2025-26 Topps Basketball Behind the Design

The Art of 2025-26 Topps Basketball

For longtime collectors, the phrase “Topps Basketball” stirs up memories of classic designs, iconic players, and the golden age of The Hobby. Topps is stepping back onto the court, and fans are ready.

Behind that comeback is Art Director Tess Wieloszynski, whose team carried both the excitement and pressure of reintroducing one of the most beloved brands in trading cards. “We knew it was a big task,” she said, “but I don’t think we fully realized the true magnitude.”

2025–26 Topps Basketball reimagines the classic brand with 1980–81 inspiration, modern layouts, and dynamic rookie imagery. Collectors can chase revived inserts and parallels celebrating the blend of nostalgia and innovation.

“No matter how big or small, we give each product the same level of precision and care,” Wieloszynski said. “We keep our nose to the grindstone, and with each design, we ask ourselves, ‘Will this connect with the fan? How will they feel when they pull this card?’”

The return of Topps Basketball was a moment to honor the culture and history of both the sport and the collectors who helped shape it.

“For Topps Basketball, that meant paying attention to every detail, honoring the history of both the sport and collecting, and remembering that design is not an ego-driven practice,” Wieloszynski said. “Ultimately, this moment isn’t just about putting out a product. It’s about giving basketball fans an experience that feels worthy of the Game itself.”

Balancing History and Modern Energy

Reintroducing Topps Basketball meant bridging two eras — one rooted in nostalgia, the other driven by the pace and passion of modern collecting.

“It certainly feels like a weight of responsibility,” Wieloszynski admitted. “I consider us lucky to work with people who have lived and breathed this industry for so long.” That wealth of experience became a creative compass.

“I’d find a card from the archives that intrigued me, and I can jump in Slack and ping the designer who worked on it,” Wieloszynski said. “I can borrow the wisdom of others around me, which makes these products with rich history feel less daunting.”

Today’s collector experience, though, is unlike anything from Topps’ earlier basketball days. “One of my biggest teachers is to jump into live card breaks and just hang out,” Wieloszynski explained. “What cards are people commenting on? What teams sell out first? What pull does the breaker choose to repost to their story? All of this is important data that helps us connect with the community.”

In the end, finding that balance between old and new came naturally once the team began truly listening. “Balancing Topps’ history with the modern collector’s expectations became less of a puzzle the more I sat back, listened, and kept those voices in mind as we designed,” Wieloszynski said.

Bringing Topps Basketball’s Inserts and Parallels to Life

When asked about her favorite insert to design, Wieloszynski quipped, “Now, I don’t think it’s polite to ask a parent who their favorite child is. Jokes aside, there were so many that stood out. There were some ‘labors of love,’ for sure, and those ones always end up being memorable.”

Among them are revivals of beloved Topps inserts, such as Generation Now and Own the Game. “Those are always a challenge, as we need to connect with an experience that collectors treasure, while still pushing the insert forward and making it unique,” she said. “Then there are some that are completely bespoke, like Comic Court and Limited Stock Legends. I can see these becoming coveted items, as they truly stand out in a crowd.”

Wieloszynski’s design philosophy also extends to how parallels enhance the collector experience.

“I love when subsets and parallels jump out from a set,” she said. “When I’m watching a break, I look forward to those moments when the breaker is shuffling through base cards, and then an insert stops them in their tracks. Even better when they pause, put the rest of the cards down, and bring the card closer to the camera so the audience can get a better view. That’s the moment we strived for.”

Nods to the Past, Designs for the Future

Wieloszynski and her team also drew direct inspiration from classic Topps Basketball designs. “Most obviously, the 1980-81 cards have returned,” she said. “The triple autograph was a cool challenge to adapt from a non-autograph card. I have an affinity for that era of card design, and it’s about time that particular card has an autograph variation.”

One revived insert, Clutch City Prospects, sparked creative debate in the studio. “It was a puzzle to unlock,” Wieloszynski said with a smile. “I can’t tell you how many meetings I was in where we asked, ‘What and where is Clutch City?’ For that one, we kept the original architecture of the card and gave it more details and a little more attitude.”

The timing couldn’t have been better — a new era of Topps Basketball coinciding with a standout rookie class. “The rookies had their own photoshoot this year, and many subsets will feature that unique photography,” Wieloszynski said.

For her, it’s about freezing a moment in time. “The stats on the card back, the design trend of the time, the excitement in the rookie’s eyes — it all creates a tiny time capsule,” Wieloszynski explained. “We wanted our designs to be timeless, while still honoring that unique time in the rookie’s life.”

A Foundation for What’s Next

As for what she hopes fans take away from the product, Wieloszynski’s answer is simple: joy. “To be honest, I just hope the collectors have fun while opening it,” she said. “There’s a lot of hard work that goes into making a product, and at the end of a hard day, it helps to remember that these products should be fun.”

She closed with a note of gratitude and vision: “Our team put a lot of care into every design choice, not just to make something that looks great, but to make something that feels connected to the fans who love the game as much as we do. I can’t end this interview without giving a huge thank you to everyone who worked on this product, as it truly took a village.”

And while this release marks a long-awaited return, Wieloszynski views it as the start of something bigger. “I see the design foundation as something that will keep evolving alongside the collectors themselves,” she said.

“We want to grow with the sport, to reflect the energy and creativity of both the players and the collectors. My hope is that each year we continue to evolve the brand but never leave the fans behind. It should feel familiar but new — something fans can recognize as Topps Basketball, yet still be surprised by.”

2025-26 Topps Basketball Behind the Design FAQs

• What’s the design theme of 2025–26 Topps Basketball?
  • The set embraces a heritage-meets-modern approach: classic Topps Basketball cues (including 1980/81 inspiration) brought forward with bold photography, textures, and parallels that play well in breaks and social reveals.
• Which inserts return in 2025-26 Topps Basketball?
  • Revived concepts such as Generation Now, Own the Game, and Clutch City Prospects return with updated architecture and more attitude, built to connect with today’s collectors.
• Does 2025-26 Topps Basketball feature rookie content?
  • A standout rookie class meets layouts that act like time capsules, tying early-career energy to period-true design choices for memorable first-year cards.
• How does the 2025-26 Topps Basketball set honor collectors?
  • By listening, the team blended archive research with community insights to craft cards that feel connected to Hobby history and modern expectations.
• Will this foundation of Topps Basketball evolve?
  • Yes. The relaunch is a base for future creativity — recognizable as Topps Basketball, but flexible enough to surprise collectors each season.

Key Facts

• Product: 2025–26 Topps Basketball marks the official return of the Topps Basketball line, blending heritage with modern Hobby energy
• Design Lead: Directed by Tess Wieloszynski and inspired by 1980/81 Topps aesthetics, reimagined with bold, photo-forward layouts
• Returning Inserts: Features updated takes on Generation Now, Own the Game, and Clutch City Prospects
• Rookie Focus: Highlights 2025 draft talent through dynamic photography that captures each player’s first-year story

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