Panini America, Pelicans Sign Multiyear Agreement, Partner to Celebrate Team’s Top Stars and Performances with Real-Time Trading Cards :
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NEW ORLEANS – Panini America, the world’s largest licensed sports and entertainment
collectibles company and the exclusive trading card manufacturer of the NBA, NBA Players
and college basketball, announced today an exclusive multi-year partnership
with the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans that will feature real-time trading cards
of the team’s biggest performances as well as in-arena activations and giveaways.
In addition, Panini will be part of an integrated “Rookie Spotlight”
content series that profiles the Pelicans top rookies and their journey through
their rookie season in New Orleans including Zion Williamson, Jaxson Hayes,
Josh Gray, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Zylan Cheatham and Nicolò Melli.
The exclusive partnership was announced today and the first Panini Instant card
honors last night’s NBA debut of rookie sensation Zion Williamson,
whom Panini America signed to an exclusive
autograph trading card agreement last summer.
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2019-20 Panini Instant Impressions ZION WILLIAMSON
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Zion Williamson's dazzling debut gets Panini Instant card :
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Zion Williamson's NBA debut Wednesday night down
in New Orleans didn't start as planned but it ended
with a dominating few minutes in the fourth quarter.
And now it's on a Panini Instant basketball card.
Printed to order and only available for the next four days
via the Panini Instant site, the cards are $9.99 apiece
with volume discounts as low as $99.99 total for 25 copies.
At halftime and after limited minutes, the No 1 overall pick
in last year's NBA Draft had just two points and three rebounds
with an assist, a foul and two turnovers.
His stat line also was pretty uneventful at the start of the fourth quarter
but he then scored 17 consecutive points, including a 4-for-4 showing
from three-point range to finish with a team-high 22
in a 122-117 Pelicans loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
Williamson's debut set a new team record for points in a debut game
and he also set a new NBA record for the most points in a debut
with under 20 minutes of playing time, according to ESPN Stats.
He also was the first player to go 4-for-4 (or better)
from three-point range in his first NBA game.
Williamson's cardboard has been a scorcher all season long even
with him not playing, and the Panini Instant Green (/10)
and 1/1 Black parallel cards were instant sell-outs today,
eaving this card as the only option (for now) noting his official debut.
The Williamson card will be available to order until Monday and is the first
of many special Pelicans cards that will be available through the Panini Instant
platform during the 2019-20 NBA season celebrating key Pelicans performances.
The Pelicans also will be featured in all of Panini America’s exclusively licensed NBA
trading card products and in the company’s NBA Dunk Digital Trading Card App
where fans can collect and interact with digital trading cards in various in-app events.
“The New Orleans Pelicans are one of the most exciting
young teams in the league and we’re proud to be able
to partner with them in such a meaningful way,” said Jason Howarth,
Panini America Vice President of Marketing.
“The team has dynamic playmakers up and down the roster
and nothing intrigues fans and collectors quite like superstar
potential and a team that’s on the rise.
Both of those perfectly summarize the Pelicans and will be another
way for us to engage with fans with our trading cards.”
“We are always looking for innovative ways to enhance
the overall experience for our fans,” said New Orleans Pelicans
Senior Vice President of Sales Michael Stanfield.
“We strive to be at the forefront of innovation and we are excited
to be teaming up with the world’s largest sports and entertainment
collectibles company in a way that will help create
a product that can appeal to a worldwide audience.”
2019-20 Panini Instant Rookie #76 ZION WILLIAMSON
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