DICK’S will sell Topps Basketball a day early at 15 stores, with NBA legends opening packs

DICK’S Sporting Goods will sell 2026-27 Topps Basketball hobby boxes on Nov. 4, one day before the official release, at 15 House of Sport stores. Former NBA stars including Allen Iverson, Dirk Nowitzki and Hakeem Olajuwon will be there to open packs with collectors.

Sports Collectors Daily reported the plan Oct. 28. The early sales run through DICK’S “Collectors Clubhouse” areas, the retailer’s in-store spaces for cards and collectibles. The setup borrows from Topps’ Hobby Rip Night events, which have run at independent card shops, and moves it into a national sporting-goods chain.

Who’s where

Most events run 6 to 8 p.m. local time on Nov. 4, with guests appearing from 6 to 7 p.m. Boston and Schaumburg start at 5:30. The schedule reported by Sports Collectors Daily:

• Annapolis, Md.: John Wall
• Arlington, Texas: Dirk Nowitzki
• Friendswood (Baybrook), Texas: Hakeem Olajuwon
• Brandon, Fla.: Tracy McGrady
• Wilmington (Brandywine), Del.: Allen Iverson
• Boston: Brian Scalabrine
• Gilbert, Ariz.: Amar’e Stoudemire
• Kennesaw, Ga.: Dominique Wilkins
• Oklahoma City: Serge Ibaka
• San Antonio: George Gervin
• Schaumburg, Ill.: Joakim Noah
• Miami, Minnetonka, Minn., Raleigh, N.C., and Freehold, N.J.: content creators, including AJ & Big Justice, Tristan Jass and Vic Blends (Freehold’s guest has not been announced)

The product

Topps Basketball has a 300-card base set. Rookies include AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, Caleb Wilson and Keaton Wagler. Topps is bringing back its 1981-82 basketball design and adding Gold 1/1 “All Kings” cards, plus number, team, Golden Mirror Image and new Clear variations. The story didn’t include box pricing.

Ryan Gallaher, DICK’S vice president of category marketing, said in the announcement that “as collectibles continue to be a growing part of our business, we’re intentionally creating experiences” for collectors, adding that “partnering with Topps allows us to deliver that exact energy,” according to Sports Collectors Daily.

Why it matters

DICK’S isn’t new to the hobby. In 2025 it bought the 1-of-1 Paul Skenes Topps Debut Patch card for $1.1 million and displayed it at its Pittsburgh House of Sport, Sports Collectors Daily noted. An early-access release day with former NBA stars takes that further, making a big-box retailer a launch-day destination for a flagship hobby product.

Our take (speculation): Early hobby-box access has usually been a perk for local card shops. If big-box stores start getting launch-day events with star guests, independent shops could face more competition for the most valuable day of a product’s life. Topps hasn’t said whether this is a one-off.

By the numbers

• 15: DICK’S House of Sport stores taking part
• Nov. 4: early-access date (official release Nov. 5)
• 300: cards in the Topps Basketball base set
• $1.1 million: what DICK’S paid for the Skenes Debut Patch 1/1 in 2025

What collectors should do

• Check your nearest store and time zone: Guest appearances are one hour, and Boston and Schaumburg start 30 minutes early.
• Ask about limits before you go: The report didn’t include box pricing or purchase caps.
• Think about your local shop: If you usually buy release day at a hobby shop, see whether it’s running its own Nov. 5 event.

Sources: Sports Collectors Daily (Oct. 28, updated Oct. 29, 2026)

Featured image: Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash