A New Class, a Retro Look: 2026-27 Topps Flagship Basketball Hits Thursday, November 5

Available Thursday, November 5 at Sports Card Heroes | Laurel, MD

The new NBA season starts here. 2026-27 Topps Flagship Basketball releases this Thursday, November 5, with a 300-card base set, a rookie class collectors are very excited about, and a throwback 1981-82 Topps design. It’s the second Flagship basketball release since Topps got the NBA license back, and it’s a loaded release.

What Is Flagship Basketball?

Topps’ base-brand basketball set has 300 cards, including 40 rookies. Parallels include Orange /25, Black /10, Red /5, and the 1/1 FoilFractor, and Clear, Number, Team, and Wood Variations add more to hunt. The first pack-pulled team variations, such as LeBron in a Sixers uniform and Giannis in a Heat uniform, have already caused a stir.

The Rookie Class

AJ Dybantsa is the cover athlete and the headline rookie, following Cooper Flagg as the previous year’s cover star. His first official rookie cards are a huge chase. Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, Caleb Wilson, Keaton Wagler, Nate Ament, Hannes Steinbach, and Mikel Brown Jr. (who also has a retro auto) round out the headliners. Rookie Pathway Autographs also give you early-career signatures.

Autos, Relics, and Chase Cards

Flagship Real One Autographs and Real One Relics are the core hits. 1981-82 Topps Autographs bring the retro look to rookies and veterans. Relics include Own the Game and Roundball Remnants. Bounce leads the super short print lineup, and Topps has announced the first-ever Gold 1/1 All Kings cards in Topps Basketball, which is a huge chase.

Box Formats

Hobby boxes have 20 packs of 12 cards and about one auto or relic per box. Jumbo boxes have 10 packs of 28 cards, with one auto and one relic. Mega boxes are also available for casual collectors.

Why This Release Matters

This is the start of the 2026-27 NBA collecting year, and Dybantsa and Peterson are going to be among the most watched rookies in the sport. The retro design, strong sealed demand, and a first-year Gold 1/1 All Kings chase add up to a must-rip product. Rip season for hoops starts now.

Stop by Sports Card Heroes in Laurel or shop online before this release is gone!

Sports Card Heroes
663 Main St
Laurel, MD 20707
(301) 317-8517

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