The speculation and big business that will be Zion Williamson basketball cards this season and in the future is already apparent -- but in a negative way -- over on eBay.

How do we know? The sales of fake cards. Yes, fake cards.

Fleer, Gatorade, McDonald's, DC Comics, Marvel Comics and even Rated Rookie (on an opposing company's design) trademarks can be seen on Williamson cards not made or authorized by their respective owners -- and there's no compensation being made to owners of intellectual property of the Duke Blue Devils the NBA or the New Orleans Pelicans for the use of their logos and other legally protected intellectual property.

The memorable designs of the past like the 1986-87 Fleer set above -- owned by Upper Deck -- are also being absconded (though many designs aren't generally trademarked) and other notable athletes such as Michael Jordan and LeBron James -- guys whose image rights are also in high-dollar demand -- also are having their likenesses used without authorization (in NBA uniforms) to make money selling fake cardboard that's all over eBay. (Jordan is exclusive to Upper Deck for card appearances and his ink is also an exclusive there just like it is for James.) Photographers also aren't being compensated for the use of their work like they would be when card companies pay them or their employers to use images. Then there are "graded" cards with autographs attached, cards with facsimile autos in slabs and many cards in sealed holders emulating card companies' uncirculated efforts.

Right now, there are nearly 1,300 different active eBay auctions for "Zion Williamson" in the basketball cards category -- meanwhile just two legitimately authorized cards exist right now. Expand that search to all items and there's plenty more to be found.

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What: 2019 Super Break Super Deluxe Edition
Arrives: Aug. 30
Box basics: At least eight premium items per case
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Super Break is back with a high-end option for card and memorabilia collectors as part of a limited release.

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Buzz buys and busts a lot of boxes right here for Buzz Breaks, but one of my goals just might be to rip fewer blasters this year and talk more about cardboard that I -- and you -- might like. One way to do that? Simple show and tell -- present a few pick-ups and say why they captured my attention. Would they capture yours? I'd be interested to know -- sometimes they might, sometimes they won't and that's fine. It's a buyer's market out there with plenty of options and bargains as well as high-end gems to chase.

So, with all that said, here are a few Buzz Buys ... and this time around there are a dozen weird, cheap or interesting cards.

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BEFORE THE NBA CAREER ... 
The Card: LeBron James 2003 Sports Illustrated For Kids #264 (BGS 9)
The Price: $11
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: There was a time when this was a popular card in the hobby -- maybe not Tiger Woods SI For Kids big, but popular. What is it? It's a card pulled from a perforated sheet in an issue of the kids' magazine, something it has done since the 1980s, showcasing countless big-name athletes and many others who don't have much -- or any -- cardboard. Everybody knows how much hype there was for James back then -- and his first cardboard from SAGE was huge -- but this one was one of only a few options until his NBA cardboard arrival on Rookie Cards (and plenty more) on 2003-04 releases. Ultimately all those early cards don't command as much interest as NBA stuff, but I liked the look and price on this one for a slab -- especially when you consider higher-graded cards can push $50-100 and 10s can be quite big at auction even today ... at least for a card found in a magazine.
Grab a box right here: No boxes for this one ... click here for NBA boxes

Keep reading for five more interesting items ...

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The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: Past breaks, big pulls, NFL rookie autograph quality and more in today's edition.

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What: 2019 TRISTAR Best Of All Time 1 autographed memorabilia
Arrives: June 5
Box basics: Six autographed items per case
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: TRISTAR's autographed memorabilia line goes uptown with it promising the biggest names in the history of sports in tow.

Keep reading for more and a gallery of what's in this one.

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From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and break down 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: 2018-19 Donruss Optic basketball cards (blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for a few formats)

Packs per box: 7
Cards per pack: 4
Cards in this box: 28
Base set completion: 17 of 150 (11 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards: LeBron James, Jayson Tatum, Kevin Durant, Victor Oladipo, Blake Griffin, Tony Parker, Chris Paul

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Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today's your day then as we launch 8 in 8 -- a series of a eight breaks of wax boxes and wax packs in as many hours today. We'll post one every hour ... this is Hour 5.

The box: 2010-11 Panini Season Update NBA (hobby)
The cost: Click here

What's inside this one? Keep reading ...

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The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: Domingo Ayala in 2019 Donruss, several salty discussions, Michael Jordan underwear news and more in today's edition.

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The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: Chasing complete print runs, revisiting the card shop, big pulls and more.

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What: 2019 SportKings Originals 1/1 Art Masterpieces
Arrives: Feb. 15
Box basics: One original piece of SportKings artwork per pack (10 packs per case)
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Want a one-of-a-kind piece original trading card history? This new release brought to the market by Blowout Cards gives collectors just that in every single pack.

Keep reading for more info and a full gallery of images released so far.

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From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and break down 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: 2018-19 Donruss Optic basketball cards (Mega Box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for a few formats)

Packs per box: 10 (eight standard, two Hyper Pink)
Cards per pack: 4 per standard, 5 per Hyper Pink
Cards in this box: 42
Base set completion: 18 of 150 (12 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards: LeBron James, Tony Parker, Jayson Tatum, Chris Paul, Bradley Beal, Serge Ibaka, Paul Millsap, Jarrett Allen, Julius Randle, Will Barton, Otto Porter Jr., Malcolm Brogdon, Og Anunoby, Willie Cauley-Stein, Elfrid Payton, Kyle Korver, Nikola Vucevic, Tobias Harris

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From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and break down 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 packs: Eight 2018 Panini America Black Friday promo packs
Where to buy: Initially only as bonuses at participating shops (click here for past promo packs)

Packs per lot: 8
Cards per pack: 2
Cards in this run: 16
Base set completion: 
15 of 40 (38 percent)
Duplicates: 0

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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: 2018-19 NBA Hoops Holiday Edition (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (several formats)

Packs per box: 11
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 88
Base set completion: 71 of 280 (25 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, Joel Embiid, Jimmy Butler, Lonzo Ball, Paul George, Dirk Nowitzki, Kyrie Irving, James Harden, Carmelo Anthony, Tim Hardaway Jr, Tony Parker, Derrick Rose

Rookie Cards (8) – Josh Okogie, Zaire Smith, Robert Williams III, Jacob Evans III, Keita Bates-Diop, Landry Shamet, Mikal Bridges, Kevin Knox

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What: 2018 Historic Autographs Kings Multi-sport autographs
Arrives: Dec. 28
Box basics: Two autographs per box (four boxes per case)
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Historic Autographs follows up its first Kings release with a new one that packs ink from legendary players from the past from baseball as well as some legends from elsewhere.

Keep reading for more information.

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The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: Huge pulls like this Tom Brady 1/1 autograph lead the way as we work toward the weekend.

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The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: NSCC chatter, best and worst card decisions, showing off NBA cards, William Shatner vs. autograph hounds and more in today's edition.

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Professional Sports Authenticator will have a number of things for fans to check out at this year's National Sports Collectors Convention that's set for Aug. 1-5 in Cleveland.

The leading authentication and grading company will have custom cards for fans who opt to get in on those at the show as well as contests for three notable Cleveland items that can be entered both at the show and online right now. The custom card options include Cleveland Indians and Cavaliers gear.

“Last year’s custom encapsulated card option was such a big success in Chicago that we are excited to bring the experience to collectors and sports fans in Cleveland, too,” said PSA Vice President Steve Sloan. “What better way to preserve your memory of being at the show than with a custom trading card from PSA?”

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Have you seen the latest crazy items on eBay? If not, you just might see some of those here every week as we're launching a weekly version of our eBay Buzz pieces that pop up from time to time. We’ll spotlight some items that have a story or just wow us with how much interest it might have — and we’re not just talking baseball cards, either.

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HOTTEST INK IN THE HOBBY?
The Item: 2018 Cryptozoic Rick And Morty Season 1 Autograph #JR-R Justin Roiland as Rick Sanchez (/50)
The Price: $947.64 Buy-It-Now
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: Just like the cartoon series, you can't really explain it -- you just have to see it. A number of the autographs in this recently released product are scorchers and they're not even the main thrust of the set -- you'll find one and sometimes two full-color sketch cards per box (and sometimes an auto atop that). Roiland is the co-creator of this cult classic series and he signed a few different cards for characters in this release -- and that hasn't brought down prices for those that have sold or are on the block. Even the binders for this one are selling very well.
Similar Pieces: Check out other cards in this set
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for boxes and binders for Rick and Morty

Keep reading for four more interesting items in this week's roundup ...

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The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: Big error cards, Ronald Acuña's arrival, big pulls, NSCC chatter and LeBron in Los Angeles.

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The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: Impressive vintage and Hall of Famer stashes, NSCC chatter, snow inside an epic NBA pack (no, not Eric), big pulls & more.

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The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: LeBron James heads to the Lakers (updated), NSCC chatter, a legendary mailday, some impressive pulls, a player collector retires and more in today's edition.

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Those who pick up a VIP ticket package for this year's National Sports Collectors Convention in Cleveland will have a five-card Prominent Cuts set from Upper Deck in their bag and that's just the start of what the company has planned for the five-day show that begins on Aug. 1.

The stars leading the way in that set? Ben Simmons, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Tiger Woods and Serena Williams. 

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The thrill of victory? Nope, the agony of defeat.

That's what's up for grabs right now via NBA Auctions as the Cleveland Cavaliers' jerseys from Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals, you know, the game where LeBron James scored 51 points but J.R. Smith's idiotic play cost them the game and ultimately the series. (And probably cost Cleveland LeBron.)

The auctions have a few more days to go and the divide between the two is gargantuan.

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The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: Several threads for the NBA Finals and the biggest stars in the game -- along with your latest NSCC chatter.

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Like many collectors, Buzz is a fan of grading and knows that there are many reasons that collectors choose to slab cards. Sometimes it's to enhance the appeal and protect them when selling. Other times it's to protect an investment for the long-term or to protect for sentimental reasons. Or, it might be just for fun or curiosity about a potential grade.

Here's this month's grading diary here on The Buzz ...

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