | |
Max @PutnamCards gives out his early 2026 Basketball Card Awards, comparing current hobby trends and modern basketball cards to players across the NBA. Topics include 2025–26 Topps basketball releases, Topps Chrome Gold Refractors, Topps Finest Aura inserts, Topps 3 Basketball, Panini Downtown inserts, and patch autograph cards of Stephen Curry. Chapters
Social links Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoopscollectors/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hoopscollectors Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hoopscollectors Twitter/X: https://x.com/hoopscollectors | |||
| The Golden Age of Panini Basketball Cards: 2012 Prizm, 2013 Kaboom, Flawless & More | 04 Mar 2026 | 00:42:26 | |
Max @PutnamCards breaks down the 2012-13 and 2013-14 Panini NBA releases including 2012 Prizm, 2013 Kaboom inserts, Flawless, Immaculate, and Select. Featuring cards of LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant, Max analyzes why this era shaped the modern basketball card market — plus a quick detour into Kevin O'Leary’s walk down the red carpet. Chapters
Social links Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoopscollectors/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hoopscollectors Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hoopscollectors Twitter/X: https://x.com/hoopscollectors | |||
| Are Early Panini Basketball Cards Undervalued? Analyzing the Pre-Prizm Era (2009–2012) | 25 Feb 2026 | 00:45:52 | |
Max (@PutnamCards) breaks down early pre-Prizm Panini basketball cards (2009–2012) to uncover what’s truly valuable and potentially underrated. He also discusses recent Victor Wembanyama and Josh Rosen Green Kaboom 1/1 sales, and explores the growing intrigue around TAG Grading and its role in the future of card grading. Chapters
Social links Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoopscollectors/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hoopscollectors Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hoopscollectors Twitter/X: https://x.com/hoopscollectors | |||
| $16.5M Pokémon Sale Bullish for Sports Cards + 2025 Topps Chrome Basketball w/ @Summertime1of1 | 18 Feb 2026 | 01:07:03 | |
Max (@PutnamCards) and Anthony Summerlin (@Summertime1of1) break down the impact of the $16.5M Pokémon Pikachu Illustrator PSA 10 sale on the sports card and basketball card market. They compare trading cards to fine art investments, explore 1/1 collecting, and analyze early basketball releases from Fanatics—including 2025 Topps and Topps Chrome—highlighting key inserts, chase cards, and long-term outlook. | |||
| Top 5 Current Basketball Card Market Observations + Introduction | 11 Feb 2026 | 00:39:21 | |
Max (@PutnamCards) introduces the Hoops Collectors podcast and discusses his top 5 current observations of the basketball card market. Chapters
Subscribe to the podcast and leave a review if you enjoyed listening. Thanks for tuning in! | |||
| Hoops Collectors: Trailer | 05 Feb 2026 | 00:01:43 | |
Welcome to Hoops Collectors! I'm Max (@PutnamCards) and I'm excited to introduce this new sports card podcast. You can follow along on all platforms @hoopscollectors as I, along with some special guests, dive into the basketball card market on a weekly basis. Hope you enjoy and find value in it. Thanks for tuning in, I greatly appreciate it. | |||