NEW YORK — Fanatics Collectibles, the National Basketball Association (NBA), and National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) today announced Topps’ return as the NBA and NBPA’s official exclusive trading card licensee. Topps, a worldwide leader in trading cards, is bringing fully licensed NBA and NBPA cards into its portfolio for the first time since the 2009-10 season with the launch of 2025-26 Topps Basketball, which will be released on Oct. 23 at Topps.com, hobby shops and major retailers worldwide.
The 2025-26 Topps Basketball collection will feature players from all 30 NBA teams, in addition to select NBA legends. The set will include Fanatics Collectibles exclusive athletes such as LeBron James, Victor Wembanyama, Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper. Legends featured in the product include Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Dwyane Wade and more. Through the collaboration, Fanatics Collectibles, which has direct partnerships with more than 300 current NBA players and legends, will deliver engaging experiences to fans throughout the NBA calendar.
“At Fanatics Collectibles, everything we do is driven by our passion for the hobby via an unwavering commitment to enhancing the collector experience and today is a monumental moment for our company as we launch our new license with the NBA and NBPA,” said Fanatics Collectibles CEO Mike Mahan. “Beginning with the 1-of-1 Topps Rookie Debut Patch Autograph cards and limited-edition Gold NBA Logoman Patch cards, we are constantly iterating on innovative and interactive ways with which we can deliver new and unique card formats. These then become collectibles to chase, cherish, and provide the current generation of fans and collectors with excitement, and will also propel a new generation of fans by providing more tangible ways for them to feel closer to their favorite NBA stars than ever before.”
“The NBA’s partnership with Fanatics Collectibles and the return of Topps to the NBA trading card space reflects an evolution in how we engage fans and approach the collectibles market,” said Matt Holt, Executive Vice President, Head of Merchandising Partnerships, NBA. “These cards connect physical memorabilia with storytelling and underscore our commitment to delivering immersive and meaningful experiences for fans and collectors alike.”
“The NBPA’s partnership with Fanatics Collectibles brings to life the collective influence of our players,” said Josh Goodstadt, Chief Commercial Officer at THINK450, the licensing, partnership, and innovation arm of the NBPA. “Topps has such a rich history in sports memorabilia and speaks to some of the most engaged fans who feel connected to players through trading cards.”
The partnership will include the launch of Topps’ Rookie Debut Patch and Gold NBA Logoman Patch when the regular season tips off on Oct. 21. The Topps Rookie Debut Patch is a one-of-a-kind patch affixed to a player’s jersey during their debut game. The patch will be later removed, authenticated, and, once signed by the applicable player, inserted into a 1/1 Topps Rookie Debut Patch Autograph card to be included in a future Topps product.
Throughout the 2025-26 NBA regular season, the jerseys of the 2024-25 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player, Kia Rookie of the Year and Kia Defensive Player of the Year will feature the Gold NBA Logoman Patch on the back. The patches will later be inserted into trading cards and this program will continue for future seasons.
Beginning Oct. 23, Topps and the NBA will host a series of fan celebrations at NBA stores across the globe to tip off the NBA season and Topps’ return to licensed basketball. Events in New York, Los Angeles, Paris, and the Fanatics Collectibles store in London will feature giveaways and more surprises for basketball fans.
On Nov. 5, Topps Digital, the digital home for trading cards, is releasing NBA Collect by Topps® (https://play.toppsapps.com/app/nba), the official digital trading card app of the NBA and NBPA, available worldwide in the App Store and Google Play Store. NBA Collect brings Topps NBA trading card collections to life with interactive features that connect cards to the action on the court.
