Topps Will Release Pristine Basketball on September 24

The trading card product returns after a 20-year hiatus with a new autograph collection featuring Kevin Durant.

Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Basketball

Topps Will Release Pristine Basketball on September 24

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Topps is set to launch its 2025-26 Pristine Basketball trading card product on September 24, 2026. The release marks the return of the brand after a 20-year break and includes a variety of rare, autographed collectibles.

Why it matters

The release revives a classic brand while integrating modern collector features, such as player-inscribed autographs that link star athletes to their formative collegiate careers.

Hobby boxes feature six packs of seven cards plus three encased hits, retailing at $779.99. The ultra-rare Pristine Red version of the Kevin Durant card is limited to only 5 copies total.

The players

Topps

Topps is a long-standing manufacturer of sports and entertainment trading cards.

Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant is a professional basketball star who played his collegiate season at the University of Texas.

University of Texas

The University of Texas is the institution where Kevin Durant played before his professional career.

Sports Card Investor

Sports Card Investor is a platform that tracks the market values and news surrounding collectible trading cards.

The details

The product's Personal Endorsements set includes 39 players and utilizes handwritten inscriptions to highlight professional athletes' college history. Kevin Durant’s card features a Hook 'Em inscription, referencing his 2006-07 campaign at the University of Texas where he averaged 25.8 points and 11.1 rebounds.

Timeline

  1. Kevin Durant played for the University of Texas during the 2006-07 season.

  2. Topps published the official Pristine collector guide on September 10, 2026.

  3. Sports Card Investor featured the new Durant card on September 21, 2026.

  4. The 2025-26 Topps Pristine Basketball product releases on September 24, 2026.

Season Trajectory

The return of the Pristine brand highlights a broader trend in the sports collectibles market toward reviving vintage product lines to engage legacy collectors. This launch positions Topps to recapture market share by blending historical brand recognition with high-value chase cards.

Collectors looking for high-value hits will note the inclusion of three encased cards per $779.99 hobby box. The 39-player autograph checklist provides a wide variance in potential pulls for those purchasing the product.

The takeaway

Collectors should carefully review the product guide to understand the rarity of the specific autograph tiers included in the hobby boxes. Engaging with the secondary market early can help track the availability of limited-run cards like the Pristine Red series.

Further reading

For more on the current trading card market, visit Basketball.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Heavy.

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