2023 Obsidian Basketball: A Set Built Entirely Around the Chase for Ink
A Set That Doesn't Bother With Subtlety
Obsidian has never been a base-card product. It's a hit product wearing a checklist as a disguise. The base cards exist mostly as a delivery system for the two things collectors actually open the box for: colored parallels and on-card autographs. If you're buying 2023 Obsidian expecting a deep, satisfying rainbow of commons to sort through, you're buying the wrong brand. If you're buying it because you want a shot at a low-numbered auto that looks like nothing else on your shelf, you're in the right place.
The Parallels: Blue and Gold, Not Just Colors
The blue and gold parallels in this release aren't cosmetic upgrades — they're the entire secondary market conversation for any card that isn't autographed. Blue tends to sit as the more attainable step up from base, the card you buy to feel like you have "the good version" without needing a four-figure budget. Gold is where things tighten. Serial numbering on these parallels is what actually drives value, not the color itself — a gold copy numbered low is a legitimately scarce object, while a higher-numbered one is closer to a nicer-looking base card. Treat the print run on the back as the real price tag, and treat the color as flavor.
The Autos Are the Point
Obsidian's identity has always been on-card signatures, and that's true here too. These aren't sticker autos slapped on as an afterthought — they're built into the card's design, which is exactly why they hold value better than autos from more disposable products. A serial-numbered autograph in this release is the actual grail tier of the set; everything else is supporting cast. If you're going to spend real money on one card from 2023 Obsidian, spend it here, not on a parallel chase.
Who Should Buy This Set
First-time Obsidian buyers should start with a blue parallel of a player they actually like — it's the entry point that still feels like you own "a version" of the card without needing to hit an auto. Collectors chasing liquidity should focus on serial-numbered golds and autos specifically, since those are the pieces with a real trading market. Everything else — base, high-numbered parallels — is filler that came free with the box. Don't pay auto prices for it.