Ryan Barone (@ballcardgenius, Card Expert) is a lifelong member of the hobby. He has been quoted in PSA Magazine, and his content has regularly been mentioned in “Quick Rips” (the Topps RIPPED Newsletter) and across other hobby publications. hello@ballcardgenius.com; Last Time Ago LLC dba Ballcard Genius.
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I know, I know—the word “rare” just doesn’t mean much these days. Not to mention that with most everything having a serial number, it’s pretty easy to determine what is rare (1/1, /10, etc.) versus what is more common (/499).
That said, there are some hard to find unnumbered Panini nuggets that you’d be lucky to pull. Not to mention that while it might be an extremely rare card on its own, it could also be a pretty rare card in an exceptional condition and thus rare high grade.
How am I defining rare? SSPs sold in the last 365 days, and over $50 (just to weed out any common card that someone might be buying in order to complete a set or something). I’m also not including any 1/1s or anything at all numbered because, per the note above, the 1/1 gives away its rareness, and if one is out there being sold, that means the chance of you stumbling upon it is close to nonexistent.
Spectra Color Blast
Color Blast cards from Spectra – as the name would describe – provide a blast or explosion of color that truly pops against the white or black minimalistic backgrounds. They are the prime example that a card can be shiny and colorful without giving you a headache.
Here are some example sales values:
- Anthony Edwards 2020 Spectra #23 Color Blast (SSP) Raw, $2565
- Cade Cunningham 2021 Spectra #25 Color Blast (SSP) Raw, $2325
- Tyrese Maxey 2020 Spectra #17 Color Blast (SSP) Raw, $2000
- Zion Williamson 2019 Spectra #3 Color Blast (SSP) Raw, $1725
- Tyrese Haliburton 2020 Spectra #25 Color Blast (SSP) Raw, $1325
- Jabari Smith Jr. 2022 Spectra #23 Color Blast (SSP) Raw, $1175
- Jonathan Kuminga 2021 Spectra #23 Color Blast (SSP) Raw, $1140
- Franz Wagner 2021 Spectra #18 Color Blast (SSP) Raw, $610
- Cade Cunningham 2021 Prizm Draft Picks #1 Color Blast (SSP) Raw, $480
- Jaden Ivey 2022 Prizm Draft Picks #CB-JI Color Blast (SSP) Raw, $449
Prizm Choice Tiger Stripe
Don’t worry, we will have a whole zoo by the end of this write up, but for now, look at the Tiger Stripe variations as one of the originals, and thus highly coveted among collectors.
- Victor Wembanyama 2023 Prizm Draft Picks #2 Variation – Choice Tiger Stripe (SSP) Raw, $3150
- Anthony Edwards 2020 Prizm #258 Choice Tiger Stripe (SSP) Raw, $2017
- Lebron James 2023 Prizm #1 Choice Tiger Stripe (SSP) Raw, $2000
- Victor Wembanyama 2023 Prizm Draft Picks #2 Choice Tiger Stripe (SSP) Raw, $1825
- Paolo Banchero 2022 Prizm #249 Choice Tiger Stripe (SSP) Raw, $1526
- Austin Reaves 2021 Prizm #165 Choice Tiger Stripe (SSP) Raw, $950
- Jordan Poole 2019 Prizm #272 Choice Tiger Stripe (SSP) Raw, $669
- Jonathan Kuminga 2021 Prizm #307 Choice Tiger Stripe (SSP) Raw, $609
- Tre Mann 2021 Prizm #274 Choice Tiger Stripe (SSP) Raw, $355
- Christian Braun 2022 Prizm #223 Choice Tiger Stripe (SSP) Raw, $352
- Jaylen Nowell 2019 Prizm #281 Choice Tiger Stripe (SSP) Raw, $287
Prizm White Sparkle
This one is tough because as much as I like the look, I don’t like the distribution. Where most of the other cards on this list can be obtained in hobby and even retail boxes, Prizm White Sparkles only come from separate White Sparkle packs, which can be difficult (and expensive to obtain).
- Victor Wembanyama 2023 Prizm Draft Picks #2 White Sparkle (SSP) Raw, $2247
- Jayson Tatum 2017 Prizm #16 White Sparkle (SSP) Raw, $1600
- Karl-Anthony Towns 2015 Prizm #328 White Sparkle (SSP) Raw, $999
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 2018 Prizm #184 White Sparkle (SSP) Raw, $839.99
- Cade Cunningham 2021 Optic #161 White Sparkle (SSP) Raw, $826
- Trae Young 2018 Prizm #78 White Sparkle (SSP) Raw, $810
- Paolo Banchero 2022 Prizm #249 White Sparkle (SSP) Raw, $735
- Josh Giddey 2021 Prizm #301 White Sparkle (SSP) Raw, $570
- Darius Garland 2019 Prizm #288 White Sparkle (SSP) Raw, $550
- Chet Holmgren 2022 Optic #208 White Sparkle (SSP) Raw, $525
Select Zebra
While many would argue Zebras fall prey to Tigers in the food chain (and Select to Prizm for that matter), I actually prefer the black and white striped look of Zebra variations compared to the sometimes too-dark and “clashy” Tiger.
- Jalen Green 2021 Select #234 Courtside Zebra (SSP) Raw, $1900
- Paolo Banchero 2022 Select #72 Concourse Zebra (SSP) Raw, $1105
- Shaedon Sharpe 2022 Select #292 Courtside Zebra (SSP) Raw, $1105
- Paolo Banchero 2022 Select #169 Premier Level Zebra (SSP) Raw, $1038
- Chet Holmgren 2022 Select #83 Concourse Zebra (SSP) Raw, $865
- Jabari Smith Jr. 2022 Select #291 Courtside Zebra (SSP) Raw, $817
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 2018 Select #104 Premier Level Zebra (SSP) Raw, $800
- Jaden Ivey 2022 Select #298 Courtside Zebra (SSP) Raw, $760
- Jeremy Sochan 2022 Select #290 Courtside Zebra (SSP) Raw, $665
- Evan Mobley 2021 Select #272 Courtside Zebra (SSP) Raw, $650
Downtown
While it’s Optic and Donruss in football, Panini One and One is home of the Downtown in basketball. Sure, not as iconic, rare, and sought after as Kaboom! inserts, but Downtown has carved out its own piece of the hobby.
- Zion Williamson 2019 One and One #6 Downtown (SSP) Raw, $2650
- LaMelo Ball 2020 One and One #4 Downtown (SSP) Raw, $2500
- Chet Holmgren 2022 One and One #20 Downtown (SSP) Raw, $2,011.63
- Paolo Banchero 2022 One and One #19 Downtown (SSP) Raw, $1,847.88
- Anthony Edwards 2020 One and One #5 Downtown (SSP) Raw, $1,715.00
- Ja Morant 2019 One and One #16 Downtown (SSP) Raw, $1,691.67
- Jayson Tatum 2017 Cornerstones #DT11 Downtown (SSP) Raw, $1,665.00
- Tyrese Haliburton 2020 One and One #17 Downtown (SSP) Raw, $1,433.33
- Jalen Green 2021 One and One #17 Downtown (SSP) Raw, $1,396.07
- Cade Cunningham 2021 One and One #16 Downtown (SSP) Raw, $1,118.86
Donruss Night Moves
With a burst of color reminiscent of the Color Blasts we talked about at the beginning, Donruss Night Moves might be equally as stunning. That said, as you’ll see up and down the list, many of these can easily be confused for each other.
- Victor Wembanyama 2023 Donruss #23 Night Moves (SSP) Raw, $1200
- Amen Thompson 2023 Donruss #25 Night Moves (SSP) Raw, $250
- Dereck Lively II 2023 Donruss #22 Night Moves (SSP) Raw, $88.77
- Bilal Coulibaly 2023 Donruss #28 Night Moves (SSP) Raw, $85
- Brandon Miller 2023 Donruss #29 Night Moves (SSP) Raw, $80
- Jarace Walker 2023 Donruss #19 Night Moves (SSP) Raw, $58
Mosaic Peacock
Back to the farm, and this time I’m asking WTH? Still, my opinion means nothing when it comes to value, as you can see below.
Mosaic is already flashy and parallel-friendly, so I don’t see the need or the appeal, but again, who am I?
- Paolo Banchero 2022 Mosaic #231 Choice Peacock (SSP) Raw, $958
- Chet Holmgren 2022 Mosaic #236 Choice Peacock (SSP) Raw, $665.75
- Jalen Green 2021 Mosaic #259 National Pride – Choice Peacock (SSP) Raw, $595
- Tyrese Haliburton 2020 Mosaic #264 NBA Debut – Choice Peacock (SSP) Raw, $500
- Josh Giddey 2021 Mosaic #265 NBA Debut – Choice Peacock (SSP) Raw, $455
- Jalen Williams 2022 Mosaic #217 Choice Peacock (SSP) Raw, $353
- Tyrese Maxey 2020 Mosaic #263 NBA Debut – Choice Peacock (SSP) Raw, $270
- Keegan Murray 2022 Mosaic #227 Choice Peacock (SSP) Raw, $250
- Bennedict Mathurin 2022 Mosaic #210 Choice Peacock (SSP) Raw, $233.5
- Walker Kessler 2022 Mosaic #212 Choice Peacock (SSP) Raw, $203.5
Monopoly Money Black
Before even seeing the cards, a lot of these rare Panini card names might leave you scratching your head. This one, though, just smells of value. And while some might see the Monopoly tie-in as the biggest gimmick of them all, at least there was reason for it beyond card collecting (meaning the NBA Monopoly game in itself).
- Paolo Banchero 2022 Prizm Monopoly #M21 Money – Black (SSP) Raw, $850
- Chet Holmgren 2022 Prizm Monopoly #M20 Money – Black (SSP) Raw, $487.50
- Jalen Duren 2022 Prizm Monopoly #M19 Money – Black (SSP) Raw, $301.57
- Jabari Smith Jr. 2022 Prizm Monopoly #M23 Money – Black (SSP) Raw, $272.80
- Keegan Murray 2022 Prizm Monopoly #M22 Money – Black (SSP) Raw, $179.00
Select Elephant
I mean, there are Dragon Scale parallels, so I guess we can’t say Select Elephant cards are the most “out there” of all of the animal print card Panini has rolled out, but still. If anything, maybe lets go with GOAT parallels since the term holds actual meaning in the sports world.
- Jabari Smith Jr. 2022 Select #291 Courtside Elephant (SSP) Raw, $810
- Franz Wagner 2021 Select #282 Courtside Elephant (SSP) Raw, $662.57
- Bennedict Mathurin 2022 Select #279 Courtside Elephant (SSP) Raw, $565
- Paolo Banchero 2022 Select #169 Premier Level Elephant (SSP) Raw, $510
- Cade Cunningham 2021 Select #288 Courtside Elephant (SSP) Raw, $475
- Aleksej Pokusevski 2020 Select #284 Courtside Elephant (SSP) Raw, $400
- Jaden Ivey 2022 Select #178 Premier Level Elephant (SSP) Raw, $374.99
- Keegan Murray 2022 Select #81 Concourse Elephant (SSP) Raw, $289
- Tari Eason 2022 Select #278 Courtside Elephant (SSP) Raw, $261.57
- Jalen Green 2021 Select #7 Concourse Elephant (SSP) Raw, $260
Revolution Galactic
I grew up on 90s inserts, so no amount of shine is going to phase me. My card motto is “bring on the lasers.”
But seriously, these are some of the busier cards on the list, but looking at the values, it doesn’t seem like many people are phased by the busyness.
- Shaedon Sharpe 2022 Revolution #127 Galactic (SSP) Raw, $710
- Keegan Murray 2022 Revolution #138 Galactic (SSP) Raw, $320
- Darius Garland 2019 Revolution #150 Galactic (SSP) Raw, $200
- Ben Simmons 2016 Revolution #143 Galactic (SSP) Raw, $197.5
- Anthony Edwards 2020 Revolution #125 Galactic (SSP) Raw, $152.5
- Tyrese Haliburton 2020 Revolution #116 Galactic (SSP) Raw, $150
- Cam Thomas 2021 Revolution #109 Galactic (SSP) Raw, $121
- Andrew Nembhard 2022 Revolution #116 Galactic (SSP) Raw, $75
- Jalen Duren 2022 Revolution #150 Galactic (SSP) Raw, $56
- Bones Hyland 2021 Revolution #118 Galactic (SSP) Raw, $53
Court Kings Blank Slate
It’s no accident I put these right after the Galactics mentioned above. While Galactics are as busy as can be, these “Blank Slates” from Court Kings might be the polar opposite. Just goes to show that “Different strokes for different folks.”
- Lebron James 2020 Court Kings #6 Blank Slate (SSP) Raw, $1.88K
- Franz Wagner 2021 Court Kings #24 Blank Slate (SSP) Raw, $618
- Coby White 2019 Court Kings #11 Blank Slate (SSP) Raw, $300.78
- Darius Garland 2019 Court Kings #21 Blank Slate (SSP) Raw, $250
- Jaxson Hayes 2019 Court Kings #31 Blank Slate (SSP) Raw, $221.11
- Rui Hachimura 2019 Court Kings #3 Blank Slate (SSP) Raw, $150.91
- Sekou Doumbouya 2019 Court Kings #26 Blank Slate (SSP) Raw, $51
Mosaic Glitter
Maybe I just don’t like Mosaic, but maybe Mosaic just doesn’t offer much considering many similar parallels can be found in Select and Prizm, and they look a lot better.
So, with that said, here are some Glitter parallels. They are rare and thus valuable, but they don’t come close to being “art” in my opinion.
- Jaden Ivey 2022 Mosaic #216 Glitter (SSP) Raw, $543.36
- Paolo Banchero 2022 Mosaic #231 Glitter (SSP) Raw, $472
- Bennedict Mathurin 2022 Mosaic #210 Glitter (SSP) Raw, $81.58
Court Kings Aurora
As you can see below, the most recent Aurora renditions are a lot more true to the name (Aurora Borealis) with the earlier 2015, 2016, and 2017 versions again, just being colorful and similar to Color Blasts.
Speaking of some of these blending in with each other, these are giving Night Moves vibes to me.
- Kobe Bryan 2017 Court Kings #12 Aurora (SSP) Raw, $442
- Lebron James 2015 Court Kings #16 Aurora (SSP) Raw, $439
- Jayson Tatum 2017 Court Kings #19 Aurora (SSP) Raw, $395
- Stephen Curry 2017 Court Kings #10 Aurora (SSP) Raw, $336
- De’Aaron Fox 2017 Court Kings #16 Aurora (SSP) Raw, $114.5
- Deandre Ayton 2018 Court Kings #21 Aurora (SSP) Raw, $68.97
Spectra Solar Eclipse
We started with Spectra, and we are ending with Spectra. While not nearly as artistic as the Color Blasts, the Solar Eclipse SSPs still have their own place.
- Stephen Curry 2022 Spectra #10 Solar Eclipse (SSP) Raw $1,3900
- Lebron James 2022 Spectra #16 Solar Eclipse (SSP) Raw $1130
- Chet Holmgren 2022 Spectra #2 Solar Eclipse (SSP) Raw, $670
- Shaedon Sharpe 2022 Spectra #7 Solar Eclipse (SSP) Raw, $525
- Cade Cunningham 2021 Spectra #5 Solar Eclipse (SSP) Raw, $255
- Evan Mobley 2021 Spectra #8 Solar Eclipse (SSP) Raw, $242.5
