NBA Milestone hit

I hit an NBA milestone this week...sort of. I discovered it this week, but I don't know when I hit it actually.

Kevin Durant became the first player from my "missing years" to reach 100 cards scanned in my collection!

Although when I screencapped this I had them sorted alphabetically, he actually ranks tied for 157th overall with Jamal Crawford.

I now consider the break I took from the NBA from mid-2006-07 through the 2010-11 playoffs one of the biggest mistakes of my life. Since I've come back to the sport, though, the card landscape has changed dramatically. Instead of three companies producing cards, there is now only one. And they don't produce that many cards. Couple that with my lower degree of money spent on the hobby, and the fact that I'm splitting what I do have to spend even farther, now that I'm collecting the NHL and non-sports as well, something I was not doing in 2006, it means the cards aren't adding up as quickly as they did in the past.

So, it's taken a while for any of the people who entered the league in my lost years to reach 100 cards. I don't know when I got my first Kevin Durant card- I know it's his base card from either 2012-13 Hoops or 2012-13 Prestige, but I can't remember which one anymore- I could determine it if I pulled out my paper listing- but, finally, he's gotten there...and even gone a little past that, with 103 cards scanned.

Note I say scanned, and not in my collection...that's because I only enter the cards into the chart after they have been scanned. There's a pretty good chance I have more waiting to be scanned, since from 2012-2017 I put aside any that were already posted to the Database, and worked on only what needed scans. I finished that in 2017 and am now scanning all the cards I set aside.

The next closest person is actually Kevin Love, currently with 83 cards scanned, placing him tied for 208th with Brian Shaw and Eric Williams. I've stepped up my adding of cards of him ever since I found out we are very distantly related. I thought it would be Steph Curry, but he only has 78 cards scanned. Blake Griffin has one more card scanned then Steph (being the Panini spokesman pays dividends, I suppose!) and the fifth highest person who entered the league during my lost years is Russell Westbrook, with 68 cards scanned.

That's about what I expected, other than Griffin. I expected Westbrook to not be too far behind Steph, and I was correct.

Derrick Rose, James Harden, DeAndre Jordan, Mike Conley, John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Jeremy Lin and Rudy Gay have all cleared the 50 card barrier. All of whom came into the league in my lost years.

Anthony Davis is the highest ranked person from my 2nd NBA period (2012-13 to present) with 62 cards scanned.  Damian Lillard at 56 is the only other person from that time to clear 50.

In case you are interested...or in case I want to know at some point in the future...this is the 100th card I typed into the chart.

2018-19 Hoops #5.

Anniversary Cards

First off, thank you everyone for commenting on my last post and entering the contest. I don't want to reply to each of you like I normally do so I don't miss anyone when I am putting together the list of entrants. Even though I'm putting out more posts, you have until midnight on Thanksgiving to enter. I forgot to include that in the actual post, duh.

Now, knowing my anniversary was coming up, my mom decided to get me a small anniversary present...two packs of this year's Hoops and a fatpack of this year's MVP! I did very, very well...I got 6 new NBA players and one new NHL player out of the packs, and the very first card out of the very first Hoops pack was probably the most important of them all...

Because it was none other than wunderkind Zion Williamson, who is considered by many the most gifted player to enter the sport since LeBron James. He has two cards in the set- his base rookie card, and this Tribute subset that's based on the Supreme Court design in 1991-92. (the only apparent nod to Hoops' 30th anniversary). I hoped to get at least one of them when current, because I don't want to have to pay more for it later...so, forever more, 2019-20 Hoops #296 will be known as my first Zion card. (How many other rookies come in and are already known by their first name before they ever actually play a game?) I don't know what my first card of LeBron was, or Elton Brand, or any of the other players from my first time collecting the sport. I did keep track of it, but it was lost when my Excel file corrupted in either 2004 or 2005. Unfortunately Zion got hurt during Pre-Season, and won't play until mid-December. From what I saw of him in pre-season action, he's the real deal.

Here are some other cards that came out of these 2 Hoops packs:

 This is the base card design. I like it. I wish Panini would bother to give us a real set, instead of 280 players in a 525 man league, but that is it. Hoops is the only set I actually try to complete every year. By the way, this is my first AD Lakers card. I would pull the Tribute subset of him in pack #2.

I knew I got five new players out of the two packs, but it turns out I actually got six. I was sure I had a card of Derrick Jones Jr. already, considering it's his 4th year in the league...but no, this was actually my first card of him. (Panini didn't bother to create even a single card of him last year) Another reason I was sure I had a card of him is that he was in the Slam Dunk Contest in 2017, finishing runner up....and the NBA pushes that contest far more than it needs to. I was wrong though. I didn't have any cards of him, but now I do!

 Jokic is the most unlikely superstar. A second round pick, a draft-and-stash player, and he rarely ever jumps. Yet, he gets the job done and is mostly responsible for the Nuggets vast improvement last year. It's just fun to watch him play because he's so deceptively good.

 Markelle Fultz is the second most maligned player in my time period watching the NBA. The former #1 pick didn't really do much in Philadelphia, who drafted him. So, they gave up and traded him to Orlando. He's finally healthy this season and is usually the best player on the Magic every night. For some reason, the media refused to believe he had a real injury and kept saying it was all in his head. I can't wait for him to prove them wrong all season long. (in case you are wondering, the most maligned player is Carmelo Anthony). This is my first Magic card of Markelle, by the way.

 Grant Williams is one of the new players added to my collection. He got a college card in SI for Kids over a year ago, which I have, but college cards don't count. This is the first real card of him.

 Bruno Fernando is also a new player for me.

And Jaylen Hands of the Nets is the last new player from the base cards. He is on a two-way contract with the team, but this is a Summer League photo...a rarity, most of the rookies are the Rookie Photo Shoot photos like the two players shown above him. Personally, I like the Summer League shots.

Now, each 8-card pack of Hoops guarantees you either an insert, a parallel, or both, and I did well, getting two inserts and a parallel. I did very, very well...

 My first card of him.

 My first Nets card of Kevin Durant!! I still can't believe he chose to come to my favorite team. The first time ever we've gotten a major superstar as a free agent, and he brought along another with him in Kyrie Irving. He's going to miss the entire season due to injury, but he's one of us now...and I can't be hapier. This card is really nice in hand, too. It's the holofoil parallel, and has a rainbow sheen in hand, even though it scans purple. Visually, it's the most stunning card of any that I got for the Annversary.

My parallel was also Nets! In fact, the base and Purple Hands were in the same pack, a fun coincidence that always makes me chuckle. I'm a big fan of colored parallels and I've now done 4 packs of 2019-20 Hoops and gotten two different colors- I also pulled a Teal, numbered to 49 copies no less, of Evan Turner.

Moving to the NHL, the MVP fatpack was a little tougher. Since I got a blaster for my birthday I already hand a handful of the cards so not all 34 were new. However, most of them were, and I've selected a few to show now, not all of them of course.

 Henrique was the first card out of the pack and sports a throwback uniform, or perhaps this is the history-inspired alternate. I am not sure yet, even though I've been collecting rabidly now since 2016, I'm still learning.

 Jake Gardiner is the king of silly faces on hockey cards, but nothing funny here.

 I didn't get any Rangers cards, but I did get Trouba, who is now a Ranger! The MVP set does not reflect any of the player movement of the offseason, so players who were traded, like Trouba was, are still listed as a member of their previous team.

 Now this I am SURE is a throwback! I am also sure the Blues will want to throw back to the 2018-19 season quite often, considering they won the Stanley Cup!

 I may not have gotten any Rangers (or Golden Knights), but at least I did get an Islander.

 Toews shows the 21 Stan Mikita Memorial patch on his chest. I wonder if this was taken at the same game as the Pietrangelo photo?

 Brannstrom is new to my collection, my very first card of him. He was one of the key pieces that the Golden Knights gave up to get Mark Stone. I saw the game this photo was taken during, I believe! That's also Ottawa's alternate/throwback inspired uniform, as well.

 I don't know why, as I have not been able to figure it out, but I find that I really tend to root for Calgary quite a bit. I have no connection to the area, their uniforms are fine but not spectacular, and it was when they beat the Rangers and I realized I was disappointed that I knew the Rangers were my team...yet I root for Calgary anyway. Go figure? This is one of the very, very few cards to show a player's tongue. For some reason, it's banned by the CBA. Not sure if they snuck this one through or the Collective Bargaining Agreement changed.

 Localish Jonathan Quick wears the Kings' alternate uniform, which is so much nicer than the standard all black they wear. I have not really researched it yet, but I think he may actually be the closest-born NHL player...certainly the closest active player. The Hudson Valley has never put a player into the NHL that I am aware of...I'm not even sure if we have an ice rink.

 I was sure the Bruins were going to win the title last year...I'm still kind of surprised they didn't. I have a lot of friends and even some family that are Bruins backers.

I enjoy seeing cards of players with teams they are not really going to be known for being a member of. Some people call them short term stops, I prefer to call them "He played for who?" based on Charles Barkley's hilarious "Who he play for" skit. Ryan Dzingel played only 21 games with Columbus (not counting the playoffs, where he added 9 more) after being traded there by Ottawa at the trade deadline. When Free Agency came around, he was one of a mass exodus of players who left, joining the Hurricanes, where he's already scored more assists and an equal number of goals this season as he did in Ohio.

I did manage to pull one parallel out of the pack, but it was a puzzle back. I didn't scan it yet. It's Matt Niskanen of the Capitals if anyone is curious.

So, thanks for the cards Mom, and thanks for anyone who reads along. Even though I mostly complained about Panini, I did enjoy the cards and I am thrilled to have them, and I'm thrilled to have the MVP cards as well.

Winning

Kind of in shock right now...NBA free agency opened yesterday at 6PM, and NHL free agency at 11 AM today...and my favorite teams won...both! That has never happened! Kevin Durant came to the Nets, the first time EVER a top level player has chosen my team. And he's bringing along Kyrie Irving and DeAndre Jordan as well. When the Nets traded for Jason Kidd in 2001, it got us to the Finals instantly that season and the next, the greatest NBA success the franchise has had. Lack of defense doomed their chances. Now, when KD is healthy, I think we might actually win one. Durant and Irving are both scorers, Jordan is one of the best rebounders in the game, and Jarrett Allen, who has been with the Nets for a few seasons now, is developing into the best shotblocker in the game. Although, with his injury, he's not expected to play at all in 2019-20, which is a bit of a downer. (and, although I'm just guessing, is the reason he left Golden State...there are many people who believe they rushed him back from a previous injury and caused the devastating injuries he and Klay Thompson suffered during the finals)

Now, today, the Rangers get Artemi Panarin! The marquee free agents in both my sports chose my favorite teams...and Panarin is healthy, so will be able to contribute right away! I don't know if he is enough to shift the balance of power in the entire sport like Durant is, but the Rangers, with Panarin, Kappo Kakko and Vitaly Kravtsov joining the team next year, I think we might have a shot.

I don't know as much about Panarin as I do about Durant. KD has been one of my favorite active players since I returned to the NBA in 2012. I'm still learning hockey, and I'm certainly familiar with what he can do on the ice, I don't know much about him yet...although now that he's here...I will!

I'm disappointed they didn't bring Mats Zuccarello back, but I guess I was silly to expect them to after they traded him for magic beans at the trade deadline. I guess I'll be supporting the Wild for the next 5 years too.

I am looking forward to getting my first cards of all these guys with their new teams, although it will likely be a while. Panini usually gets them out first, while Upper Deck usually waits until series 2. Of course, an action photo of the NBA players with their new teams usually has to wait until late in the year, and generally then even only one or two sets with current season photos if you're lucky. I've cut back significantly on new card purchases, so it might take me even longer. But it's going to be a great day when it finally does happen!

Guilt free...but I still feel guilty

I feel guilty for two reasons- it takes me a heck of a long time to get a thank you post written- and I feel guilty/bad about the fact that I'm tapped out on stuff to send back, since I have not been buying too much lately. Of course, I am referring to madding's Guilt-Free Basketball Card Club, and the recent package that arrived from the Pacific Northwest chock full of Nets, Warriors, and now Knicks, goodness.

And when I say goodness, I am not kidding.

This Jarrett Allen autograph floored me- this is a big time card. Certainly a card I am too much of a cheapskate to ever buy for myself, that's not in question. But that wasn't all!

 From 2012-13 Totally Certified, a memorabilia parallel.

 My first card from this year's Certified

 He sent me two copies of this card- one with a white fabric swatch, and this one, which is dark blue, but scans black. It's my first card from this insert, to boot!

 I didn't know they did a blue Velocity in last year's Optic until I got this card!

 While Westbrook doesn't play for either of the thee teams I've claimed, I'm happy to have this insert from last year's Hoops. Westbrook does not get enough credit for what he's accomplishing.

 Most people classify this as a Warriors card, but I actually track it and class it as an All-Star card.

 Love the texture on the various Kings inserts from that year's Donruss.

 An insert I needed from 1994-95 Hoops, one of my all-time favorite sets!

This isn't the base Fleer card, I completed that set a long time ago. This is the Tony's Pizza promo version, which is much harder to find! In fact, it's only my third or fourth from the promo set. The only difference in the cards is the Pizza cards are not numbered.

And that's not all. There's still 19 more cards I have not scanned yet- but I can't hold this post off any longer while I wait to get them scanned up.

Thank you Kerry!

While I'm on the topic of thank yous, I received a rather large single card PIF from cnangle of the Database. This was a big surprise to  me because we had an argument a few weeks back and I'm not actually sure we're on speaking terms right now, aside from the obvious surprise of getting a needed card from 1969-70 in the mail unexpectedly! I owe him a thank you for sure, this is not the first time that he has sent me stuff and I have not sent him anything yet. I will be changing that hopefully fairly soon, but since I move at a glacial pace it might still be a few months.

A visit to a new dealer

I was happy to find a new dealer recently. But that's not entirely accurate...I've known the dealer since around 1994...he moved to a new location which is much easier for me to get to, and even better, he's got a lot of new stuff. I was able to go thorough only 3 of the boxes he had there, before my back gave out. I managed to find over 100 cards, and even a couple of new sets and one person who was missing from my collection. Here are some highlights. And by highlights, I mean more than half of the cards I got. (Over 100!)

Only NASCAR card he had that I didn't, I do now of course.

He had 5 RC from this set, and two of them were SN093/300

2009-10 Panini Season Update is a new set for me

2013-14 Court Kings is a new set for me

FINALLY got this Elton!

Dwight Buycks was the only new player added to my collection. I thought I added two but it turned out I already had a card of James Anderson, and forgot

I originally wrote this post up in November 2015, and never posted it. I determined that it didn't have the usual thought and effort I put into posts, and was just showing a bunch of cards with little context other than "Look what I just bought!". I can do better, so it sat untouched in my queue for more than 2 years. I decided to go through my drafts to see if there was anything from one of my posts that never went anywhere that I could salvage. While this is not my greatest post, I decided to finally post it, just to get it out of my queue. Since that time I've visited the dealer about a dozen times so "new" is not really correct anymore, but....it is what it is.

Sorry for the lack of good stuff to read, but hopefully you enjoyed the scans, at least. I'll be back to hopefully quality posts next time In theory!