The National Basketball Association or the NBA is known worldwide and has a lot of following globally. Even if the association is only limited to the U.S., almost everybody in the world knows what the NBA is and is familiar with its teams and players.
NBA fans show their support by purchasing NBA gear with their favourite teams’ jerseys and their favourite players’ numbers. However, if you plan to buy an NBA jersey, it is best to know the difference between a fake and an authentic jersey to avoid getting embarrassed in public.
The Different Types of NBA Jerseys that You Can Purchase
There are different types of NBA Jerseys that you can purchase at an NBA gear store to show your favourite team’s support. However, genuine NBA gears available for fans to purchase and wear also come in different categories.
On-court Jerseys
On-court jerseys are also known as game-worn jerseys and are the actual jerseys that the players wore during the season. Player jerseys are always replaced after each season, and the players can do what they want with the jerseys they wore. They may give it away for free to a loyal fan or to raise funds for charity. People who get a hold of actual game jerseys are lucky because, with proper providence, they can sell them for a higher price to a collector in the future.
Traditionally, NBA teams have two sets of jerseys, one for the home games and another for the away games. Teams with the home-court advantage were required to wear white jerseys with the trim colours of the team. However, this tradition was stopped during the 2017-2018 season when Nike was awarded the deal of providing the official jerseys for all NBA teams. During this season, NBA teams were allowed to pick from any of the four designated jerseys for their team at any game. This option allowed opposing teams to wear almost the same-coloured jerseys for a game. Since 2017, Nike has been the official provider of NBA uniforms until now.
Replica Jerseys
Replica jerseys are the next best thing to having an actual jersey worn by players. Most die-hard fans are only able to afford replica jerseys. Likewise, game-worn jerseys are rarely sold, and if they were up for sale, only a select few would be able to afford them. Replica jerseys are priced between $45 to $85 per set. There is a misconception that the word replica means “fake”. Replica jerseys are also made by licensed NBA gear manufacturers but are produced so that fans can have a more affordable gear to purchase.
Swingman Jerseys
Swingman jerseys are an upgraded version of replica jerseys. They are made from the same material and have the same designs as the on-court jerseys. These types of jerseys can cost from $80 to $130.
How to Spot a Fake NBA Gear
Because the NBA is so popular, there are many counterfeit NBA gears going around in the market. Most knockoff manufacturers have upgraded their manufacturing methods, and so it is now hard to differentiate the genuine gears from the fake.
One of the best ways to spot fake NBA gear is to check its price. Nobody in their right mind will sell authentic NBA jerseys at a losing price. So, if the price is too good to be true, then it probably is fake. Likewise, you have to check the overall quality of the jersey in terms of its stitching.
When purchasing NBA gear, it is important to know the different types of jerseys so that you will not get duped into paying for something that is not real.
