Halloween, the season when ghosts, ghouls, and soon-to-be dentists’ children roam the neighborhoods in search of sweet sugary loot, just got a spooktacular upgrade. The 2024-25 Panini Haunted Hoops Basketball collection has made its much-anticipated return, and this year’s collection gives a whole new meaning to the phrase “scary good.”
For the second frighteningly consecutive year, Panini has breathed ephemeral life into its traditional NBA Hoops set, concocting a delightful blend of thrills, shrieks, and collectible surprises for basketball card collectors and candy enthusiast trick-or-treaters alike. This delightful Halloween inspired card collection is something special; it’s the treat that manages to make candy seem like the trick.
After conjuring a bewitching spell over collectors and receiving spine-tingling reviews last season, Panini decided to turn the volume up to eleven. They’ve doubled down on the eeriest aspects, making this year’s Haunted Hoops collection bigger, better, and by all accounts, eerier—in a delightfully gainful way. Beyond simply casting an enchanting spell on your NBA card collection, Panini’s latest offering also aims to introduce a whole new generation to the magic of trading cards, stepping in as the perfect substitute to the temporary sugar high of chocolates and sweets. Let’s face it, while candy is here today and gone faster than a ghostly apparition, these basketball cards promise to stick around for much more spirited engagements.
The 2024-25 Panini Haunted Hoops collection packs a punch, featuring 300 cards highlighting a mix of NBA veterans and the promising brilliance of the league’s dynamic rookies. The collection doesn’t stop there; it also includes a tribute subset featuring 20 legendary players who left an indelible mark on basketball history. Intriguingly, this season’s set also welcomes 25 prospective stars poised on the brink of hardwood superstardom. For both seasoned collectors and tenderhearted newbies, Haunted Hoops charms the senses by offering an entry into basketball card lore that captivates both heart and mind—without the calorie count.
Enthusiasts should prepare themselves for excitement as each box of Haunted Hoops contains no fewer than 40 packs, with each packet offering a thrilling three-card snapshot from the fan-favorite NBA Hoops series. What Halloween-themed collection would dare to haunt without exclusive, spooky parallels? Unveiling this season are six spine-tingling parallels, with three of them being fresh-off-the-cauldron numbered editions:
1. Orange
2. Slime
3. Holo Webs
4. Holo Bats (numbered to 399)
5. Holo Trick-or-Treat (numbered to 99)
6. Holo Sky (numbered to just 31)
These parallels transform packs from simple collections to gateways of aspirational exploration. Each pack can be a hidden treasure trove of collectible delight, enticing both avid collectors and beginners to dive deep into its enchanting pool. For collecting veterans, the quest for these rare and exclusive parallels is the thrilling pursuit of this Halloween’s ghostly harvest.
Beyond seasoned collectors, why might these Haunted Hoops become the handout of choice this trick-or-treat season? Consider the following: candy, while delightful, is fleeting. On the other hand, trading cards are an exciting alternative that leaves a lasting impression long after the last candy wrapper has been discarded. Visualize the joy of children receiving not just another piece of confectionery, but a shiny trading card, a window to the world of basketball wizardry. Whether it’s a glistening Ja Morant emblazoned with eerie Holo Web designs, or a rare Steph Curry Holo Trick-or-Treat card limited to only 99 copies—these cards entice youthful curiosity while being kinder to the dentist’s future pocketbook.
This year’s extended set list doesn’t disappoint, spotlighting a roster rich in talent, from established behemoths like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic, to the rising stars such as Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson. Yet, perhaps the most exciting feature for collectors is the introduction of fresh new talent—particularly the new prospect cards depicting soon-to-be legends, ensuring constant potential for discovery.
Yet, it’s not just the kids who fall for the spooky charms of Haunted Hoops. Veteran collectors will undoubtedly appreciate the diverse depth and scope of this year’s checklist. The tribute subset pays homage to icons like LeBron James and Luka Doncic, while numbered parallels beckon set builders and parallel chasers with tantalizing new goals that so beautifully blend the allure of past glories with the present’s charm.
Set to cast its spell upon the market on September 5, 2025, Haunted Hoops arrives just in time to create waves throughout neighborhoods everywhere. Whether purchasing boxes to enchant little ghouls and goblins or pursuing rare numbered parallels for one’s own collection, Haunted Hoops uniquely blends collectability, excitement, and the festive spirit of Halloween.
Halloween is about memories, and by distributing Haunted Hoops cards instead of candy that’s here today and ghostly vanished tomorrow, you’re offering a treat that sparks imagination and fosters fandom, possibly igniting a lifelong passion for trading card collecting. It’s the treat that outlasts any sugary counterpart, turning Halloween night into not just another sugar-filled family holiday, but perhaps also into a cherished introduction to the world of sports lore and collecting for new basketball fans. After all, candy provides a moment’s pleasure, while a cool trading card? That has the power to electrify imaginations.
