Topps x Bob Ross Basketball: What We Know So Far
A first look at the reported 2025-26 Topps x Bob Ross Joy of Basketball set, with the release date, checklist, and box details still to come.
Happy little trees have met baseball cards before. Now, according to Blowout Buzz’s September 24 first look, Bob Ross’s artwork is headed for a 2025-26 Topps x Bob Ross The Joy of Basketball NBA set. Happy little threes? Sure. A confirmed release date? Not yet.
The first-look facts
| Question | Answer as of this first look |
|---|---|
| What’s the idea? | Bob Ross’s art alongside basketball player photography, according to Blowout Buzz |
| Release date | To be determined |
| Box configuration | To be determined |
| Checklist | To be determined |
| Cards and parallels | Teaser images exist, but full specifications have not been released |
Blowout says the concept follows two earlier Topps x Bob Ross MLB sets, mixing the painter’s work with player photos and possible parallels and oddities. This is an early preview from a card retailer’s blog, not a full official Topps product specification. Do not mistake a teaser image for a guaranteed card in a pack. The page itself calls arrival, box basics, and checklist TBD.
The teaser cards
The preview images give the clearest sense of the look: players cut into Bob Ross-style landscapes of pines, mountains, and seascapes, with The Joy of Basketball logo on every card. They show both base-style cards and on-card autographs, with serial numbers visible on several.
Preview images: Topps, via Blowout Cards. Serial numbers shown are on the teaser cards; parallels, print runs, and odds haven't been announced.
A few things stand out:
- Rookie autographs are part of the mix. Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel both appear with on-card signatures, numbered 10/10 and 14/25 on the previews.
- Veterans and legends too. Stephen Curry (autographed, 2/5), Victor Wembanyama (1/1), Jalen Brunson, and Shaquille O’Neal are all pictured.
- At least one insert and one design variation. Flagg has a Budding Talents card, and Shaq’s card is framed as a painting on an easel.
Treat these as a preview of the style, not a checklist. Until Topps publishes the full details, there’s no way to know how common any of these looks will be.
What collectors should watch
The fit is charming: a relaxed painting-show aesthetic in a sport that often markets every card as a thunderbolt. But whether this becomes a fun binder set, a serious autograph chase, or both depends on a checklist and odds that haven’t been released. I’d wait for Topps to publish configurations, odds, pricing, and a release date before deciding between a box and singles. No need to beat a brush into a buying decision.
Sources
- Blowout Buzz first look, September 24, 2026 (the page headline and body say 2025-26 despite the 2026-27 URL slug)
- Topps’s earlier Bob Ross baseball design background, not a specification for the basketball set
