How to Buy Official NBA Memorabilia

The NBA has expanded onto the international basketball scene with preseason games overseas and a slew of popular foreign-born players. This expansion has led to an increased popularity in memorabilia and merchandise produced by the league. If you are interested in buying NBA memorabilia, you need to know the right resources for your needs.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Find the NBA symbol on all memorabilia to ensure that it is an official NBA-produced item. The NBA symbol is red and blue with a silhouette of former NBA player Jerry West dribbling a basketball. This mark can be found on the back of all clothing items and memorabilia.
2. Assign one piece of NBA memorabilia that you buy each year for a full team autograph session. Every team sends its players out for a number of community events to provide autographs and greet the fans. You should bring T-shirts, jerseys or basketballs to provide adequate space for signatures.
3. Research the availability of NBA retro jerseys and commemorative items that celebrate the great players in the game. Some teams have a number of retro outfits that you can buy at a premium price compared to normal jerseys. You should also look at mugs, banners and other items meant to celebrate the anniversary of achievements in the NBA.
4. Look over your current NBA memorabilia to determine which items you need to buy to complete the collection. Look for basketball cards, jerseys or commemorative banners for your favorite team to increase the total value of your collection.
5. Purchase complete uniforms for your favorite NBA team to round out your memorabilia collection. Buy official headbands, wristbands and shorts that match your NBA jersey collection.
6. Learn the network of collectors and sports stores in your area to determine where you can buy NBA memorabilia. Figure out when each resource receives new items so that you can streamline your collecting process.
7. Acquire official NBA items like jerseys and sweatshirts at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. The Hall of Fame has a gift shop where you can find authentic and replica clothing items from every era of professional basketball. Shop via its website (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• Defunct NBA teams and memorabilia from the ABA can provide rare items for your collection. There are a number of teams from the 1940s and 1950s, like the Chicago Stags and Cleveland Rebels, that had unique uniforms.
• Uniforms and other memorabilia from this era can be quite expensive if the items are in mint condition.