Chasing 2025-26 Topps Chrome® Basketball with a Diehard Chrome Collector

Eric Snyder Talks Chrome® Basketball and Rips Packs

Basketball collector Eric Snyder (IG: @203cardstack) has been a fan of Topps Chrome® Basketball for as long as it’s been around. Diving into The Hobby from a young age, he’s collected Chrome cards stretching back to the debut set in 1996.

Topps RIPPED spoke with Snyder in the run-up to the highly anticipated release of 2025-26 Topps Chrome® Basketball. After he started to ripping new packs, we caught up with the collector to get his thoughts on all things Chrome and the latest installment for 2025-26.

RIPPED: How did you get into The Hobby?

Snyder: I started collecting when I was young. But, you know, at first, you don’t really know what’s going on. You’re just kind of doing it for the fun. But I really dove in during high school. I was working at a job in the mall, my first job ever. And there was a card shop owned by this guy Lenny. I actually got in touch with him through Facebook recently.

On our lunch breaks and after we finished our shifts, me and my friend would go over there — he’d keep the gate open — and we’d just go in and rip packs. This was around LeBron’s rookie year.

When did you start collecting Topps Chrome Basketball?

I got into Topps Chrome when the original releases were still shaping The Basketball Hobby. Those early memories of opening packs and hoping for that one special card stayed with me. 

Why does Topps Chrome Basketball matter to you?

Topps Chrome represents a bridge between eras. The older sets are iconic and the new ones carry that same DNA for a new generation. But it goes deeper. I am a diehard Kobe collector, and Chrome debuted the same year as his rookie season. That connection shaped my collection from the start.

Jordan and Kobe both look incredible on Chrome cards, so the product has always felt special. Every time I open Chrome, it brings me right back to why I fell in love with collecting. The silver background is so iconic, and Chrome Refractors are some of the most stunning cards of all time.

What are your favorite Topps Chrome Basketball cards?

The classic Refractors. There’s nothing like tilting a Refractor under the light and seeing it come alive. The Kobe and Jordan Refractors especially still give me that same rush. I also love clean rookie cards where the focus is fully on the player. Those have become staples in my collection.

What is your favorite Topps Chrome Basketball set?

The original run will always hold a special place for me, especially because of Kobe. Those cards shaped how I collect today.

Now that you’ve gotten your hands on the new set, what stood out?

So far I’ve ripped Blasters, Megas, and Hangers. I’m really enjoying the inserts, and love the X-Fractor — always have. The Pulsars are super cool. The colors just pop. You put it under the light and there’s this amazing rainbow. That’s one of the best parts of the release.

The inserts, I love the throwback stuff. Rock Stars has always been huge for me, I love my Jerry Stackhouse Topps Rock Stars, so it was fun to see the new ones in Chrome. I’ve pulled a lot of new inserts too. Activators, Serenity — I really love the Destiny subset.

RIPPED: What are the highlights from what you’ve pulled so far?

Derik Queen was someone I saw as a sleeper rookie in this set. I gravitate toward players I love to watch play, and I love his game. And now look at him! He’s had some huge games and looks like he’s going to be a star.

I pulled a Derik Queen Pulsar that’s one of my favorites from what I’ve ripped. I’m considering sending it into PSA. It just looks spectacular and it would be cool if it gets a PSA 10. Maybe it would be Pop 1 for a week or two! I pulled a case hit as well, a Lamelo Ball Paradox, a great card.

In terms of numbered cards, I got a K.J. Simpson /99. I am just in love with the green Draymond Green /75. The Josh Giddey Yellow Wave Refractor /275 looks great. I also got a few Cooper Flagg base cards.

RIPPED: What is your favorite card that you’ve pulled so far?

The Curry Glass Canvas Case Hit, for sure. The first thing that stands out is the depth. The Glass Canvas design gives the card a layered, almost three-dimensional appearance, as if Curry is suspended behind a pane of polished glass. The surface has a smooth and glossy finish that reflects light cleanly without overpowering the image, giving it a refined presence. 

Curry’s image is crisp and sharp, with incredible clarity. His pose feels dynamic yet composed, which exactly mirrors his playing style. The Glass Canvas effect frames him beautifully, making him the focal point without clutter or distraction. Everything feels intentional.

RIPPED: What are your overall thoughts on the set now that you’ve had a chance to get into it?

Given the moment, this new set, what it means for The Hobby, as well as the rookie class and the design, I think it’s going to have seriously enduring appeal. I’m on social media, and it’s just everywhere. I’ve seen a lot of Chrome across different sports collecting this stuff for so long now, and just the colors, the shine — it’s wild.

This product has been my absolute favorite modern product to open in as long as I can think back.

RIPPED: What advice would you give to new collectors getting into the new set?

Enjoy the chase and collect what you genuinely love. Chrome gives you so many entry points, from rookies to color to inserts, so there is no wrong way to start. Learn the checklist, pick a player or style that speaks to you and build from there. The Hobby becomes a lot more fun when you trust your own taste.

Everyone will have an opinion, but at the end of the day, yours is the one that matters. You want to build a collection that you enjoy. Have fun with it.

RIPPED: Do you think you’ll be grabbing more 2025-26 Topps Chrome Basketball?

100%.

2025-26 Topps Chrome Basketball Collector FAQs

• What is 2025–26 Topps Chrome Basketball?
  • It’s a premium Chromium basketball release built around glossy finishes, colorful parallels, and a deep insert lineup.
• What should collectors chase in 2025–26 Topps Chrome Basketball?
  • Collectors can chase stylish inserts like Youthquake, Destiny, Instinct, and Rock Stars, autos of NBA rookies, stars, and legends, and a wide range of colorful Refractor parallels.
• Are Refractors a big part of Topps Chrome Basketball?
  • Yes — Chrome is known for Refractor-style shine and color that looks especially strong under light.
• Is 2025–26 Topps Chrome Basketball good for new collectors?
  • Yes. There are multiple entry points to collect (rookies, inserts, or specific parallel colors), even without chasing the rarest hits.
• What are parallels in Topps Chrome Basketball?
  • Parallels are alternate versions of base cards with different colors or finishes, often numbered and tougher to pull.

Key Facts

• Premium Chromium stock with high-gloss finish
• Built around parallels, numbered cards, and insert sets
• Strong rookie and star collecting “chase” structure
• Multiple retail formats commonly available
• A Chrome basketball release for modern collectors

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