2023-24 Panini Obsidian Basketball does chrome different. Like the line has since its inception, it takes the metallic card style to the dark side rather than the more traditional metallic. Combine that with the many designs that emphasize etching and the product emerges as something distinct against the likes of Prizm, Select and Spectra, to name a few.
Hobby boxes take a more high-end single-pack approach. Each includes three hits, two of which are autographs.
2023-24 Panini Obsidian Basketball Checklist Overview
The base set has the build of a chromium card. So cards are strong and have a metallic gloss to them. However, the theme is black when you get past the isolated player photo and design elements.
Backgrounds are more impressionist in their approach, leaving some lines but not a lot of detail. This lays the groundwork for most of the product’s Electric Etch parallels. With black the dominating color, these lines become the spot for where the rainbow happens. However, there are also Flood versions that change up the background.
Electric Etch Neon Flood, Orange Flood (/99), Purple Flood (/49), Gold Flood (/10), Deep Sea Mojo (/5) and Vibrant Mojo (1/1) are all exclusive to hobby packs.
Autographs, Memorabilia Cards and Other Inserts
Autographs in 2023-24 Panini Obsidian Basketball are numbered to 149 or less. Spots to find them on the checklist include Rookie Jersey Autographs, Rookie Jersey Ink, Matrix Material Autos, Galaxy Ink, Magmatic Signatures, Rookie Eruption Signatures, Volcanic Signatures and the debuting Twilight Signatures. Electric Etch parallels are found with these as well, such as Orange Flood (/75), Purple Flood (/49), Gold Flood (/10), Deep Sea Mojo (/5) and Vibrant Mojo (1/1).
When it comes to relics, Eclipse Materials and Unbreakable Memorabilia both deliver large swatches. More pieces can be found in Cutting Edge Memorabilia and Equinox Gear.
As far as other inserts, which combine with parallels to land two per box, the die-cut Vitreous and Volcanix both return as hobby-exclusives. These both rank among the product’s tougher chases.
There’s also Color Blast Black, a twist on the popular insert. According to Panini, these are super short prints although specific odds have not been announced.
Hotspot makes its debut. It’s joined by Equinox, Orbital and Supernova.
2023-24 Panini Obsidian Basketball cards at a glance:
Cards per pack: Hobby – 7
Packs per box: Hobby – 1
Boxes per case: Hobby – 12
Set size: TBA
Release date (subject to change): May 31, 2024
