Buzz Break: 2021-22 Panini Contenders NBA cards (blaster)

From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there's a box you'd want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2021-22 Panini Contenders basketball cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of what was in this one.

Packs per box: 5
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 40
Base set completion: 32 of 100 (32 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Joel Embiid, Devin Booker, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, C.J. McCollum, Nikola Vucevic, Jimmy Butler, R.J. Barrett, Kyle Lowry, Jaylen Brown

Inserts/short-prints: 7 (all in gallery below with some base)
Game Ticket Bronze parallel (1) – Lonzo Ball
Game Ticket Red parallel (1) – Julius Randle
Game Night Ticket (1) – Joel Embiid
International Ticket (2) – Giannis Antetokounmpo, Andrei Kirilenko
Draft Class (2) – Davion Mitchell, Jalen Suggs

Autographs/Memorabilia: 1
Rookie Ticket Swatches (1) – Jalen Suggs

What's Buzz-worthy: I'll preface this one with the thought that Contenders hasn't ever really been a favorite brand of mine -- hobby or retail -- in any sport. But, retail seems to be even meaner in a smaller box that kind of shows how lean this one can be. This release is also one I skipped completely back when this arrived, though with a guaranteed hit I perhaps shouldn't have ... that can be the source of an easy highlight every time and it's definitely better than not having it at all (good or bad). This time? A lottery pick who's on the box and still playing pretty well in the league a few years later ... so that makes this bargain-bin box a win this time for a collector. Is it pricey? Nah ... not that much is here this time, but I do think the ticket design that's proportionally heavy vs. the player presence here does work well with taller players' proportions and photos. (I wasn't a fan of this one in some other sports as the frame just feels -- is -- too heavy.) The variety of inserts here was slightly more varied than some other year's breaks for Contenders NBA (more variety on color parallels this time) but ultimately very much the same. I'm not a heavy, regular NBA buyer but I would be with this one if it just included a little more insert action to goose the variety and the break just a little more. Getting a third of the base set in a blaster each time also makes for some repetitious ripping if you're doing a few boxes or a case. I think the core of what's here is fine -- I just think the array needs amped up to make it more fun to rip in beyond autographs (hobby) which are the most-traditional big chase here.

Product Grade: B+
Box Grade: B+ (base were pretty lean for a smaller set but some good names popped up elsewhere)
Fun Grade: C+ (needs more of everything beyond base in this format)

--

Follow Buzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz or send email to BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com. 

>> Click here to buy cards on BlowoutCards.com