Panini America Lands Lillard Autos for Last Four Products of 2012-13 NBA Season

Following a few days filled with rampant speculation and social media chatter,  Panini America officials today formally announced that the company has secured autographs of 2013 NBA Rookie of the Year Damian Lillard for inclusion in Panini America’s final four products of the 2012-13 NBA season: Innovation (which releases today), Intrigue, Immaculate and Flawless. The announcement is a huge one for basketball collectors as it will allow Panini America to deliver the first NBA-licensed certified autograph cards featuring Lillard in his Portland Trail Blazers uniform.

“We had an opportunity to secure a limited number of Damian Lillard autographs and are pleased that we were able to add the 2013 NBA Rookie of the Year to the last four releases of our 2013 NBA product calendar and feature his autographs on his NBA Portland Trailblazers trading cards,” said Jim Stefano, Panini America’s Senior Director of Product Development.

Lillard is featured on sticker autographs in 2012-13 Innovation Basketball, 2012-13 Intrigue Basketball (releasing September 18) and 2012-13 Immaculate Basketball (releasing October 16). In addition, Lillard has already signed on-card autographs for insertion into the high-end 2012-13 Flawless Basketball (releasing October 2).

Below you’ll find a quick gallery of Lillard’s history-making first Panini America autograph cards. Stay tuned to The Knight’s Lance for additional details.