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Panini America (www.paniniamerica.net), a subsidiary of The Panini Group, the leading global publisher of sports and entertainment collectibles, announced today that it has entered into an exclusive relationship with Evan Turner, who was the second overall pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft and selected by the Philadelphia 76ers.  This partnership with Panini America, the exclusive trading card and sticker licensee of the NBA, marks Turner’s first NBA trading card deal.

As part of the relationship, Panini will hold exclusive rights to include Turner’s autograph in 2010-11 Panini Basketball products.  In addition, Panini may include Turner’s image on Panini packaging and will utilize Turner in promotional appearances.  Turner’s first NBA cards will be included in Panini’s 2010 NBA Prestige product, set to arrive in stores at the end of September.

Turner, a shooting guard at Ohio State University decided to forgo his senior season after winning both the 2010 John Wooden and Naismith National Player of the Year Awards, among other accolades.  His first NBA cards will be included in Panini’s 2010 NBA Prestige product, set to arrive in stores the end of September.  The collection will include cards from other top rookie draft picks, including Wizards’ number one draft pick, John Wall; New Jersey Nets, Derrick Favors; Minnesota Timberwolves, Wesley Johnson and Sacramento Kings, DeMarcus Cousins.

“We are excited to announce that we have signed Evan Turner as a Panini exclusive athlete. We look forward to an exciting rookie season from Evan and hope he has as much success as our NBA rookies last year,” said Scott Prusha, Director of Marketing for Panini America.

In advance of Panini’s first season as the exclusive trading card for the NBA in 2009-10, Panini signed rookies including Sacramento Kings Guard and NBA Rookie of the Year, Tyreke Evans; Milwaukee Bucks Guard Brandon Jennings; and the Los Angeles Clippers Forward and first pick of the 2009 NBA Draft, Blake Griffin.

As the leading global publisher of sports and entertainment collectibles, Panini has license agreements with three of the major U.S. sports, including the NFL/NFLPA, NHL/NHLPA and an Exclusive Trading Card and Sticker Partnership with the National Basketball Association (NBA).  Panini’s other partnerships include an exclusive license with FIFA for the 2010 and 2014 World Cup, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and with five-time NBA Champion Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers.  Panini also has a successful collectibles business with consumer brands including DreamWorks’ How to Train Your Dragon, Disney’s Toy Story 3, Hannah Montana and High School Musical, and Warner Brothers’ Harry Potter.

Ultimate Signatures Bill Russell Auto

The Upper Deck Company is pleased to announce that it will be releasing an impressive 2010-11 Ultimate Collection Basketball trading card set in September, in which many of this year’s top lottery picks will be appearing complete with autographed inserts. Several of the top players selected during yesterday’s first round of the 2010 Basketball Draft will be featured in the set including Derrick Favors (No. 3 pick overall), DeMarcus Cousins (No. 5), Ekpe Udoh (No. 6), Greg Monroe (No. 7), Gordon Hayward (No. 9), Paul George (No. 10), Cole Aldrich (No. 11), Xavier Henry (No. 12) and Luke Babbitt (No. 16).

“We’re extremely exited about this set,” said Brandon Miller, Upper Deck’s Basketball brand manager. “As always, collectors expect superb, high-end basketball cards from Upper Deck. Ultimate Collection will provide a great mix of players past and present, and a terrific amount of autograph cards from some of the league’s best talent as well as many of its up-and-comers.”

Ultimate Rivalries Bird Magic Auto

Beyond the inclusion of several of this weekend’s top Draft picks, the 81-card set will also include Upper Deck’s dynamic duo of exclusive basketball spokesmen: reigning two-time league MVP LeBron James and newly inducted Hall-of-Famer Michael Jordan who earned six league titles and six Finals MVP awards during his stirring tenure with Chicago. Both spokesmen will have autographed cards appearing in multiple Ultimate Collection insert sets including “Ultimate Signatures” and “1997 Legends.” Other basketball greats who will be appearing in this set include Magic Johnson, Bill Russell, Larry Bird and Julius Erving.

Upper Deck’s 2010-11 Ultimate Collection Basketball product is scheduled to hit store shelves on September 21.

Is this a product you will consider busting or not? I for one would much rather see cards of them in their NBA days. I guess at least they are trying or would you rather not see it at all? Let me know what you think.