The controversial rise and uncertain future of box breaks

FOR ABOUT SIX MINUTES, Rich Layton moves steadily but fast. He grabs a box cutter and slices the cellophane around a brand-new box of 2018-19 Panini Prizm Choice basketball cards. Then he starts ripping open wax packs. He rattles off player after player, team after team, all while showing each card on camera to a rapt audience.

This whole scene from four years ago looks a little like a televised Texas Hold 'Em tournament if the dealers also did their own play-by-play. This Prizm set has a few 1-of-1 chase cards that Layton thinks could be worth north of $10,000. So Layton has to be a perfect blend of Vin Scully for the blah cards he's pulling from packs, then go full Gus Johnson if he yanks…