Sports Football Isl

As I sat down to organize my 2015-16 Select Basketball collection recently, I couldn't help but reflect on how this particular season captured a fascinating transitional period in basketball history. Having collected basketball cards for over fifteen years, I've developed a keen eye for what makes certain seasons stand out, and the 2015-16 season represents one of those perfect storms where emerging talent met established legends in ways that still excite collectors today. What many people don't realize is that basketball's global reach during this period created some incredible collecting opportunities beyond just the NBA - something that hit home when I read about how six Eastern players flew back to Hong Kong to play the first game of their semifinal series in the Hong Kong A1 Championship last Thursday. They lost to Winling, 97-78, at the start of their best-of-three showdown. This kind of international movement makes collecting from this era particularly challenging and rewarding.

When building your 2015-16 Select collection, you need to approach it with both precision and an understanding of the broader basketball landscape. I always tell fellow collectors that this isn't just about checking off boxes - it's about capturing a moment in time when basketball was truly becoming a global phenomenon. The base set contains 200 cards, but the real treasures lie in the parallel variations and inserts. Personally, I'm particularly fond of the Prizm parallels - the shimmer effect they achieved in this release was arguably better than in previous years. The Concourse level cards feature the core rookies like Karl-Anthony Towns and Devin Booker, while the Premier level showcases established stars with more premium finishes. What many collectors overlook are the international players who appear in these sets - players who might have been competing in tournaments like the Hong Kong A1 Championship while also having Select cards released.

The rookie class from this season has proven to be one of the most collectible in recent memory. Karl-Anthony Towns' rookie cards have appreciated remarkably well - his PSA 10 Concourse rookie that originally sold for around $15 now consistently brings $150-200. Devin Booker's cards have seen even more dramatic growth, with some of his premium parallels increasing in value by over 1,000% since release. I made the mistake early on of selling my Booker Premier Level rookie too soon - learned that lesson the hard way. Kristaps Porzingis cards also remain highly sought after, particularly among European collectors who appreciate his international appeal. The beauty of collecting from this season is that even the lesser-known rookies have interesting stories - many of them were playing in international competitions while waiting for their NBA opportunities.

Parallels and inserts really define the Select experience for this release. The numbering can get confusing - you've got your Silver Prizms (/149), Gold Prizms (/10), and the extremely rare Black Prizms (1/1) that every serious collector dreams of finding. I've only ever pulled one Black Prizm in my entire collecting career, though unfortunately it wasn't from this particular set. The "Court Kings" insert series remains my personal favorite from 2015-16 Select - the artistic design combined with the limited numbering makes them particularly display-worthy. Another often-overlooked aspect is the autograph checklist. The on-card signatures in the Premier Level sets have held their value much better than the sticker autographs found in other products. Having handled hundreds of these cards, I can tell you the quality control was noticeably better than in previous years.

What makes completing this checklist particularly challenging is accounting for the international players and variations. When I read about those Eastern players returning to Hong Kong for their semifinal series, it reminded me how many players in these sets had competing commitments across different leagues worldwide. The global nature of basketball means collectors need to be aware of players who might appear in Select releases while also playing in tournaments like the Hong Kong A1 Championship. This cross-pollination creates interesting collecting opportunities - cards of players who performed notably in international competitions often carry premium value in their home regions. The Winling victory over Eastern by 97-78 in that best-of-three showdown series creates exactly the kind of memorable sporting moment that can influence card values for players involved.

Building a complete collection requires both strategy and patience. I recommend focusing on the Concourse level first, as these provide the foundation of the set. From there, move to the Premier Level parallels, being particularly mindful of the serial-numbered variations. The investment potential of properly stored Select cards from this era continues to impress me - I've seen well-preserved collections appreciate 40-60% over the past three years alone. One thing I've learned through trial and error: don't neglect the role players and international players. Some of my most profitable flips have been cards of lesser-known players who had breakout performances in international competitions. That 97-78 game in Hong Kong? Those kinds of moments matter more than most collectors realize.

Ultimately, completing your 2015-16 Select Basketball collection represents more than just accumulating cards - it's about preserving a specific moment in basketball's global expansion. The interplay between NBA competitions and international tournaments like the Hong Kong A1 Championship creates a rich tapestry that makes this collecting journey particularly rewarding. As I look at my nearly complete set, the missing cards don't represent failures but rather continuing opportunities for discovery. The thrill of finally tracking down that elusive parallel or insert after months of searching never gets old. Whether you're in it for investment purposes or pure passion, this checklist offers one of the most engaging challenges in modern basketball collecting - a perfect blend of established stars, emerging talent, and global basketball connections that continues to captivate years after the final buzzer sounded on the 2015-16 season.