In this four-tier series, Tier 1 represents the pinnacle of Topps basketball card sets from 1992 to 2009. These sets excel in overall collector value, historical significance, rookie class strength, print quality, innovative inserts/parallels, and long-term appeal. Only two sets make the Tier 1 cut: Topps Chrome and Topps Finest. Both are legendary among collectors, having set benchmarks for design and collectability that shaped the Topps basketball brand for years to come.