2025-26 Topps Now Basketball marks the first NBA season for Topps Now under Fanatics' new league card license, bringing the familiar print-on-demand format to pro basketball on a near-daily basis. The concept is simple: major moments from the season are turned into online-exclusive cards that are available for only 48 hours, and the final print run is determined by exactly how many collectors place orders during that window.
That approach makes the release feel part trading card product and part real-time season archive. Big debuts, scoring explosions, milestone achievements, playoff pushes and holiday showcases all land in the set as they happen. For collectors, the appeal goes beyond the base cards. Depending on the release, orders can also yield foil parallels, short-printed photo variations, autographs, relics and even autographed relic versions.
The result is one of the most dynamic basketball checklists of the year, with rookies like Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, VJ Edgecombe, Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey sharing the spotlight with established stars such as LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant.
How 2025-26 Topps Now Basketball works
Unlike traditional hobby products with fixed pack configurations, Topps Now releases are sold directly online as individual cards during a short ordering period. Base cards are printed to match demand, so every card has an official print run tied to the number of orders submitted before the listing closes.
That open print-run model has made certain moments stand out in a big way. Some cards remain relatively modest, finishing with print runs in the low hundreds. Others become major season chases when a headline moment, star player or hot rookie pushes demand well into the tens of thousands.
Collectors ordering directly from Topps or Fanatics also have the chance to pull bonus content inserted with their shipment. Not every card offers every possible add-on, but the line can include parallels, image variations, autograph editions and relic cards.
Base parallels, variations and premium chase elements
The standard parallel lineup for 2025-26 Topps Now Basketball includes several familiar foil levels. Cards may include all or part of the following parallel structure:
- Green Foil /99
- Gold Foil /50
- Orange Foil /25
- Black Foil /10
- Red Foil /5
- FoilFractor /1
Some cards also have short-printed image variations. One early example is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's first card in the set, which includes a variation showing his reaction to receiving his championship ring. On the autograph side, Topps has added signed cards, signed relics and select 1/1 inscriptions, giving the product a much stronger chase profile than a simple print-to-order base line might suggest at first glance.
Topps also created special unnumbered Christmas parallels for cards tied to the league's annual Christmas Day slate. Those seasonal versions add another wrinkle for player and team collectors who focus on holiday game content.
Chrome parallels unlocked by print run
One of the most interesting mechanics in the product is the Chrome unlock system. Cards that hit certain sales thresholds gain access to additional Chrome-style parallels, turning especially popular releases into deeper chase cards.
- 50,000+ print run: Chrome parallels /99 and /50
- 100,000+ print run: Chrome parallels /25, /10, /5 and 1/1 SuperFractor
- 250,000+ print run: Opal Chrome parallels /50, /25, /10 and /5
- 500,000+ print run: 1/1 White OpalFractor Chrome
That structure gives the biggest cards of the season another level of importance. Instead of only chasing a high-print rookie base card, collectors can target scarce Chrome versions that only exist because the card crossed a sales benchmark.
The biggest cards and print runs so far
Two cards stand above the rest when discussing demand in 2025-26 Topps Now Basketball. The first is Card #152, a Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel dual card commemorating their January 29, 2026 matchup. That release posted a print run of 67,580, making it the first Topps Now Basketball card to unlock Chrome parallels.
The second is Card #241, which celebrates Flagg becoming the youngest player in NBA history to score 50 points in a game. That card reached 99,025 copies, the highest print run in the set to this point. It came painfully close to the 100,000 threshold needed to unlock the next Chrome tier, which would have added /25, /10, /5 and SuperFractor versions.
Other strong-demand cards help illustrate what moves the Topps Now market in basketball. LeBron James' Card #58, celebrating his record-setting 23rd NBA season, finished with a 30,683 print run. Flagg's rookie milestones were especially powerful, including Card #6 at 43,182 for his NBA debut, Card #86 at 42,224 for becoming the youngest player ever with 40-plus points, and Card #150 at 30,039 after his 49-point outburst.
Kon Knueppel also proved to be one of the breakout drivers of the set. His Card #184, documenting his rookie-record 207th three-pointer, reached 37,438 copies. Bam Adebayo's massive Card #201 posted 27,411, while Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drew major attention with Card #205 at 21,058.
Checklist notation and what to watch for
The set uses a few simple markers that matter for collectors building player runs or chasing premium content:
- * indicates a short-printed photo variation
- ^ indicates autograph versions are available
- ~ indicates autographed relic versions are available
- # indicates relic versions are available
Because Topps Now is updated throughout the season, the checklist remains fluid. That means player and team collectors need to keep checking back as new cards are issued, especially during the stretch run and postseason race when milestone cards tend to pile up quickly.
Team and player storylines that shaped the set
Dallas Mavericks and Cooper Flagg
No rookie defined the checklist more than Cooper Flagg. His run includes major benchmark cards such as Card #6 for his debut, Card #28 for his first 20-point game, Card #67 for becoming the youngest ever with 35 points, Card #86 for the youngest 40-point game, Card #124 for the youngest player ever with 25/5/5 and zero turnovers, Card #150 for 49 points, Card #193 for 1,000 career points, Card #207 for a 25-point, 10-assist performance, and Card #241 for his historic 50-point game.
Dallas also added important companion cards for Klay Thompson and Ryan Nembhard, but Flagg remains the centerpiece of the Mavericks checklist and arguably the entire product.
Charlotte Hornets and Kon Knueppel
Kon Knueppel emerged as the other rookie pillar of the set. His checklist tracks a remarkable three-point shooting pace with cards for his debut, fastest to 100 threes, fastest to 150, fastest to 200, the rookie-record 207th three and eventually leading the NBA in made threes as a rookie on Card #252. He also appears on the key dual cards with Flagg, including Card #73 and Card #152.
Charlotte collectors also get notable LaMelo Ball cards and a Dell Curry retirement-night tribute, but Knueppel's chase cards have become some of the most watched in the release.
Los Angeles Lakers stars
The Lakers checklist is one of the deepest in the product. Luka Doncic dominates the team run with cards for a huge opening night, back-to-back 40/10/5 performances, multiple scoring milestones, a 51-point career high, a franchise three-point record, and his second career scoring title. LeBron James adds milestone after milestone, including his 23rd season, 51,000 career points, most games played, most career wins and age-41 triple-double history.
Austin Reaves also lands a few strong cards, giving Lakers collectors one of the broadest team selections in the set.
Oklahoma City Thunder and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Shai's Topps Now run captures both team success and individual greatness. His opening night card, the Thunder banner-raising team card, and a long chain of scoring-streak milestone cards form one of the best player narratives in the set. Card #205 stands out most for documenting his 127 straight games with 20 or more points, a streak that surpassed Wilt Chamberlain.
Spurs, Nuggets and veteran superstars
Victor Wembanyama gives San Antonio collectors a loaded checklist with return-game excitement, block streak milestones, 500 career blocks, Player of the Month and Defensive Player of the Month honors in the same month, the game-winner that clinched the Spurs' first playoff berth since 2019, and several late-season monster stat lines.
Denver's checklist is led by Nikola Jokic, whose cards cover historic passing numbers for a center, a Christmas Day 55/15/15 game, passing Oscar Robertson on the all-time triple-double list, and finishing as the first player ever to lead the league in both rebounds and assists. Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, James Harden, Anthony Edwards and Russell Westbrook also stack milestone-driven cards across the season.
Selected team checklist highlights
Below is a streamlined team-by-team guide to notable cards and print-run standouts from the set.
- Atlanta Hawks: 25 Asa Newell, 84 Jalen Johnson, 109 Jalen Johnson PR 482, 245 Nickeil Alexander-Walker
- Boston Celtics: 71 Jaylen Brown, 93 Jaylen Brown PR 464, 197 Jayson Tatum variation, 236 Jayson Tatum
- Brooklyn Nets: 12 Egor Demin, 153 Egor Demin autograph version PR 1,079
- Charlotte Hornets: 10 Kon Knueppel debut, 97 Kon Knueppel PR 6,945, 152 Flagg/Knueppel PR 67,580, 184 Knueppel PR 37,438, 252 Knueppel PR 24,500
- Chicago Bulls: 202 Matas Buzelis PR 1,127
- Cleveland Cavaliers: 156 Jarrett Allen, 165 James Harden PR 764
- Dallas Mavericks: 6 Cooper Flagg PR 43,182, 86 Flagg PR 42,224, 150 Flagg PR 30,039, 241 Flagg PR 99,025, 253 Flagg PR 15,135
- Denver Nuggets: 90 Nikola Jokic PR 1,120, 103 Nikola Jokic PR 7,374, 166 Nikola Jokic PR 732, 255 Nikola Jokic PR 5,116
- Golden State Warriors: 55 Stephen Curry variation PR 4,008, 101 Curry PR 4,893, 244 Stephen Curry/Seth Curry PR 2,624
- Houston Rockets: 3 Kevin Durant debut, 96 Durant/Hakeem Olajuwon PR 3,882, 220 Durant PR 5,695, 250 Durant PR 759
- Indiana Pacers: no cards released
- Los Angeles Clippers: 61 James Harden, 76 Harden PR 1,908, 105 Kawhi Leonard PR 750
- Los Angeles Lakers: 58 LeBron James PR 30,683, 89 Luka Doncic PR 1,881, 141 Luka PR 2,088, 216 Luka PR 3,591, 221 LeBron PR 11,227, 256 Luka PR 4,926
- Memphis Grizzlies: 17 Cedric Coward, 132 Ja Morant PR 543, 189 Walter Clayton Jr. PR 599
- Miami Heat: 126 Bam Adebayo/Alonzo Mourning PR 1,595, 199 Bam PR 1,228, 201 Bam PR 27,411
- Milwaukee Bucks: 23 Giannis variation PR 1,110, 42 Giannis PR 1,392, 66 Giannis PR 1,162
- Minnesota Timberwolves: 113 Anthony Edwards PR 1,243, 121 Edwards PR 2,164, 177 Edwards PR 5,155
- New Orleans Pelicans: 79 Derik Queen PR 2,564, 168 Jeremiah Fears PR 614, 240 Fears PR 1,544, 249 Queen PR 625
- New York Knicks: 87 NBA Cup Champions PR 1,978, 88 Jalen Brunson PR 4,610, 99 Brunson PR 1,147
- Oklahoma City Thunder: 1 Shai PR 7,695, 2 Thunder PR 4,033, 81 Thunder PR 1,807, 205 Shai PR 21,058, 232 Shai PR 1,445
- Orlando Magic: 62 Franz Wagner PR 1,042, 119 Paolo Banchero PR 473, 224 Paolo PR 439
- Philadelphia 76ers: 11 VJ Edgecombe PR 17,761, 59 Tyrese Maxey PR 2,706, 174 Edgecombe PR 3,562, 185 Maxey PR 2,476, 248 Edgecombe PR 1,893
- Phoenix Suns: 114 Devin Booker PR 1,030
- Portland Trail Blazers: 175 Damian Lillard PR 2,205, 258 Deni Avdija
- Sacramento Kings: 104 Russell Westbrook PR 780, 111 Westbrook PR 1,326, 210 Westbrook PR 440
- San Antonio Spurs: 19 Victor Wembanyama PR 13,527, 83 Victor PR 2,560, 127 Victor PR 18,966, 164 Stephon Castle PR 3,105, 219 Victor PR 4,259
- Toronto Raptors: 64 Brandon Ingram PR 401, 106 Scottie Barnes PR 495
- Utah Jazz: 9 Ace Bailey PR 2,453, 139 Bailey PR 1,072, 159 Isaiah Collier PR 424, 251 Bez Mbeng PR 909
- Washington Wizards: 14 Tre Johnson PR 997, 35 Alex Sarr PR 418, 140 Tre Johnson III PR 583
Release calendar snapshots
The monthly flow of the set also tells the story of the season. October leaned heavily on debuts and opening-week milestones, including Flagg, Harper, Bailey, Knueppel and Edgecombe. November expanded into veteran milestones like LeBron's 23rd season, Westbrook's rebound record and Curry's age-defying scoring totals. December added Christmas parallel cards and big NBA Cup content for the Knicks and Spurs.
January and February turned into major rookie months, especially for Flagg and Knueppel, while March and April were loaded with playoff-race cards, milestone chases and statistical history. That late-season push is where the biggest print runs showed up, particularly for Flagg, Knueppel, Bam Adebayo and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Collector takeaway
For player collectors, 2025-26 Topps Now Basketball is one of the strongest year-by-year tracking sets the NBA has had in a long time. For prospect chasers, the rookie content is deep and market-relevant. For team collectors, the checklist is broad enough to reward sustained attention all season. And for anyone who likes modern chase mechanics, the combination of timed sales, print-run transparency, image variations, autos, relics and unlocked Chrome parallels gives the set real staying power on both release day and the secondary market.
The cards were available directly through Topps and Fanatics during their 48-hour windows, while individual singles quickly migrated to the secondary market once orders began shipping.
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