Topps and UD: No 2008-09 Exclusive NBA Rookie Deals

Ysponder

Jul 9 2008 1:26PM


For the first time in nearly 10 years, neither Topps nor Upper Deck is signing any NBA rookies to exclusive autograph deals.

Recently, both companies have battled it out by "drafting" their own teams in signing exclusives deals. Upper Deck has swallowed up the majority of the marquee names, such as Kevin Durant, Brandon Roy, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul and, of course, LeBron James. Topps has locked up players such as Greg Oden, Brandan Wright, Adam Morrison, J.J. Reddick and Emeka Okafor.

Of course, the two companies still have exclusive deals with some veteran and retired players, but this year, the rookies are fair game for both.

"We decided to spread our dollars and go non-exclusive with everyone," says Topps spokesman Clay Luraschi. "We have the first 15 picks [signed] to deals."

The day after the NBA draft, Upper Deck announced that it had signed the top 10 picks to autograph deals. The obvious question is, why are there no exclusives this year when we've had nearly a decade of them? Perhaps the slow basketball card market just doesn't justify spending the extra money on exclusive deals, especially with just two manufactures in the mix. Maybe Topps and Upper Deck feel that the overall market will be helped by not limiting some players to one company.

Neither company would confirm those speculations at this time, but it certainly will be interesting to compare Topps and Upper Deck autographed Rookie Cards side by side. Collectors that longed for a Kevin Durant/Greg Oden combo autograph last year can expect possible 2008-09 rookie combos such as Derrick Rose/Michael Beasley or O.J. Mayo/Russell Westbrook.

Don't forget that Press Pass is also back in the mix with a base Press Pass brand after not producing one last year (the company produced Press Pass Legends the past two seasons). This is no doubt at least a partial result of the absence of exclusive rookie deals.