NBA SUPERSTARS x PLAYING CARDS
THE COLLECTION
OVERVIEW
With this project, my goal was to create playing card versions out of some of the biggest game changers in the league. The idea, initially, started after I created a card for Nikola Jokić, since his nickname is ''The Joker''.
Each player is matched with a number/letter that is in one way or another significant to them, and the design of each card contains details that tell a bit of that player's story.
The collection consists of 6 cards, each one representing a different star player.
Nikola Jokić - Joker
The design has multiple elements that are connected to Nikola's nickname such as the hat he is wearing or jester on his right. I also included his logo in top left and bottom right, as well as multiple images from Denver Nuggets logo. Primary color for accents is red since that is the color most often associated with the Joker and secondary colors are matching the primary colors of Denver Nuggets. Also, the background behind Jokić is of a Serbian Orthodox church, showcasing some of Serbian national heritage and adding another detail to the piece.
Lebron James - King
Lebron James might have the most famous nickname in history of sports, so it was only right to turn him into a playing card as well. To pay homage to the nickname, I added a crown on his head, and also added a lion, since lion is always called the king of animals. I used the Los Angeles Lakers color palette, and added elements from their logo, as well as Lebron's personal logo in the top left and bottom right of the rectangle. The text in the middle represents his nickname as well.
Damian Lillard - Ace
I decided to go with Dame as the Ace card, simply because he was always known as a clutch player, the one guy you can rely when things get tuff, the ace up your sleave when game can go either way. For the color palette, I once again went with team colors, and I also added an image of Benjamin Franklin as a homage to the nickname Dame D.O.L.L.A. Just like the 2 other designs, I topped this one off with details from the Blazers logo, as well as Dame's personal logo.
Ja Morant - Jack
For the Jack card, I decided to go with Ja Morant, because he is one of the up and coming stars in the league and he could be the face of the NBA for years to come alongside Dončić and Tatum. As for the design itself, I did a similar thing as with others in terms of adding elements from both players personal logo as well as team logo elements, and the color palette is similar to the one of the Memphis Grizzlies. There are also a few details to showcase the City of Memphis as well as the Grizzly bear. Overall, this might be my least favorite design of the series, but I am still okay with how it turned out.
Stephen Curry - 3
After completing the first four designs, I was thinking about ending the series there, but I could not miss out on the opportunity to make one for number three, and the person that shaped the way NBA is played due to his ability to constantly score threes.
As for the design, the color palette once again represents the team colors, and I used elements from multiple logos for the background, as well as his logo on the top right and bottom left of the rectangle. I also went with water splash behind the player which represents the nickname ''Splash Bros'' that Curry got alongside Klay Thompson, and included another one of his nicknames in the middle text, where I wrote Chef Curry.
Kevin Durant - 7
Final entry to the series, and probably my favorite. The meaning behind the number 7 is not as big as some other meanings on this list, but the nickname Slim Reaper gave enough space for a lot of details to be added. The Slim Reaper's scythe is shaped like a inverted 7, just to tie the number with the design a bit more. Also, the spider on Durant's shoulder represents his other nickname, ''Durantula''. Aside from that, I also added logo elements from the team, and his personal logo, and once again went with the team's color palette.
