Topps will return as the exclusive official NBA and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) trading card licensee for the 2025/26 season, releasing its first NBA cards since 2009/10, as announced by Fanatics Collectibles, the NBA and the NBPA.
The cards will be released on October 23 at Topps.com, hobby shops and major retailers worldwide. Fanatics acquired Topps in 2022.
The 2025/26 Topps Basketball collection will feature players from all 30 NBA teams, as well as select NBA legends, including Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal and Dwyane Wade. The set will include Fanatics Collectibles’ exclusive athletes, including LeBron James, Victor Wembanyama, Cooper Flagg, and Dylan Harper. Fanatics Collectibles has direct partnerships with over 300 current NBA players and former players.
“At Fanatics Collectibles, everything we do is driven by our passion for the hobby via an unwavering commitment to enhancing the collector experience and today is a monumental moment for our company as we launch our new license with the NBA and NBPA,” said Fanatics Collectibles CEO Mike Mahan. “Beginning with the 1-of-1 Topps Rookie Debut Patch Autograph cards and limited-edition Gold NBA Logoman Patch cards, we are constantly iterating on innovative and interactive ways with which we can deliver new and unique card formats. These then become collectibles to chase, cherish and provide the current generation of fans and collectors with excitement, and will also propel a new generation of fans by providing more tangible ways for them to feel closer to their favorite NBA stars than ever before.”
“The NBA’s partnership with Fanatics Collectibles and the return of Topps to the NBA trading card space reflect an evolution in how we engage fans and approach the collectibles market,” said Matt Holt, executive vice president, head of merchandising partnerships, NBA. “These cards connect physical memorabilia with storytelling and underscore our commitment to delivering immersive and meaningful experiences for fans and collectors alike.”
“The NBPA’s partnership with Fanatics Collectibles brings to life the collective influence of our players,” said Josh Goodstadt, chief commercial officer at THINK450, the licensing, partnership and innovation arm of the NBPA. “Topps has such a rich history in sports memorabilia and speaks to some of the most engaged fans who feel connected to players through trading cards.”
The partnership will include the launch of Topps’ Rookie Debut Patch and Gold NBA Logoman Patch at the start of the regular season on October 21. The Topps Rookie Debut Patch is a patch affixed to a player’s jersey during their debut game. The patch will be later removed, authenticated, and, once signed by the applicable player, inserted into a 1/1 Topps Rookie Debut Patch Autograph card to be included in a future Topps product.
Throughout the 2025/26 NBA regular season, the jerseys of the 2024/25 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player, Kia Rookie of the Year and Kia Defensive Player of the Year will feature the Gold NBA Logoman Patch on the back. The patches will later be inserted into trading cards, and this program will continue for future seasons.
Beginning October 23, Topps and the NBA will host a series of fan gatherings at NBA stores worldwide to tip off the NBA season and Topps’ return to licensed basketball. Events in New York, Los Angeles, Paris, and the Fanatics Collectibles store in London are included in the lineup.
On November 5, Topps Digital, the home for digital trading cards, is releasing NBA Collect by Topps, the official digital trading card app of the NBA and NBPA. NBA Collect brings Topps NBA trading card collections to life with interactive features that connect cards to the action on the court.
Images courtesy Fanatics Collectibles
