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The 2018-19 Panini Opulence Basketball set is undeniably a premium release and one of the most impressive looking sets of cards we have seen in a long, LONG time. There’s a strong emphasis on gold, whether it be parallels or the coveted Rookie Patch Autograph Booklets. We firmly believe that the higher-end cards associated with the 2018 Panini Opulence Basketball Card Set will outperform the 2018 National Treasures Basketball Cards in terms of ROI over the next 10 to 20 years.
Buy the 2018-19 Panini Opulence Basketball Hobby Box on eBay
- Manufacturer: Panini
- Product: Opulence
- UPC/Barcode: 613297937685
- Release Date: July 19th, 2019
Featuring a mix of pros and rookies, (including Luka Doncic) it’s one of the better sets if you’re hoping for hits. Any of the options with an on-card signature is limited to 99 copies or less, and it’s marketed as “the only place to find autograph and memorabilia booklets for the 2018-19 release year.”
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Here’s a rundown with seven top cards to keep an eye on, which we see as hidden gems that have great potential in the future. We’ve also included a mini-review, which can be found at the bottom.
The 2018 Panini Opulece Set is one of the best looking cards ever created…
The 2018 Luka Doncic Panini Opulence Rookie Card is one of the best investments of current times
Best 2018 Panini Opulence Basketball Cards
As a luxury release, it’s no surprise to find that every card has a low serial number, as well as a number of strong parallels. We’ll start off with the most hyped player from the class of 2018.
7. 2018 Panini Opulence Luka Doncic /39 #88 (buy on eBay)
Luka Doncic features heavily on this list, as one of the most hyped players in recent memory. His cards from the 2018 Panini Opulence release are some of the most expensive options from the set, but they’re still fairly underpriced compared to the heavy hitters such as his Contenders RC.
[irp posts=”14402″ name=”Top 5 Luka Doncic Basketball Cards Under $100 (Top-Rated Investments)”]The #88 card is from the base set, featuring a shot of Doncic as he leaps up towards the net. The black and white background gives it understated appeal, while there are four rare parallels in total. Decent copies of the base card will sell for four figures.
Parallels: Holo Gold (/10), Emerald (/5), Ruby (/3), Platinum (1/1)
6. 2018 Panini Opulence Bam Adebayo /79 #16 (buy on eBay)
Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo is up next, having made his first All-Star appearance in 2020.
By far the cheapest option of the seven, this card is found in the City of Gold Signatures set. It has a landscape design, featuring an image of a dribbling Adebayo on the right. As you might expect, Gold is a theme that is used heavily, with the color taking up the majority of the background, as well as the name of the subset which is listed above the on-card auto.
It can be picked up for under $100, making it a great low-tier investment piece.
Parallels: Gold (/25), Holo Gold (/10), Platinum (1/1)
5. 2018 Panini Opulence Nouveau Riche Luka Doncic /39 #NRLDC (buy on eBay)
Doncic is back again, and this time it’s the Nouveau Riche subset. ‘Nouveau Riche’ means new money, and you’ll need a fair amount if you want to add this card to your collection. Again, gold is the theme for the release, with a large colored section at the bottom and the top.
[irp posts=”6331″ name=”Best Luka Doncic Panini Prizm Cards (Ultimate Buying Guide!)”]The middle is blank, save for an image of Doncic, and an on-card auto, filled in blue ink. There are just 39 copies of the base version, and there is a trio of rare parallels.
Parallels: Gold (/25), Holo Gold (/10), Platinum (1/1)
4. 2018 Panini Opulence Luka Doncic /99 #106 (buy on eBay)
From the Rookie Autographs subset, we’re sticking with Doncic once more. The top has a unique border design, with a mix of white and gold chrome that helps the card to pop. There’s a silver RC logo in the top left corner and an on-card auto at the bottom.
It’s another strong Doncic RC from the set, ticking all of the boxes for collectors.
Parallels: Gold (/25), Holo Gold (/10), Platinum (1/1)
3. 2018 Panini Opulence LeBron James /39 #54 (buy on eBay)
Next up is a man who needs no introduction. LeBron’s card from the base set has only 39 copies, featuring an action shot of the legend with a ball held above his head. We’d look to the Holo Gold version specifically, which has a print run of 10.
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It might not match up to the Doncic RCs in terms of overall value, but it’s still an exciting option from the set which has a great chance of making profit in the future.
Parallels: Holo Gold (/10), Emerald (/5), Ruby (/3), Platinum (1/1)
2. 2018 Panini Opulence Trae Young RPA /99 #134 (buy on eBay)
Trae Young was the fifth overall pick in 2018, making his first All-Rookie First Team a year later. In 2020, he made his first-ever All-Star appearance, showing clear progression in recent seasons.
Related: Best Trae Young Rookie Cards
His Rookie Patch Autograph is what we’re looking at here, featuring an action shot of Young on the left-hand side. There’s an on-card auto at the bottom, while the patch can come in up to three colors.
Parallels: Gold (/25), Holo Gold (/10), Platinum (1/1)
1. 2018 Panini Opulence Gold Luka Doncic RPA /10 #145 (buy on eBay)
Look no further than Luka Doncic for the top card from the 2018 Panini Opulence set (and quite possibly the top card in all of the hobby). The rookie patch features an image of Doncic in the air on the left, alongside a large swatch.
Top-Rated Investment: Luka Doncic Rookie Cards
A separate section at the bottom allows for a premium on-card auto, filled using blue ink. We’d advise looking at the Gold parallel if you’re searching for hidden gems, as it’s still relatively affordable compared to his most expensive RCs on the market.
Parallels: Gold (/25), Holo Gold (/10), Platinum (1/1)
2018-19 Panini Opulence Basketball Card Checklist
- 150 cards
- Veterans – #1-100
- Rookie Autographs – #101-125
- Rookie Patch Autographs – #126-150
Download the 2018-19 Panini Opulence Basketball Checklist
2018-19 Panini Opulence Basketball Parallel Guide
Base Set Parallels: Holo Gold #/10, Emerald #/5, Ruby FOTL #/3, Platinum 1/1
Rookie Autographs Parallels: Gold #/25, Holo Gold #/10, Platinum 1/1
Rookie Patch Autographs Parallels: Gold #/25, Holo Gold #/10, Platinum 1/1
24K Autographs Set Parallels: Gold #/25, Holo Gold #/10, Platinum 1/1. Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Karl Malone, Reggie Miller, Allen Iverson, Dirk Nowitzki, Julius Erving not in Gold parallel.
City of Gold Signatures Set Parallels: Gold #/25, Holo Gold #/10, Platinum 1/1
Gold Medal Autographs Set Parallels: Gold #/25, Holo Gold #/10, Platinum 1/1
2018 Panini Opulence Basketball: Buyers Guide & Investment Outlook
Investment Rating: Buy (4.9 out of 5)
Ownership Disclosure: None
Best 2018 Panini Opulence Basketball Card: 2018 Panini Opulence Gold Luka Doncic RPA /10 #145
With endless premium options, heaps of signatures, and a strong rookie class, it’s easy to see why collectors are fond of the 2018-19 Panini Opulence Basketball set. The booklets are a nice touch, while there’s a good range of cards to suit almost every budget.
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Doncic dominates the release, and any of his cards look to be solid in terms of investment pieces that have good potential for profit in the future. As long as you don’t mind the color gold, it’s hard to find many faults with the set!
One slight flaw is the high price of entry, but it is one of the more expensive NBA boxes overall. They offer good value for money and should see prices rising over the next year or so.