Basketball Memorabilia

Looking for basketball memorabilia?

Basketball memorabilia has never really taken off the way other sports collectables have. Industry professionals cite several reasons why basketball is bringing up the rear in the memorabilia collectable market. Most problematic, they say, is the sport’s image. There’s a demographic conflict, they hypothesize, between the type of person who collects signed cards and basketball’s currently perceived “high life” attitude. Unfortunately for the sport as a whole, players are associated as much with high profile nightclub debacles, drug use and paternity suits as with athletic excellence. Players are also perceived as having little team loyalty, making it hard for fans to connect.

Not to mention the high price tag that comes with just enjoying the sport. Even seats in the nosebleed section will set fans back a hefty sum, much less having extra cash left over for high-end basketball memorabilia with a big initial price-tag like sneakers and balls. Basketball needs a compellingly collectable, mid-price item like football’s highly popular mini-helmets. Also find out more about sports memorabilia.

Second, basketball memorabilia is not very autograph friendly. Sure, high-ticket items like jerseys can take a good signature, but basketballs and shoes take up a lot of space if you’re trying to be a serious collector. Plus there’s just something unappealing about how the ball’s dimpled surface takes a signature. Most popular are signed pictures and posters. Take a look at our article on hockey memorabilia.

The basketball industry as a whole focuses on three or four very high-profile, white hot superstars—currently Lebron James memorabilia, Shaquille O’Neal memorabilia, Kobe Bryant memorabilia, memorabilia and Allen Iverson memorabilia. They’ve replaced the 80’s trinity of Michael Jordan memorabilia, Larry Bird memorabilia, and Magic Johnson memorabilia. Between the sponsors and the team’s own internal hype machines, these players command astronomical signing fees. There’s really no mid-range for the basketball memorabilia collector to enter in on. Check out Michael Jordan memorabilia,

The basketball industry also neglects its hall of fame players. Many hall of fame players are still with us, as our fans with long memories. Basketball is a relatively young sport, and many of its founding fathers are living in obscurity. Have you heard of Andy Phillip, Clyde Lovellete, Slater Martin and Rob Ranzer? They were the marquee names of their time, and professional basketball could do worse than promoting them and building up the mystique and reputation of the game.

Finally, the whole industry is too focused on logos and high priced sporting goods. This trend was starting by Michael Jordan in the 90’s with his Air Jordan sneakers. Now you can buy basketball merchandise like logo t-shirts and endorsed sneakers at every mall and Walmart in the country. Rarity and exclusivity are both necessary for starting a collectors market.

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