Topps is putting another basketball Chrome release on the board, and this one comes with a twist collectors have been waiting for: 2025-26 Topps Chrome Update Basketball. The product is built around the rookie class from this past season, which should keep demand high, and Topps has already teased a few of the cards and inserts that will give this release its chase factor.
The first chance to get in will come on Tuesday, July 7th, when pre-orders open on the Topps website. A specific time has not been announced yet, though pre-orders usually begin at 12 PM EST.
That could shift if Topps has multiple releases scheduled for the same day, but for now this is the only product listed. Pricing and exact box details are still under wraps, with that information expected either the day before release or sometime over the holiday weekend.
One of the biggest early takeaways is that this is the first Chrome Update release in basketball hobby, a notable step for the line. Topps also appears to be leaning into the momentum from Topps Chrome Basketball, with the new release expanding that momentum rather than just repeating it.
The preview images already point to one of the headline cards in the set: Luka Doncic will have a card, and it will be his first Topps Chrome card. The Superfractor version shows him in a Lakers jersey spinning a basketball on his hands. That kind of first Chrome appearance is the sort of card collectors circle immediately, and the base version should draw plenty of attention on its own.
Topps is also bringing back the Alter Egos insert, which first caught eyes in Chrome Update Baseball. The concept is simple but effective: players are presented as comic book superheroes, with each card assigning them a superhero alter ego. It’s a short-printed insert with strong visual appeal, and the chase card in basketball may be Cooper Flagg’s “Maine Event.”
Autographs will be another major draw, especially with the rookie class front and center again. Kon Knueppel is among the names featured, and Topps has shown a preview of his Gold Refractor Autograph.
The card shows him in a shooting motion that looks like a three-pointer, which fits the shot-making he showed in his rookie season. The autograph also appears to be on card.
Another insert joining the checklist is Fanatical, which uses a busy, crowd-backed design that puts the player front and center with fans in the background. The parallels are stripped down and bold, with the background taking on the color of the parallel itself.
A Black Parallel, for example, is completely black. Those cards figure to be tough pulls, especially in the parallel versions.
For collectors watching the basketball market closely, 2025-26 Topps Chrome Update Basketball is shaping up as one of the most anticipated products since Topps regained the license. Pre-orders begin July 7th on the Topps website, and more details should surface as release day gets closer.
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