The Best Cards in 2025-26 Topps Chrome Update Basketball

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For the first time, Topps is releasing a Chrome Update series for NBA basketball. The 2025-26 Topps Chrome Update Basketball set follows the flagship Topps Chrome release from December 2025 and adds a new wave of cards built around the 2025 rookie class, updated in-season photography, and some of the most compelling autographs from basketball this year.

What Is 2025-26 Topps Chrome Update Basketball?

Like the Chrome Update sets in baseball, this product lets Topps revisit the season with updated, in-game photography. The flagship 2025-26 Topps Chrome Basketball used portrait and pre-season shots for rookies. The Update set will focus on in game photography for the rookies and alternate, Statement Edition, City Edition, and Classic Edition jerseys pictures for Veterans across all 200 cards. It also fills gaps from the flagship, most notably giving Luka Doncic his first official Topps Chrome card. Topps Chrome Update is also the the new home of the Rookie Debut Patch Autographs, a hit type new to basketball that debuts here.

Boxes and Configurations

Multiple formats are available across hobby and retail channels: Hobby, Jumbo, Mega, Value Blasters, and Hanger boxes. Hobby boxes guarantee one autograph per box and Jumbo boxes guarantee three autographs per box. Pre-orders open on Topps.com on July 7 at 12pm with hobby boxes starting at $529.99 and jumbo boxes starting at $1,079.99. Boxes will also appear on eBay once they release. Value and retail style boxes will be available on Topps.com on pre-order day, but will surely sell out almost immediately, so eBay or in store is the best way to find them.

NBA Debut Patch Autographs

The NBA Debut Patch Autographs are one of the biggest chases of the entire year. These are hard-signed 1/1 cards that include an actual patch piece taken from the jersey a rookie wore only on their NBA debut night. Given the sourcing requirements for debut-night game-worn material, many will be distributed as redemptions in packs. If you pull a redemption from a hobby box, these are a likely candidate. They are exclusive to rookies in this product, and each rookie only has one!

Base Set and Parallels

The 200-card base set features updated, in-season photography throughout. Rookies get in-game shots from their debut season; veterans get alternate uniform photos using Statement, City Edition, and Classic Edition jerseys. The Refractor parallel rainbow is expected to be rich, and Topps has confirmed a Denim Tears SSP parallel in the mix. Image Variations are short-printed and use portrait photography, with a 1/1 SuperFractor Image Variation available for select cards. One of the biggest names in the base set, Luka Doncic, gets his first official Topps Chrome card after missing the flagship, and appears in multiple Image Variation versions as well.

Inserts and SP Inserts

The Update set has a strong insert lineup. Alter Egos makes its basketball debut here. Topps baseball collectors will recognize the comic book-style art built around each player’s persona or nickname. Cooper Flagg’s card is called “The Maine Event” and Kevin Durant appears as “Slim Reaper.” Glass Canvas carries over from the flagship as a case hit-level SSP, featuring a frosted multi-image design. Fanatical returns as a retail-exclusive SSP with a high-contrast look that makes the player image the focal point. The Minions x Topps Chrome crossover continues into basketball, with NBA players rendered in Minion character form. Additional inserts include Helix, Moment in Time, New Edition, No Limit, and Stratospheric Stars.

Autographs

Every hobby box includes one autograph and jumbo boxes include three. The checklist covers Chrome Autographs, 1980-81 Throwback Autographs, Lava Lamp Rookie Autographs, and the product’s headline hit, NBA Debut Patch Autographs.

Chrome Autographs

The Chrome Autograph checklist covers veterans and rookies signed on-card. A full Refractor color rainbow is expected. Topps has confirmed Purple (/75), Gold (/50), Orange (/25), Red (/5), and Superfractor (1/1) autograph parallels. Victor Wembanyama, Cade Cunningham and Kevin Durant are among the confirmed veteran signers in the preview images.

1980-81 Throwback Autographs

Topps continues its tribute to the 1980-81 NBA set design with a dedicated autograph insert. The Throwback Autographs place current stars on a retro card template in base and multiple parallel colors. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Orange Refractor /25) and Anthony Edwards are among the confirmed signers of this autograph set.

Rookie Autographs

The 2025 draft class gets signed content across multiple autograph formats. The Lava Lamp Rookie Autographs stand out with colorful, textured backgrounds in Aqua Blue and other Lava Lamp parallel colors. Here is Kon Knueppel in the Aqua Blue Lava Lamp (/175) and Ace Bailey on the standard Chrome Autograph template in Purple Refractor (/75).

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