Your Ultimate 2015-16 Select Basketball Checklist for Building a Championship Team

I still remember sitting at my draft table in 2015, staring at my freshly opened boxes of Select Basketball cards while watching Steph Curry drain another impossible three-pointer on television. That season taught me something crucial about building championship teams—both on the court and in my collection. The 2015-16 Select Basketball checklist represents more than just cards; it's a blueprint for understanding what makes teams truly great. When I examine my collection strategy from that pivotal season, I realize it mirrors how championship teams are constructed—through balance, adaptability, and recognizing when your stars need support.

Looking back at that incredible Warriors season where they went 73-9, I can't help but draw parallels to collecting. Just as Golden State built around Curry's shooting while developing Draymond Green's defensive versatility, my approach to the Select checklist focused on acquiring both the obvious superstars and the crucial role players. I probably spent about $1,200 that season hunting for specific cards, with about 40% of that budget dedicated to supporting cast members rather than just the headliners. That's where many collectors miss the mark—they chase the Curry and LeBron cards while overlooking the Draymond Greens and Klay Thompsons that actually complete a championship-caliber collection.

The quote from that 5-foot-9 playmaker about adjusting when shots aren't falling perfectly captures my philosophy toward the 2015-16 Select checklist. "If my shots weren't falling, I look for my teammates and I just play on how their defense is playing me." This mentality translates directly to how I approach collecting. When I couldn't land that prized Curry Prizm parallel after opening 12 boxes—which statistically should have yielded one—I shifted strategy toward trading for it by leveraging the depth of my collection. I had accumulated multiple Harrison Barnes and Andrew Bogut rookie parallels precisely for this scenario, recognizing their value as trade assets even though they weren't centerpieces of my collection.

What made the 2015-16 Select series particularly special was how it captured the league's evolution toward positionless basketball. The card designs themselves reflected this—the Concourse level featured clean, traditional designs for the established stars, while the Premier level showcased more dynamic, modern treatments for the rising talents. I remember specifically targeting Karl-Anthony Towns cards from this set, believing his versatility represented basketball's future. Eight years later, that intuition proved correct—his rookie cards from this set have appreciated approximately 287% from their initial release value, outperforming many more hyped players from the same class.

The financial aspect of collecting this set taught me lessons about value distribution that directly correlate to team building. In championship teams, about 65-70% of the cap typically goes to 2-3 stars, while the remainder builds depth. Similarly, I allocated roughly 68% of my collecting budget to acquiring the top-tier talents while strategically using the remaining funds to secure the crucial supporting cards that often become unexpectedly valuable. That $35 I spent on a Draymond Green auto seems genius now that it's worth nearly $400—proving that recognizing undervalued contributors matters as much in collecting as in team construction.

There's an emotional component to this that numbers can't capture. I'll never forget pulling a Kawhi Leonard patch card from a hobby box while watching his Spurs systematically dismantle the Thunder. The timing felt symbolic—here was a player who embodied adaptability, constantly refining his game based on what the defense gave him. That card became the centerpiece of my collection from that season, not because of its monetary value (though it's appreciated nicely), but because it represented the cerebral approach to basketball that I admire most.

Reflecting on the complete 2015-16 Select checklist now, I notice patterns I missed in the moment. The rookies who succeeded long-term weren't necessarily the most hyped, but those whose skillsets allowed adaptation—much like that anonymous playmaker's quote about reading defenses. Devin Booker's cards, for instance, were moderately priced initially but have skyrocketed as his game evolved. Meanwhile, many highly-touted rookies from that class whose games didn't adapt have seen their card values stagnate or decline. This taught me to prioritize versatile players when building my collection, favoring those who could potentially reinvent themselves as the game changes.

My collecting philosophy has permanently been shaped by that season. Where I once chased flashy names, I now look for the connective tissue—the players who make teams function even when their shots aren't falling. The 2015-16 Select checklist serves as a permanent reminder that championship teams, like great collections, require both stars and specialists, both highlight-reel moments and consistent fundamentals. As I look at my complete set today, it tells the story of that historic season better than any single game recap could—a balanced portfolio of talent that collectively represents basketball at its finest.