The NBA has more classy players than ever. Now is a perfect opportunity to purchase a basketball souvenir from one of those big box stores and display it among their collections. The opportunity is ripe to become a fan of the NBA and select an item. With so many aspiring players like Kobe Bryant and Yao Ming teaming up with plenty of role models like Dwight Howard and Lebron James, you never know if the next player of the year is your pick.

Gone are the days when only certain players would sign their jerseys for a select few who would award large sums of money for valued collections. It’s an age of information technology coupled with a talented breed of basketball players who are willing to go to any lengths to prove themselves. A jersey signed in silver ink with an Upper Deck authentication is probably the most important piece of equipment for avid basketball fans.

The memorabilia industry is quickly taking advantage of the craze pitting basketball fans against each other to find the ultimate basketball item. Jerseys signed by the likes of Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, and rarities from the likes of Karim Abdul Jabbar are setting new trends for NBA fans. Many dealers only deal with vintage NBA items that are no longer available to the mass market.

Such items date back to earlier days of the 20th century. These might include a 1920s splading fleece uniform with padded shorts or a pocket mirror with a team photo on it. Popular among these are the 1940’s slip-on leather basketballs, the first lace-up basketballs from the 1950 Olympics. Items cost anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to nearly $500, but they’re a sure-fire draw. will attract your friends. Put it in a fine glass case along with a bit of history and you have an ideal basketball souvenir.