How to Spot Fake NBA Jerseys: 2023 Edition
G'day tribe. I love collecting NBA jerseys. I've been collecting jerseys for many years now and over time I've had my fair share of buying fake jerseys when I thought I was buying real ones.
After many years of collecting I'm able to tell the difference whether I'm getting a fake or real jersey. All the photos below are also my own and this is a guide I've built and developed over the last few years.
Website | Linktree | Youtube | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | Tiktok | Pinterest |
How to Spot Fake NBA Jerseys
Fake NBA jerseys can range from the hilariously obvious, to the painstakingly accurate. The number of fake NBA jerseys being sold continues to skyrocket and sweatshops are getting better at being able to replicate authentic jerseys.
How do you know whether you're buying a real vs fake Adidas NBA jersey for example? I've been scammed before and I've done the hard yards to help you from going through the same thing.
Stitching
A great way to find out if you have fake NBA jerseys is to understand how jerseys are stitched together. The Nike Swingman jersey lettering and numbers are screen printed on. Adidas Swingman and Nike Authentic editions are twill stitched.
Sweatshops often miss the stitching detail and it's one of the easiest ways to tell if an NBA jersey is authentic. Any stitching will fray easily on a fake jersey too.
Making sure both letters and numbers are aligned is important as fake NBA jerseys often fail to space letters apart evenly. Team logos should also match the same height as the NBA logo on the jersey.
Another great way to spot fake NBA jerseys is through certain patches stitched onto a jersey, like team logos for example. A cotton paper- like backing is used to apply patches to jerseys and fake NBA jerseys often has the cotton backings on and are visible from the inside of a jersey.
Stock Photos
Buying a jersey from an unofficial sports merchandise dealer can leave you ending up with a fake NBA jersey. The use of stock jersey photos on random websites is often an obvious sign that it's a fake jersey you'll be given.
Official team websites and NBA.com are sites you would expect to see stock photos and receive authentic jerseys. Authorised online stores like Footlocker.com and Nike.com are other authorised stores that are reputable in selling genuine jerseys.
A website with a title like authenticnbajerseyworld.ru with stock photos is a telltale sign that you're about to buy a fake NBA jersey. If a jersey is well below the recommended retail prices (RRP) on sites that are not official merchandise dealers it's going to be an NBA jersey that's not authentic.
Neck Tag
Know your details before you buy to avoid ending up with fake NBA jerseys. I can often tell when I'm buying a real vs fake Adidas NBA jersey with the neck detail. The photo on the bottom is a genuine Adidas logo which looks clean. In the photo above, it wears out a lot faster and the stitching goes over the top of the logo.
It's another sign and lazy workmanship when it comes to sweatshops making fake NBA jerseys.
Country of Origin
Most Nike jerseys are made in Honduras and Guatemala. Most recently Nike jerseys have been made in Thailand and much older Nike jerseys were made in Korea. Sweatshops dishing out fake NBA jerseys miss this detail far too often and it's a great way to tell an authentic jersey from a fake.
Adidas jerseys are typically made in Vietnam, Nicaragua and Guatemala. Pay close attention to where an NBA jersey is made as it's an especially great way to tell a real vs fake Adidas NBA jersey.
NBA Logo
NBA logos are almost always incorrect on fake NBA jerseys. Compare NBA logos on jerseys to the official Jerry West NBA logo, an easy way to spot a fake NBA jersey. Fake NBA jerseys often create the logo far too thin and resembles an alien-like looking figure instead of Jerry West.
You can often tell an NBA jersey is legitimate when the NBA logo is embroidered onto the jersey with different coloured layers of stitching. Fake NBA jerseys lack this detail and usually have a sewn on or heat applied patch.
Jock Tag
Check the location and positioning of the jersey jock tag. Jock tags are located at the bottom right of a jersey when facing it front on. Inconsistencies with font size and thicknesses can be one of the easiest ways to spot fake NBA jerseys.
Fake NBA jerseys often create the size of the font too thick and once you learn how to spot it you'll develop a second nature for spotting fake NBA jerseys almost instantaneously. 
When trying to figure out a real vs fake Nike NBA jersey one of the best ways is to check the words "Engineered to the exact specifications of the championship athletes". Sweatshops creating fake jerseys won't care for this detail and you'll see the lazy work in the fakes.
Perforations
Take a look at fabric hole patterns to make sure they are consistent with authentic versions. Perforation sizing will vary across different genuine jerseys depending on brand, generation, variation etc. Understanding perforations may take a bit of time and attention to detail but it's a sure way to spot fake NBA jerseys that sweatshops making fake NBA jerseys get lazy with.
If you're after helping figuring out a real vs. fake Adidas NBA jersey take a look at the genuine second generation Swingman perforations on the left, and Nike Swingman perforations on the right below.
Retail Tags
On the topic of how to spot fake NBA jerseys, understanding that retail tags isn't the best way to identify a genuine jersey is important. Many fakes have fake retail tags which replicate genuine ones and tags. This is one of the most common ways people get tricked into buying fake NBA jerseys thinking that they've got authentic retail tags.
Materials
Original jerseys, especially vintage jerseys, are made from heavier premium materials when compared to fake NBA jerseys. New technology is enabling lighter jerseys, but authentics will always have a premium quality in terms of feel over fake NBA jerseys.
You can easily spot fake NBA jerseys by running your fingers across the material. A genuine jersey is made of a polyester mesh and will feel smooth. A fake jersey is made from inferior materials and will feel rough or scratchy. When you put them on to compare you'll notice the difference 100%.
MAKE AMERICAN SPORTS YOUR GAME TOO!
Website | Linktree | Youtube | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | Tiktok | Pinterest |
Wolfgang Sport is an American sports blog bringing you content on football, basketball, baseball, soccer and more. We continue to push the boundaries of blogging in the crypto world and embracing Web3 technologies.
Honestly, I have also made mistakes of buying fake jerseys because I could not differentiate between the fake and the original
Its very hard sometimes and definitely need a trained eye with some of the better fakes
A friend once went to Peru and brought me a Barcelona FC fake tshirt and its crazy how close to even equal the copy was, he mention they made all kind of fake cloth including NBA jersey, I never been to Peru , he had a real Real Madrid one he bought in Spain against a fake one he bought on Peru and we couldn't tell the difference, although it was not a cheap copy, now days I have seen how fake sneakers are becoming very popular to the point that there are stores who sells them straight up, I really don't understand how this is aloud in public, I guess piracy is something that will never be stop no mater if its analog or digital, probably is part of freedom?
Yeh I'm a bit on the fence with fakes. I mean, big companies do lose out but in the end at least its an entry point for people who may not be able to afford the originals as they're a luxury. I collect Air Jordans and I dont even bother on the secondary market to be honest. I just make sure I get them from the big stores directly. I feel like it would take a good decade or so to pick up fake sneakers
Great attention to detail!
My follow-up question for you would be... Is there anything wrong with owning fake jerseys? Of course, it would suck if you paid full price thinking it was legit. Personally, I'd rather have dozens of $15 jerseys from China that are very well made than have just a few authentic jerseys that are only slightly higher quality. I'll admit, I'm a big fan of Alibaba and my collection of 30+ basketball jerseys is all straight from China.
I don't think there is anything wrong personally. I actually have 100s of authentic jerseys but I wear my fakes 99% of the time. Reason being, if I damage or get the fake ones dirty I couldn't care less. Because I collect the authentics I don't want to damage them
That's probably why all I have is "fakes". I wear a different one every single day pretty much. One thing I NEVER do is but them in the dryer after washing them. Hang dry only.
Great post @wolfgangsport! Your guide provides valuable insights that can save people from falling victim to scams. The attention to detail, such as examining stitching, aligning letters and numbers, and checking for patches and neck tag quality, is crucial in identifying authentic jerseys.
I appreciate your emphasis on avoiding unofficial merchandise dealers and relying on authorized stores to ensure the legitimacy of the purchase. Your tips on comparing country of origin, NBA logos, jock tags, perforations, retail tags, and materials offer a comprehensive approach to spotting fake NBA jerseys.
This guide will undoubtedly be helpful to both experienced collectors and newcomers to the world of jersey collecting. Keep up the great work in sharing your expertise and knowledge in the realm of American sports!
Thanks! Appreciate your words and very pleased that I could provide some value! Hopefully it helps those out there from getting scammed
You're very welcome, @wolfgangsport! I'm glad my words could convey how much I appreciated your helpful advice. It's always great to see community members looking out for each other and sharing their knowledge to prevent others from falling victim to scams.
Your contribution is valuable, and I'm sure it will go a long way in helping many people stay safe online. Keep up the great work, and thank you again for sharing your insights!
Seems like a collector of any item has to deal with counterfeits and how to spot them. Very informative post, Thanks for your guide!
My pleasure thanks for taking the time to read! Where ever there is a demand, there is always going to be those looking to profit
Creo que nunca, nadie, se tomó el tiempo para realizar una guía tan detallada sobre qué es, y qué no es, realmente original. En esta ocasión, dirigiste tu post al baloncesto de la NBA. Y déjame decirte, que has hecho un trabajo increíble. Desconocía, por ejemplo, que Honduras y Guatemala, eran lugares donde Nike manufactura sus productos. Excelente post, @wolfgangsport
Hey no problem, a pleasure and thanks for taking the time to read. Very interesting when I wrote this and did the research to see where all the manufacturing countries were. Korea was an intriguing one but that was more for the historical jerseys in the 90s
The pattern is interesting, my friend. Countries with skilled but at the same time absurdly cheap labour? Little things from those who tell us "Impossible is nothing" or "Just do it".
My nba shorts collection is huge. Beside that, Ι couldnt spot the fake! Thanks, very useful post!