Buzz Break: 2021-22 Panini Illusions Asia Edition NBA cards

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 Illusions Asia Edition basketball cards
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

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

Cards per pack: 12
Packs per box: 4
Set completion: 18 of 150 (12 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards – Pete Maravich, Shaquille O'Neal, Oscar Robertson, Anfernee Hardaway, Clyde Drexler, Kevin Garnett, Ben Wallace, Aaron Gordon, Chris Paul, Trae Young, Ben Simmons, Wendell Carter Jr., Michael Porter Jr., Desmond Bane, Zach Lavine, Duncan Robinson, Christian Wood, Dillon Brooks

Inserts/short-prints: 30 (all cards from box in gallery below)
Rookies (Nos. 151-200) (10) – Cade Cunningham, Herbert Jones, Kessler Edwards, Kai Jones, Joe Wieskamp, James Bouknight, Josh Giddey, Jaden Springer, Keon Johnson, Jericho Sims
Trophy Collection Asia (8) – Tim Duncan, Jordan Poole, Jimmy Butler, Jaylen Brown, Saddiq Bey, Keldon Johnson, Luguentz Dort, Jalen Brunson
Trophy Collection Asia Rookies (3) – Scottie Barnes, Josh Christopher, Bones Hyland
Red Trophy Collection Asia Rookies (1) – Jaden Springer 
Chasing The Hall (1) – Tony Parker
Instant Impact (2) – Jalen Green, Kessler Edwards
King Of Cards (2) – Steph Curry, Josh Giddey
Rookie Reflections (1) – Tre Mann & Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 
Amazing Asia Red & Yellow (1) – Jayson Tatum
Intriguing Players Asia Red & Yellow (1) – Jalen Suggs

Autographs/Memorabilia: None

What's Buzz-worthy: I skipped this release for the most part other than maybe a single pack but when I spotted this Tmall box for basically the price of a blaster I bit. Why? It's not because I'm the biggest NBA guy any more -- can't collect it all -- or because I'm a big fan of foilboard sets. It was sheer curiosity ... this was my first rip of any Tmall box of any kind. There aren't any numbered cards or hits guaranteed in this one so that's why it's cheaper than you might think but at the same time it's loaded with parallels only found here ... so landing a key name among the exclusive spots might make a cheap box an easy win. I don't think this one delivered anything truly large enough to get it an A-grade out of me, but it wasn't a bad rip. Had it had some kind of basic guaranteed hit (auto/mem) or numbered cards, this would be an easy rip with potential every time. There are some serial-numbered insert sets here (/25) as well as rookie ink with some rarer veteran auto parallels (/5) to chase ... but it just wasn't my time. Would I rip again? At a bargain price, probably as the exclusives, rookies and more possible here does make this one a pretty safe rip ... just not the flashiest one every time. I had my shots -- literally all but one guy on the front of this box was in mine this time in some form or fashion.

Product Grade: B+
Box Grade: B+ (good rookie presence and a lot of Hall of Famers, too)
Fun Grade: B

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