The full-size box sold through card shops rather than big-box stores. It has the most packs and the best odds, and most modern hobby boxes guarantee at least one autograph or memorabilia card. Pack and card counts vary by product line. Older listings sometimes call this a wax box.
FOTL (First Off The Line)
Panini's early-release program, First Off The Line. A limited run goes straight to collectors before the product reaches shops, and each box adds exclusive parallels or extra hits over the standard hobby box. The program started with 2016-17 Immaculate Basketball. Since 2020 many FOTL drops have been priced by Dutch auction, where the asking price opens high and steps down until the boxes sell out.
On this productFOTL boxes add a bonus autograph on top of the standard two autographs (one graded) and two memorabilia cards, plus an FOTL Exclusive autograph.
These are the best prices we could find for this product across the 2 retailers we follow for
2018-19 Panini Encased, checked daily. Prices move constantly and stock sells
out; always confirm on the retailer’s own page before buying.
The deep end. People buy this chasing top rookie patch autos and legend signatures, and the price reflects it.
Q2What makes Encased different from other premium basketball products?
Every box includes a graded autograph card, which is the product's defining feature. You're guaranteed two autographs per box total, with one already slabbed. The big designs leave plenty of white space for on-card signatures, and every autograph in the product is numbered to 99 or less.
Q3What are the key rookie cards to chase?
The 2018 class is loaded. Luka Doncic, Trae Young, Deandre Ayton, and Marvin Bagley III appear across multiple rookie autograph subsets. Each player has Rookie Jersey Autographs, Rookie Endorsements, Rookie Scripted Signatures, and Rookie Notable Signatures, so there are different design variants to hunt.
Q4How do the parallels work?
Base autographs are numbered to 99. Parallels include Red (/25), Gold (/10), Green (/5), and Platinum (1/1). Some inserts like Endorsements autographs are numbered to 75 instead. The lower the print run, the scarcer the card.
Q5Are there veteran autographs, or is it all rookies?
It's not all rookies. Inserts like Legendary Swatch Signatures and Vaulted Veteran Material Signatures feature established players and legends including Charles Barkley, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, and others. Slabbed Signatures also mix past and present talent.
Q6What's the base set like?
The 219-card base set includes 100 veterans (#1-100), then four rookie autograph subsets: Rookie Endorsements (#101-130), Rookie Scripted Signatures (#131-160), Rookie Notable Signatures (#161-190), and Rookie Jersey Autographs (#191-223). All base cards are numbered to 99.
Q7Is this a good value at current prices?
Encased is a premium product with guaranteed dual autographs and a graded card in every box, so it's priced accordingly. Secondary market hobby boxes are running around $1,100+. It's best for collectors specifically hunting rookie autographs or graded slabs rather than those looking for volume.
Q8What's the difference between the three rookie autograph designs?
Rookie Endorsements, Rookie Scripted Signatures, and Rookie Notable Signatures all pull from the same 2018 draft class but feature significantly different card designs. This gives collectors multiple signature looks of the same player to chase, though the exact design differences aren't detailed in the product specs.
Q9What are the best inserts in 2018-19 Panini Encased?
Worth keeping an eye out for: Rookie Jersey Autographs, Rookie Endorsements, Rookie Scripted Signatures, Rookie Notable Signatures, Legendary Swatch Signatures, Slabbed Signatures.
Q10When did 2018-19 Panini Encased come out?
It dropped July 26, 2019.
Q11What's in a 2018-19 Panini Encased hobby box?
1 pack per box, 5 cards per pack. 8 boxes per case.
Q12What's the cheapest 2018-19 Panini Encased hobby box right now?
Cheapest we're tracking is $2499.95 USD. Prices update daily, and the trend arrow on this page shows which way it's been moving.
Q13Where can I buy 2018-19 Panini Encased?
We track listings across the major North American card shops and surface the best price up top. The Buy on eBay links go through the eBay Partner Network.
What to Expect
2018-19 Panini Encased Basketball
Every box of 2018-19 Encased comes with a graded autograph card plus one additional autograph, making it a premium pull for collectors chasing rookie signatures like Luka Doncic, Trae Young, and Marvin Bagley III alongside veteran ink from legends like Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal.
Autographs
2Autographs per box on average
On average per hobby box
1Graded autograph card
1Additional autograph card
Inserts to watch
Rookie Jersey AutographsOn-card signatures from 2018 draft class including Luka Doncic, Trae Young, and Deandre Ayton, numbered to 99 with Prime parallels in Red (/25), Gold (/10), Green (/5), and Platinum (1/1).
Rookie EndorsementsAutographed rookie subset with 30 cards numbered to 75, featuring first-year players with parallel versions down to 1/1 Platinum.
Rookie Scripted SignaturesDistinct design from Endorsements, pulling from the same rookie pool with 30 cards numbered to 75 and matching parallel structure.
Rookie Notable SignaturesThird rookie autograph design variant, 30 cards numbered to 75, offering collectors multiple signature looks of the same players.
Legendary Swatch SignaturesVeteran and legend autographs with memorabilia, including players like Charles Barkley, Kobe Bryant, and Shaquille O'Neal.
Slabbed SignaturesPre-graded autograph cards featuring a mix of past and present stars, all numbered to 99 or less.
Fast facts
Released
July 26, 2019
Box config
1 pack per box, 5 cards per pack. 8 boxes per case.
Set size
219 cards
Top rookie
Luka Doncic
By CardStock Editorial·
Price history
Last 30 days
CanadaUSA
Canadian prices in CAD, American in USD. A break in a
price line means every shop was sold out that day; a day we did not
scrape carries the last known price forward.
