Although Champion began producing jerseys for all NBA teams for the 1990-1991 season, they didn’t start producing replica jerseys for resale until 1991-1992 (most likely the summer of 1991, prior to the start of the season). Evidence of this can be seen in the Portland Trailblazers jersey design. For the 1990-1991 season, the Trailblazers had the “lower case” Blazers logo. No Champion Trailblazers replica jerseys exist with the older “lower case” Blazers logo from the 1990-1991 season.
1990-1991 Blazers “lower case” logo jersey
For the 1991-1992 season, the Trailblazers updated their logo to the “upper case” Blazers logo. All Champion Trailblazers replica jerseys have this logo. However, the heat-transfer/screen-printing techniques that Champion used during the 1991-1992 production run were primitive. In fact, it appears that Champion rushed jerseys to market. A lot of the initial replicas from the 1991-1992 season were very basic and lacked the detail of the jerseys that teams actually wore on the court. For instance, the Trailblazers didn’t even have their signature stripes (blaze) on the 1991-1992 replicas jerseys:
1991-1992 Blazers replica jerseys didn’t even have their signature stripes
Much of this was probably due to the limited platen size available on the heat presses that Champion was using in their production facilities. The platen is the heated upper plate on the heat press and most likely was 14″ x 14″, which means that printing outside of this size range wasn’t possible. Therefore, all designs would be limited to a 14×14 area on the jersey. Therefore, while the authentic Trailblazers jerseys had stripes that run across the entire front torso, the replica jerseys initially had stripes that were short and limited to the width of the “Blazers” logo. Champion would add the stripes to the Trailblazer replica jerseys for the 1992-1993 season.
1992-1993 Blazers replica had stripes, but they didn’t run across the entire torso due to limited printing capabilities
In addition to adding the stripes for the 1992-1993 season, Champion also changed the neckline from a multicolor white/red trim, to a solid red trim. They also released white home jerseys, although they were extremely limited in both player availability and quantities printed. It was common for Champion to mainly release road jerseys for most teams, while home jerseys were limited and harder to find.
Champion wouldn’t change the Trailblazers jerseys until 1998-1999. It appears during this time that they finally were able to update their printing techniques and print across the entire front torso of jerseys (for instance, other teams like the Utah Jazz finally had logos that stretched across the entire chest). The stripes stretched across the entire torso, replicating what the players actually wore on the court. The only other change was the players names on the back of the jerseys went from straight orientation to a rounded/curved orientation. Also, Champion issued more white home jerseys in a wider variety of players, although quantities were still limited, and they are still scarcer than the black road versions.
1998-1999 Blazers replica jersey with stripes across entire torso
While most teams eventually transitioned to vests by the 2000-2001 season, the Trailblazers were one of the few teams that still had the traditional tank-top style jerseys when Champion ceased production of replica jerseys after the 2001-2002 season.
hi sir..what year champion stop making jerseys?.and can you give info about champion europe and laser print champion jerseys..coz i have some ..and i want yout to check it if it is legit thank you
Thanks for checking out the site. Champion stopped making jerseys after the 2001-2002 season. During the 2001-2002 season they were still producing replica jerseys for all teams, and authentics for 8 teams (Atlanta, Los Angeles Clippers, New Jersey, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Utah and Vancouver). Starting in the 2002-2003 season and moving forward, Champion was completely out of the picture when it came to NBA jerseys. EXCEPT for in Europe, where they continued to produce replica jerseys until 2006 when Adidas signed there current deal with the NBA.
And Champion European jerseys were always higher quality than the replicas in the USA. They had better production capability for these jerseys, using dye sublimation printing which gave them full coverage on the jerseys to include all the details such as pinstriping and full-width chest graphics. In addition, they used 100% polyester and not 100% Nylon like here in the states. The jerseys incorporated side panels in Europe, whereas in the USA the jerseys were just solid, one-color nylon construct. In the USA, the graphics were applied by heat transfer, so you have “rubbery” numbers/letters/logos. In Europe, because of the dye sublimation technique, the graphics feel like they are part of the fabric…they are not rubbery.
In addition, European sizing was S, M, L, XL….whereas in the USA they used the chest size measurement on the jock tags 36, 40, 44, 48. So you can easily tell a European jersey just by the jock tag, but most times you can tell a European jersey by the more intricate detailing like pin stripes or side panels. Hope this helps!
Trying to identify a Porter number 30 jersey. It appears to be a 92-97 small blaze stripe
I have a Blazers Drexler jersey by Champion, but it does have the full stripes across the front of the jersey. Obviously this jersey was made after he left the Blazers, but do you know anything about it? Is it a sample that was dumped at the outlets? Or was it a special commemorative jersey that was sold in the team shop? Portland did retire his number in 2001, so maybe they made them for a limited time for this event? Or maybe made special for people involved in the event and weren’t ever for sale at retail? Any info you can give me would be awesome. I can send photos, just let me know.
I have a Clyde Drexler Portland Trailblazers Replica jersey but it has the full stripes that go across the front of the whole jersey, not a partial or empty like the ones shown on the site. This printing technology wasn’t available until well after he left Portland, so could this jersey be a one-off for his jersey retirement ceremony or something? I have seen the same jersey a few other times online in different sizes, so there are a few out there. Any info you have would be awesome!
I’ve also seen the full stripe Drexler jerseys and haven’t posted it in the gallery for the reason you point out (that full stripe design was implemented well after Drexler left the Blazers for the Rockets). Also, all of the neck tags on those jerseys I have seen are cut, meaning they were relegated to be sold in the factory stores. Drexler didn’t have his number retired by the Blazers until January 2001, so maybe Champion produced these around that time. But again, since I have never seen one without the neck tag cut, I believe they were printed in error. You’ll also see Sebastian Telfair Blazers Champion jerseys as well…and he didn’t come into the league until 2004-2005, two seasons after Champion stopped making jerseys.