Discussing 2025-26 Topps Chrome Basketball
With the upcoming release of 2025-26 Topps Chrome Basketball, RIPPED chatted with some NBA collectors about the new checklist, the history of the brand, and the beauty of chasing Chrome.
For longtime collectors, it’s a new beginning. For newcomers, it’s the great moment to jump into the Hoops Hobby.
RIPPED: Why do you collect Topps Chrome Basketball?
Jon, a.k.a. Basketball Card Guy (IG: @basketballcardguy): I’m always after autographs, but what sets Chrome apart are the Refractors and parallels. It’s a premium product that does parallels extremely well. So many levels to collect on with this.
Conor McGrath, collector and writer at Collecting on SI : Mostly for the nostalgia and the familiarity of Topps Chrome, plus I have my eye on a few rookies and legends in this years release.
Rich Zubek, collector (IG @zwittlebug_cards): It’s the OG, nothing else really compared to it. Everything from the photography, card design, card stock, they’re all better than anything else that was out in the market at the time. And really, we can’t talk about Topps Chrome without talking about the Refractors. I mean the way the colors dance off those cards, it’s just a thing of beauty.
RIPPED: When did you start collecting Topps Chrome Basketball?
BCG: The very first set in 1996. I collected the whole set, including the Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson rookies. It’s funny, when I think back to when these cards were introduced in retail, I remember there being a lot of pushback from collectors since this notion of a premium version of the product was new. A lot of people didn’t buy them at first, and that lack of buying led to scarcity.
Conor: Right when it came out. I loved the first release of Topps Chrome, and it corresponded with one of the strongest and coolest rookie classes of all time.
Rich: When I moved to Chicago to go to college in the late ‘90s and MJ was in the middle of his comeback. You just couldn’t help but get caught up in that excitement, and I found a hobby shop and started buying packs.
RIPPED: Why does Topps Chrome Basketball matter to collectors?
BCG: A lot of collectors that got back into The Hobby have fond memories of Topps Chrome dating back to the ’90s when it started. Some of the most valuable rookies of stars like LeBron and Steph came out of the Chrome product. Many are still on the hunt for low-numbered Refractors and 1-of-1’s, as some still haven’t surfaced.
Conor: It’s likely one of the first sets a whole generation of basketball card collectors were exposed to. The Topps Chrome ’96 set is one of the most iconic in basketball card collecting, especially that Kobe Refractor rookie card.
Rich: Topps Chrome Basketball set the modern standard for what a premium card should look and feel like. I would go so far as to say every modern card that has some sort of shiny plated or chromium finish to it was born out of Topps Chrome.
RIPPED: What are your favorite Topps Chrome Basketball cards?
BCG: I love the Refractor autographs. There is something about the mix of a nice blue marker and the refractor sheen of a Chrome card that I just love. I loved the 2003 Chromographs design, I have a Shaq numbered to /25 from that set that is just awesome.
Conor: I’m a millennial, so Topps Chrome has many great cards of legends from my youth. The big four rookies from the debut set: Kobe, Ray Allen, Nash, and Iverson. Then the following year you’ve got Duncan, and the year after that you’ve got three more of my favorites: Dirk, Pierce, and Vince Carter.
RIPPED: What is your favorite Topps Chrome Basketball set?
Rich: 2008 Topps Chrome. That card design with the team name in alternating team colors and just great photography capturing the movement of the game is definitely my favorite.
BCG: I’m always big on design and photography, so 2008 would be my fave. The set was filled with incredible photographs.
Conor: It kills me a bit to say the first one – 1996 – because as a Celtic fan I want to highlight Paul Pierce and the ’98 set. But you just can’t beat the OG set for so many reasons. That rookie class was amazing, the design was stunning, you’ve got Jordan as a Bull in his prime.
RIPPED: What should collectors be chasing in 2025-26 Topps Chrome Basketball
Conor: Refractors and autos of their favorite players. I also like the look of the SSP Helix and Fanatical inserts. It’s cool to see the throwback to Rock Stars with a new look but keeping the die-cut element at the top.
Rich: I think in 30 years, this set will have the same appeal as the original 1996 set does today. How often do you hear someone say, “If I only knew what I know now 30 years ago, I would’ve collected all of those cards?” I think that is exactly the situation that we are in with Topps Chrome Basketball in 2025.
BCG: Color matching Refractors and anything that resonates with you. I have also been a fan of the Refractors that match the color of the player’s jersey. They enhance the look and feel, so they are the one’s I have always gone after.
RIPPED: What rookies will you be chasing in 2025-26 Topps Chrome Basketball?
Conor: The more I watch Kon Kneuppel and the more I hear about him as a person the more I like him, so he’s my top at the moment.
Rich: I think this entire rookie class is highly collectible, and I’ll likely try to build out complete rookie sets of the different inserts. Specifically, though, I’m hoping to find a few low-numbered Refractor parallels of VJ Edgecombe and Dylan Harper, as I think those two have the potential to do some really great things.
RIPPED: Are there any rookies beyond the likes of Flagg, Harper, Bailey, and Knueppel that you have your eye on?
Conor: Ryan Kalkbrenner is on my list of players to watch. He’s not putting up crazy offensive numbers other than shooting percentage, but he’s looking solid.
BCG: I have my eye on Cedric Coward and VJ Edgecombe. The teams doing the best tend to drown out the attention from the others, but that can all change quick, and both of those guys are making noticeable strides as rookies.
Rich: Cedric Coward in my opinion has shown incredible talent early on in the season, and in my opinion deserves to be in the ROTY discussion.
RIPPED: Are there any inserts in this year’s checklist that you have your eye on?
Rich: From a nostalgia and realistic standpoint, I’m excited to chase the Rock Stars inserts, but in the once in a billion miracle, how cool would it be to pull a Gold Logoman Relic or Relic Auto? That would just be amazing.
BCG: The autographed ones for sure. Future Stars will likely be a go-to for some of the rookie picks, but you also have Stratospheric, SkyWrite, and Signature Style that I’ll be watching out for.
RIPPED: Who are the superstars you’re excited to see in this year’s Chrome Basketball release?
Conor: I have a CP3 Topps Chrome base rookie which is a great looking card, and with this being his last season I’m excited to see his career bookended with Chrome cards. I’m also super excited for the Bird and Magic cards, Jokic, Tatum, Cade, Donovan Mitchell, and Jalen Brunson. And, I’m happy to see Dwyane Wade and Vince Carter. Lots of great players to be hyped about.
Rich: Steph Curry and Wemby. This is effectively their first licensed Topps product with autographed cards, and I think these cards will be remembered differently because of that distinction.
RIPPED: Are there any design elements in particular that excite you when it comes to Topps Chrome Basketball, or specifically in 2025-26 Topps Chrome Basketball?
Conor: The throwback to Rock Stars. I’d love to see some more throwbacks like that because it makes the old stuff exciting again and gives designers new ways to imagine past designs.
BCG: I just love the variety of Refractor designs. The geometric, X-Fractors, waves, and the negatives are all really cool to discover as you open a pack. You know you’ve got something when you see that special effect peaking out as you fan through the cards.
RIPPED: What advice would you give to a new collector looking to start collecting Topps Chrome Basketball, as well as 2025-26 Topps Chrome Basketball?
Conor: Stick to players or inserts you like and try not to get too wrapped up in the current interest. For Chrome’s newest release I’d also say to focus on the Refractors and know the difference between them. There are a ton of Refractors in modern cards including Topps Chrome, so if you rip packs too quickly you may overlook a great card. Take your time.
BCG: Go after what you want to collect. Get the players that resonate with you, in the colors and parallels that you think look good. As a collector, I buy cards I want to own, and over time interest can change dramatically, but your feelings about the aesthetics of the card won’t. Go after the players you love, in the card designs that you’d be proud to display!
Rich: Do whatever brings you joy, but stay within your budget. If you love ripping packs for the excitement of the chase just remember that there are hits in all of the different products.
2025-26 Topps Chrome Basketball Collector FAQs
- What is 2025-26 Topps Chrome Basketball?
- 2025-26 Topps Chrome Basketball is a premium NBA release that highlights stars, legends, and a strong rookie class with Chrome technology, Refractor parallels, and autograph content that appeal to both longtime and new collectors.
- Why does Topps Chrome Basketball matter to collectors?
- Topps Chrome Basketball has deep roots in The Hobby, dating back to the iconic 1996 debut set that featured stars like Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson. Many modern collectors grew up on those cards, and the brand helped set the standard for what a premium basketball card should look and feel like.
- Which rookies are collectors watching in 2025-26 Topps Chrome Basketball?
- Rookies drawing attention in 2025-26 Topps Chrome Basketball include Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, Ace Bailey, Kon Knueppel, VJ Edgecombe, Cedric Coward, and Ryan Kalkbrenner, among others in a deep, highly collectible class.
- What advice do experienced collectors have for someone new to Topps Chrome Basketball?
- Veteran collectors suggest chasing players and designs you genuinely like, learning the different Refractor types, taking time when you rip so you don’t miss key parallels, and keeping the chase fun.
Key Facts
- 2025-26 Topps Chrome Basketball brings back the iconic Topps Chrome Basketball brand
- Rich history, led by 1996 debut set and its legendary rookies
- 2025-26 release spotlights a strong rookie class including Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, Ace Bailey, Kon Knueppel, VJ Edgecombe, Cedric Coward, and Ryan Kalkbrenner.
- Key Chase Elements: Refractors, autographs, SSP Helix, Rock Stars, and other premium inserts
