Adam Martin on NBA License Shakeup: Topps Takes Over, Panini’s Pivot & High-End Uncertainty

Jeremy welcomes Adam Martin (Dave & Adam’s Card World) for a deep dive on the hobby’s biggest pivot: Topps/Fanatics taking over the NBA license and what it means for Panini, breakers, and LCSs. Adam lays out the near-term timeline around Topps’ Oct 23 launch, why Panini isn’t going away (expect player-licensed basketball), and how pricing and allocations could shift as Fanatics spreads product more widely. They get tactical for shop owners and breakers, dynamic pricing, the loss of Flawless/Treasure margins, and why high-end basketball may thin out initially while Topps builds premium brands. On live commerce, they compare Whatnot vs. Fanatics Live vs. eBay Live, and talk through the risk/reward if Fanatics favors breakers on its own platform. Macro factors hit the table too: Walmart’s booth at the National, GameStop’s hobby push, distributors pivoting (hello, Pokémon), and how World Cup Prism keeps catalyzing soccer. The segment closes on market psychology: the $12.93M Jordan–Kobe Logoman, Kevin O’Leary’s capital, whether modern records trigger more supply, and why the best copies may disappear into “forever collections.” Insight-packed, candid, and grounded—this is your field guide to the post-license-swap era. Recorded live Sept 20, 2025 Sponsor Note:  Go to ⁠⁠⁠hellofresh.com/cards10fm⁠⁠⁠ now to get 10 free meals plus a free item for life, one per box with active subscription free meals applied as a discount on the first box. New subscribers only, and it varies by plan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices