NBA award winners to wear gold logo, rookies to don debut patch in Fanatics/Topps program

"Fanatics/Topps will bring its debut patch and gold logo patch programs to the NBA this season, it was announced Wednesday. Every rookie will now wear an NBA debut patch on his uniform that will be removed after play and put onto an on-card-autographed, one-of-one numbered rookie card. The 2024-25 season's Most Valuable Player, Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year will have a Gold NBA Logoman Patch placed on their uniforms, which will also be removed and inserted into rare trading cards."

""Imagine having LeBron [James]'s, [Michael] Jordan's, [Steph] Curry's debut patch and what that would mean?" Fanatics Collectibles CEO Michael Mahan said in an interview with ESPN. "Well, the next generational superstar will have a debut patch -- the ultimate rookie card [...] And trading cards haven't been associated with achievement, success and accolades: We're [bringing] that into trading cards." Fanatics previously implemented the debut patch program into Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer."

""Seeing the success Topps had with the MLB [debut] patch is definitely something we wanted to replicate on the basketball side," said Josh Goodstadt, chief commercial officer of THINK450, the NBPA's licensing, partnership and innovation arm. "The debut patch and gold logo cards [elevate] the storytelling and drive fan engagement with the sport and our players." Mahan said Fanatics has a partnership with grader/authenticator Certified Guaranty Company (CGC) to authenticate the patc"

Fanatics/Topps will introduce debut patches and Gold NBA Logoman patches across the NBA this season. Every rookie will wear a debut patch during games that will be removed afterward and embedded into an on-card-autographed, one-of-one numbered rookie card. The season's Most Valuable Player, Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year will receive Gold NBA Logoman Patches that will be removed and inserted into rare trading cards. The 2024-25 MVP, Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year were Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Stephon Castle and Evan Mobley. THINK450 views the programs as elevating storytelling and driving fan engagement. Fanatics has a partnership with Certified Guaranty Company (CGC) to authenticate the patches.

Read at ESPN.com