Chasing Downtowns: A Collector’s Deep Dive into the 2024-25 Donruss Optic NBA Card Set

Basketball card collectors, the wait is over! The highly anticipated 2024-25 Donruss Optic NBA release has arrived, bringing its signature blend of sleek chrome, vibrant parallels, and the iconic "Rated Rookie" cards. As a cornerstone of the modern hobby, Optic consistently delivers a thrilling chase for collectors of all levels.

This guide will break down everything you need to know about the new set, highlighting the key chase cards, the dazzling array of rare parallels and inserts, and how to track early market pricing.

The Chase Cards – Rookies, Superstars, and Autos

At its core, Optic is all about the big hits. Here’s what everyone will be looking for in 2024-25 boxes:

• Top Rated Rookies: This year's rookie class is loaded with talent, and their "Rated Rookie" cards are the main attraction. Be on the lookout for cards of top draft picks like Zaccharie Risacher (Atlanta Hawks), Alexandre Sarr (Washington Wizards), Reed Sheppard (Houston Rockets), and the highly anticipated Bronny James Jr. (Los Angeles Lakers). These are the cards that will define the set for years to come.

• Second-Year Stars: After a historic rookie season, Victor Wembanyama's second-year cards will be in extremely high demand. Collectors will be eager to see his new parallels and inserts.

• On-Card Autographs: The Rated Rookies Signatures are the premier autograph cards in the set, featuring on-card autos from the top rookies. These are incredibly sought-after, with the low-numbered parallels being true grail cards for player collectors.

• Super Short Print (SSP) Inserts: Optic is famous for its visually stunning and hard-to-find inserts. This year, the brand new "Downtown" insert makes its Optic debut and will instantly become one of the most valuable non-autograph cards in the set. The popular "Slammy!" and "Alter Ego" inserts also return as SSPs.

  
  

The Parallel Rainbow and Must-Have Inserts

The thrill of Optic is in its vast and colorful parallel rainbow. Tracking down all the versions of a single player's card is a challenge many collectors embrace.

• Key Hobby-Exclusive Parallels to Know:

  • Photon: A fan-favorite, short-printed parallel known for its unique light-refracting pattern.

  • Aqua: Numbered to /225

  • Orange: Numbered to /175

  • Lime Green: Numbered to /149

  • Red: Numbered to /99

  • Pink Velocity: Numbered to /79

  • Blue: Numbered to /49

  • Black Velocity: Numbered to /39

  • Gold: Numbered to /10

  • Green: Numbered to /5

  • Gold Vinyl: The true 1-of-1 chase card.

    
    

• Popular Insert Sets: Beyond the SSPs, look for these dynamic insert sets, which also come in Holo, Gold (/10), and Gold Vinyl (1/1) parallels:

  • Elite Dominators

  • The Rookies

  • Lights Out

  • Raining 3s

  • Rising Suns

  • Red Hot Rookies

  • Net Marvels (New for 2024-25)

Link to 2024 Optic NBA Checklist