Genesis has to be one of the best looking cards ever.

Published June 02, 2025 | By Alyx E, Founder of Collectors MD

Some days, the itch creeps in. Not to rip. Not to buy. Just... to be around it.

Today was one of those days where the urge hit harder than usual. The announcement of 2024-25 Mosaic Basketball hit like a freight train—absolutely impossible to avoid. It’s that time of year and I’ve admittedly been waiting for the ‘coming soon’ page to hit Panini for weeks. But I wasn’t ready for this.

For context, Mosaic 2019-20 was the set that pulled me back into the hobby during the early pandemic days. I still remember the rush of those first rips, chasing Zion and Ja, that thrill of possibility in every pack. Especially back when those base rookies were selling for over a hundred bucks a pop. So seeing this new release hit my feed today? It triggered something deep. The nostalgia. The hype. The colors. The packaging. The possibilities. And suddenly, I felt like I was right back there again.

Ever since its debut as a standalone set in 2020, Mosaic has always been considered more entry-level—a tier below the big three: Prizm, Select, Optic. Chromium stock with a mosaic finish—still flashy, still loud, but never the centerpiece. Until now.

This year’s set is Mosaic on steroids. You’d think Panini is losing the league licenses or something. Three packs per box. The return of Kobe Snakeskin paralles. Optic Contenders Tickets. Stained Glass sharper than ever. Logomen?! And yes—even the almighty Color Blast. The preview reads like Panini’s Greatest Hits. It looks incredible.

If I could’ve sat down and designed my dream set—something that checked every single box for me—this would be it. Every detail feels precision-built to push my buttons. And it’s working. And that’s the problem. When it comes to marketing, Panini knows exactly what they’re doing—and this drop might actually deserve the “product of the year” title the hobby loves to throw around.

I found myself scrolling through the sell sheets and product images, fantasizing about pulling one of the new case hits or landing a low numbered parallel of one of the top rookies. Letting myself get excited. And almost immediately, the guilt hit—like I was window shopping for something I know I have no business buying.

We’ve talked about this at great length—the hobby is not exactly the same as traditional gambling, but it’s certainly adjacent. Close enough that if I’m not intentional, it could pull me back into the same destructive loop.

Recovery programs like GA preach total abstinence—cut it off completely. But collecting’s different. For many of us, it’s tied to identity, to joy, to connection. I don’t want to vanish from the hobby—I just want to engage in a way that doesn’t hurt me.

So I keep asking myself:
Can I scratch the itch without tearing the skin?
Can I observe without indulging?
Can I appreciate without spiraling?

Some days I can. Some days I can’t. But every day, I try—with purpose. And even that small moment of guilt? That felt like progress.

Mosaic officially drops July 9th. Between now and then, I’ll need to stay grounded—stay honest—stay intentional.

Because this isn’t just about resisting another product release.
It’s about reclaiming the way I interact with what I love.

Intention over impulse.
That’s the line I’m walking.

#CollectorsMD
Same hype. Same triggers. Different response.

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