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NBA jerseys are sleek, stylish, and can be worn even in casual situations. That makes them a great purchase whether you’re out to support your favorite team or you’re just having a night out.
However, not all jerseys are made the same. Some of the cheaper jerseys you find on the internet are made of low-quality fabric and will deteriorate after just a few washes. Some knock-off jerseys don’t even match the team’s colors!
Luckily for you, I’ve curated and compiled a list of the best places to buy NBA jerseys. Or you hop on over to the Fanatics subsection for my best overall place to shop!
PRODUCT
PRODUCT DETAILS
- You can find all jerseys for every team and every player.
- Easy to search and find the jersey you’re looking for.
- Highest quality available.
- Lots of options in terms of jerseys.
- Improved comfort around the torso and arms.
- Similar options to what’s available on the NBA Shop.
- Lots of options of merch to choose from.
- Regularly offers sales and discounts on products.
- A lot of second-hand options, particularly for vintage jerseys
- UI is seamless and smooth
- Can find a number of really rare jerseys
- Has some of the cheapest prices for NBA Jerseys around.
- Free shipping.
Best Places to Buy NBA Jerseys
#1 Best Overall: Fanatics
Fanatics has quite literally everything. You can find jerseys for all teams, with player templates for all the best players, even those who have retired.
Fanatics has also included Throwback jerseys from the manufacturer Mitchell & Ness, which means you can keep collecting jerseys from your favorite team even after you’ve purchased the Home and Away combos. There is a customizable option in which you can add your own last name and number to your favorite team’s jersey.
In Fanatics, you will find Authentic, Replica and Swingman editions of every team’s jersey, with the only difference between the three being the quality. An Authentic jersey is basically what players wear to the game, while Swingman is a more robust version of the Replica jersey, which replicates the Authentic jersey but with some concessions to quality.
You’ll also be able to find shirtseys, City edition jerseys, and Earned editions, all with templates for the most popular players in Fanatics. As an official partner of the NBA, every product sold is of the highest quality.
What’s more, it’s super easy to find what you are looking for thanks to Fanatics’ functional search feature and easy-to-navigate filter options. Overall, you just need to spend 5 minutes on Fanatics to know that it is the best place to shop for NBA jerseys.
PROS
- You can find all jerseys for every team and every player.
- Easy to search and find the jersey you’re looking for.
CONS
- None.
What’s more, it’s super easy to find what you are looking for thanks to Fanatics’ functional search feature and easy-to-navigate filter options. Overall, you just need to spend 5 minutes on Fanatics to know that it is the best place to shop for jerseys.
#2 Highest Quality: NBA Store
The NBA Store is your one-stop shop for the highest quality NBA gear. You can find Authentic, Replica, Swingman and Throwback jerseys for every single NBA team. Additionally, you’ll be able to put your hands on jerseys for now-defunct teams like the New Jersey Nets and Seattle Supersonics.
The quality of jerseys on the NBA Store is virtually unmatched. They feature durable 100% polyester and Dri-FIT technology to wick moisture away and keep you cool and dry. Throwback jerseys, meanwhile, are recreations of the original uniforms worn by great players and feature the same stitched twill letters and numbers that you will find on Authentic NBA jerseys.
Most jerseys on the NBA Store are manufactured by Fanatics but provide a more tailored fit and improved comfort around the torso and arms. Throwback jerseys on the other hand, are made by Mitchell & Ness, with the focus on re-creating team spirit with embroidered graphics and twill lettering.
PROS
- Highest quality available.
- Lots of options in terms of jerseys.
- Improved comfort around the torso and arms.
- Customer-friendly return policy.
CONS
- No customization options.
The NBA Store has a 90-day return policy if you’re not satisfied with your purchase. They also regularly offer discounts, sales, and free shipping especially during Father’s Day.
#3 Also Great: Lids
Although Lids is most known for selling hats, it also has an expansive NBA Shop that features jerseys from every NBA team, as well as some old-school classics from the NY Nets, Supersonics, San Francisco Warriors and Vancouver Grizzlies.
The easiest way to shop on Lids.com is to shop by team, as Lids does not have a filter to search by jersey type (City, Replica, Authentic, etc.).
However, not only does Lids have many of the same Replica and Swingman jerseys that the NBA Shop has, but it also has a number of rare designs, like Scottie Pippen’s ’92 Dream Team jersey. Moreover, you’ll find just as many Throwback designs so you can pay tribute to your all-time favorite players.
PROS
- Similar options to what’s available on the NBA Shop.
- Lots of options of merch to choose from.
- Regularly offers sales and discounts on products.
CONS
- Searching for jerseys is a little more difficult than other websites.
All of the Replica and Swingman jerseys on Lids feature an athletic cut with technology to wick moisture away. This means you can play in your jersey AND look fresh in social settings, if you so choose.
#4 Best Place For Vintage: Etsy
Etsy has by far the greatest collection of unique and rare NBA jersey designs. Simply put, you can find jerseys here that you cannot find anywhere else.
Seriously, you can find Shawn Kemp’s Supersonics jersey and Grant Hill’s Pistons jersey at relatively cheap prices, especially compared to what you might find on other online retailers. Women can find a number of jerseys tailored to them as well, with even a few sellers marketing “jersey dresses”.
Of course, Etsy being an online marketplace, means that you always take some risk when buying from another seller. Therefore, be sure to check out the seller’s reviews before purchasing a product. Also, keep in mind the old adage of “too good to be true”. For example, if you see a SIGNED Michael Jordan jersey for less than the regular retail price of a Replica jersey, you know something fishy is going on.
PROS
- A lot of second-hand options, particularly for vintage jerseys.
- UI is seamless and smooth.
- You can find a number of really rare jerseys.
CONS
- You have to put some faith in the vendor to be honest with the condition of the jersey.
What’s nice about Etsy is that it tells you if the jersey you’re looking for is soon to be out of stock. For example, it will say, “1 left and 1 in someone else’s basket”.
#5 Best Place For Cheap Jerseys: DHgate
DHgate is a wholesale marketplace based in China. It works much in the same way as Etsy and Amazon. On DHgate, you’ll find hundreds of suppliers selling knock-off NBA jerseys at discounted prices.
DHgate is one of the best places to buy cheap NBA jerseys, as most if not all of the jerseys on there are knock-offs. Unfortunately, there is no easy way to find the exact NBA jersey you are looking for, as searching for any player name and team will yield no results.
Instead, you have to search for “NBA jerseys” and look through the list of vendors. Some of the jerseys there look like Replica jerseys, and there are some particularly “unique” jerseys that you will not find anywhere else.
You can expect to find jerseys for some of the most popular players in the league, as well as many knock-offs of Kobe Bryant’s Lakers jersey and Michael Jordan’s Bulls jersey.
Luckily, you do not have to worry about getting scammed, as DHgate has a system in place in which if you are not happy with your purchase, you can have your money refunded to you easily.
Many of the sellers also offer favorable return policies. Buyers can receive a partial refund and keep the jersey if it is not as described or has quality issues.
PROS
- Has some of the cheapest prices for NBA Jerseys around.
- Free shipping.
CONS
- Long shipping times.
- Most of the jerseys look fake.
Shipping is typically free of charge, and most sellers usually ship out within 3 to 4 business days. However, as much of the stock is in China, you may have to wait more than 30 days to receive your jersey. Therefore, be wary of buying a jersey on DHgate if you were planning on wearing it to the stadium the following Sunday.
Most Popular Type of NBA Jerseys
There are four tiers of NBA jerseys which are Authentic, Swingman, Replica and Throwback.
Authentic
Authentic jerseys are basically the jerseys you’ll see the players wear on the court. They’re made of the best quality fabric with stitched lettering and nameplates. They look exactly the same as their Swingman counterparts.
Authentic NBA jerseys also feature Dri-FIT technology which wicks away moisture. Plus, these jerseys come in an athletic cut with a lightweight, breathable fabric and can be machine washed without harming the material of the jersey.
Nike makes all of the Authentic jerseys for the NBA.
Swingman & Replica
Swingman jerseys are way cheaper than the Authentic, but will not fit as nicely. Replica jerseys, meanwhile, are the least expensive of the bunch and are made of the lowest-quality fabric. They have slightly different cuts, with the arm and neck holes larger than the Authentic and Swingman, and heat-pressed numbers and nameplates.
Fanatics also makes Replica jerseys alongside Nike, so anything branded by Fanatics is not a knock-off but rather an officially licensed product.
Throwback
Mitchell & Ness is the official manufacturer for NBA throwback and vintage jerseys. These are made of a higher quality fabric, have a little more stretch and are authentically stitched, though in terms of quality, they resemble Swingman jerseys.
There are very few throwback jerseys on the market today that are authentic and NOT made by Mitchell & Ness. However, almost all authentic throwback jerseys are usually be Mitchell & Ness.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How much are Authentic NBA jerseys?
Authentic NBA jerseys cost you around $300. If you want an Authentic NBA jersey, you’re going to have to pay this price unless you get REALLY lucky and find a vendor selling them at discounted prices.
Why are NBA jerseys so expensive?
When you’re buying an NBA jersey, you’re essentially paying for the Nike logo, the NBA Logo, and the player’s last name on the back.
However, if you’re short on change, try to find a Nike outlet nearby. Outlets regularly sell Authentic NBA jerseys at discounted prices, and you’ll even find jerseys for some of the League’s best players.
Are NBA jerseys machine washable?
Yes, NBA jerseys are machine washable. In fact, NBA jerseys are very durable, and you can wash them simply by turning it inside out and washing it on a delicate cycle. Make sure to hang dry to not ruin the jersey’s features.
Alternatively, you can also hand-wash your jersey with cold water. This will more likely preserve the jersey’s condition.
How do I know if an NBA jersey is authentic?
You can tell if an NBA jersey is authentic by finding the size tag on the bottom left side of the front of the jersey. The key here is to note the size of the font on the tag. If the font is thin, it’s an authentic NBA jersey. If the font is wider, then it’s a fake.
Moreover, check the NBA logo on the jersey and the lettering and numbers on the back. If the proportions seem off, that’s usually a good sign the jersey is fake.
How do NBA jerseys fit?
In general, most NBA jerseys offer a slim, athletic fit, which means that NBA jerseys tend to run small. If you plan on wearing anything under your jersey, then you should consider buying a size up.
Are NBA jerseys stitched?
Only the Authentic editions of NBA jerseys are stitched. The next edition down, Swingman, has vinyl-pressed numbering and lettering, though from a distance, they look sewn-on. Everything below the Swingman edition jerseys also have heat-pressed logos and numbers.
Final Words
Choosing the type of NBA jersey really boils down to your budget. If you’re looking for an authentic jersey to show your fandom, Fanatics is a great place to purchase them. Fanatics has everything from Authentic jerseys to Throwback jerseys. Plus, they can retail a little lower than the NBA store and you can have customization options, so you can choose to wear your name on the jersey with your favorite team and number as the design!
If you are into fantasy sports check out our exclusive on the best daily fantasy advice sites like Fantasy Pro.
Best Place to Buy NBA Jersey
- You can find all jerseys for every team and every player.
- Easy to search and find the jersey you’re looking for.
