Panini Blog Panini America, NBA Team Up for Starting 5 Hobby Shop Promotion in December

[Panini Blog]

Take one almost-larger-than-life cardboard cutout of Kyrie Irving, 18 sweet promotion-exclusive trading cards, the chance to win great prizes (including a trip to the 2013 NBA All-Star Game, a trip to the 2013 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot and autographed memorabilia from the likes of Irving, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant and Blake Griffin) and the entire month of December and you’ve got all the ingredients for one spectacular promotion.
And beginning today at more than 250 hobby shops nationwide, that’s exactly what you have with the Panini America NBA Starting 5 program.
After one year away, the successful and popular Starting 5 promotion returns this month with an emphasis on Panini America’s massive and historic Double Rookie Class and the opportunity for collectors across the country to win great prizes in their hobby shops just for opening packs of Panini America NBA trading card products.
For each week during the month of December, five players are designated as that week’s Starting 5, collectors who assemble that week’s Starting 5 by pulling cards of those players from Panini America products in their hobby shops, will win a special pack of Panini America Starting 5 cards. But Panini America is raising the stakes for week four by producing special Gold Packs for the promotion that include randomly inserted autographs and a special contest card in every pack with prizes ranging from Panini America Rated Rookie T-shirts to autographed Panini Authentic memorabilia.
As part of the promotion, collectors are encouraged to go to PaniniStarting5.com to enter for a chance to win a trip to the 2013 NBA All-Star Game; there’s also a chance to enter to win a trip to the 2013 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot.
The contest officially tips off today, and we can’t wait to hear from collectors and hobby shop owners taking part in the promotion. We’ll post updates on the Panini America NBA Starting 5 program throughout the month of December right here on The Knight’s Lance. But for now, check out the official Starting 5 schedule and a comprehensive gallery detailing the special 18-card set (featuring Rated Rookies, and special Panini Authentic and Playmaker cards) that’s available exclusively to promotion participants in their hobby shops.
Starting 5 for week of December 1-December 8
Kyrie Irving
Brandon Knight
Harrison Barnes
Thomas Robinson
Austin Rivers
Starting 5 for week of December 9-December 15
Anthony Davis
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
Derrick Williams
Jared Sullinger
Andre Drummond
Starting 5 for week of December 16-22
John Henson
Bradley Beal
Dion Waiters
Kawhi Leonard
Iman Shumpert
Starting 5 for week of December 23-29
Kobe Bryant
Blake Griffin
Kevin Durant
Blake Griffin (from packs of 2011-12 Limited Basketball)
Kevin Durant (from packs of 2011-12 Gold Standard Basketball)
Now, the gallery . . .

Continue reading...