Whenever an NBA veteran announces his retirement, my automatic response is to check Ebay to see the impact on the popularity/market value of his Champion jersey (sadly, I do the same when a former player dies). Kobe Bryant’s rookie-style Lakers Champion jersey started selling like crazy in the months leading up to his final game, and still remains
Don’t forget Pau Gasol!
Pau Gasol was indeed part of the 2001 draft, but I haven’t included him in this list because to my knowledge Champion (USA) never produced his Memphis Grizzlies jersey during the 2001-2002 season. Champion Europe did produce Gasol’s Grizzlies rookie-style jersey, and they are fairly common given Gasol’s popularity in Europe (Spain) and the fact that he had instant NBA success as Rookie of the Year in 2002.
Hey bro! Just wondering if you know if Champion ever made a replica Kurt Rambis jersey? If so do you know which number it would have been (31 or 18)?
Thanks!
Champion did not make a Rambis replica jersey to my knowledge (including his time with the Suns and Kings)…I have never seen one and have looked extensively over the years. If they would have made a Rambis Lakers jersey, it would have been #18 because he left the Lakers following the 1987-1988 season (where he wore #31), when MacGregor Sand-Knit was still producing all jerseys for the NBA. He returned to the Lakers in 1993-1994 and 1994-1995, where he changed to #18 since Sam Bowie was #31. Champion was already making jerseys for seven players on the 1993-1994 Lakers team that was a below .500 team, which might explain why they didn’t make a Rambis jersey. The Rambis jersey is on my list of jerseys I wish Champion would have made but didn’t (the list also includes Bill Cartwright, Mark Eaton and Spud Webb)
Thanks for your response bro, that’s really helpful. I’m going to get a blank Lakers customized and will go for a Rambis #18! Are you on instagram? Would love to connect on there, give me a follow @warmingthebench if you are and I’ll follow back.
Unfortunately not on Instagram. I barely have enough time to update this site more than a few times a year. Maybe one day when this site is complete I’ll hop on social to promote it more. Send pics of the Rambis when you have it complete!
Some dude on eBay listed a Tony Parker US Champion jersey
How about these few replica laser prints they’re making nowadays? For example the LBJ one. I mean, are those legit or what?
The Champion Europe jerseys were always laser printed (dye sublimation). Champion Europe produced jerseys from 1991-1992 through 2009-2010 (when Adidas finally took over the European market). So Lebron James Champion Europe jerseys are indeed legit.
I’ve seen Champion Europe Carmelo and LeBron rookie jerseys on the market. Do you know when Champion Europe stopped producing NBA jerseys and would these be legit?
They are legit. Champion Europe had the NBA license from 1991-1992 through 2009-2010. So even when the license here in the USA went from Champion to Reebok in 2002-2003, Champion Europe still was the sole distributor of NBA jerseys overseas. It wasn’t until the 2010-2011 season that the NBA finally gave the overseas license to Adidas and Champion Europe no longer produced jerseys.
Does anyone know where I could acquire a Raptors Muggsy Bogues jersey?
Unfortunately after buying the Rambis jersey it is an old Jersey with a new custom print added to the front and back, so I apologise and you are indeed correct that Champion never made a Rambis jersey. I look forward to your next update, it really is an education reading your posts as a long time Champion jersey collector. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us all.