My main focus and expertise is Champion replica jerseys because of the nostalgia associated with them. But I get a lot of questions about Pro-Cut jerseys,
My main focus and expertise is Champion replica jerseys because of the nostalgia associated with them. But I get a lot of questions about Pro-Cut jerseys,
Dude! Glad to see you’re still throwing some posts up. Huge fan of your page. My collection has grown quickly since I first came across your catalog. One question I do have though, do you have any of the catalog photos for the other teams that aren’t listed? (Warriors, Suns, Timberwolves, Supersonics and Wizards)
As a huge Champion football collector, i know my way around a Champion jersey pretty well. My hometown team wore champion fron 87-96 so ive gotten to know all the different champion jock tags as well as football styles. I know enough about basketball to be able to tell whats a knockoff (pretty simple as you have done an excellent job of covering) and the difference between replica, authentic, and pro cut. What has me confused however is a 92-93 suns issued that i own. Its 110% legit, sublimated, size 48 and double tagged. The weird part is this. It has ‘production 50’ stamped above the +3 legenth on the designed and tailored tag (which i assume means limited to 50) but its void of the nba logo up top. Would this have been the case for all 50? Was this an error that may have shown up at a champion outlet? They did get pro jerseys from time to time. It also is void of the commerative 3rd jock tag. Again, i stress its the real deal… but an odd ball for sure! Thoughts? Thanks!
I would have to see the jersey and player (Majerle?). I’m not aware of a limited edition jersey that Champion would have issued for 1992-1993. Also, it should always have the NBA logo. Might have been a prototype that made it’s way to the public somehow
Hey!
I have two jerseys from Charles Barkley and Grant Hill from seasons 1994-1996.
Somebody told me that they are pro cut replicas. Maybe you can tell me where I can sell them or how worth they are.
Best regards
Niels
If they are Pro-Cut they’ll have dual tags and the measurements will be same as Barkley and Hill wore. Or you could have Authentics. I would need more info. But if they are pro-cut, you would have to validate that all the specs match up to make sure they are legit. You can sell them on Ebay easily
bookmarked!!, I like your blog!
Do you have any any information on when Champion changed the quality of their Authentic Jerseys?
I have an early Larry Johnson Hornets and an early Shawn Kemp Sonics that are identical in quality to the Pro Cuts but without the double tag and extra length and available in different sizes.
On the flip side, I
You pretty much hit the nail on the head. Starting in 1996-1997 Champion started pumping out greater numbers of authentic jerseys due to a change in customer demand away from replicas and toward authentics (Mitchell and Ness was starting to come on the scene). During this season the authentics became more widely available in both retail stores and mainstream catalogs like Eastbay. In order to juice the demand, Champion set a uniform price for all authentic at $99. Prior to the 1996-1997 season the authentics had been around $130 or more, depending on the team and player. So Champion definitely compromised on quality to get a lower price point. For the initial Champion 1991-1992 authentics, they came off the same assembly line as the game-issued jerseys….and that process continued for the next several years. But during this time the authentics were very limited in players available and places where you could actually by them. They were mostly available through specialty catalogs like the NBA merchandise catalogs, Sports Illustrated Insider or Pro Team.
Great blog bro. Im about to buy a Tim Duncan spurs authentic champion jersey, but in your blog “NBA Jersey Licensing” i realize that champion didn’t produce authentic spurs jersey’s when Tim Duncan played yet (i think). So i don’t know if the jersey is fake or not, and your opinion would probably help me. (i’m chilean so i don’t know if what i wrote make sense or not lol)
The jersey its the same one in this link: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/San-Antonio-Spurs-David-Robinson-Authentic-Custom-CHAMPION-Jersey-Sz-52/142893623165?epid=4022161890&hash=item21451fa77d:g:4UwAAOSwDRxbZU6k
Thanks for checking out the site. Yes, that Duncan jersey is a fake. When Duncan entered the league in 1997-1998, Nike had the license to produce uniforms for the Spurs. Therefore, Nike produced the Spurs Authentics during Ducan’s rookie hear (and the following years until Reebok took over). Champion only made Duncan replica jerseys. The overall jersey quality also on the Ebay link is not great, and the jock tag is fake as well (number 52 is really thin, and there is a copyright above “it takes a little more to be Champion”…these are signs of a counterfeit jersey/tag).
I have a Jordan 94-95 season #45 red jersey Pro-Cut with all tags and markings to confirm it is the real deal. What is something like this worth?
Is is dual tagged? The Authentic #45s have been selling in the $500 – $750 range lately (historically around $250…but Jordan jerseys have increased significantly with The Last Dance). If it’s a true pro-cut, dual tagged and made to Jordans exact specs (size 46 +3), then maybe $1500?
HI ! I have a red 45 Jordan Pro Cut Jersey. Its signed on the front. Any idea how many of the 45 Procuts were made?? And what would a signed one of these be worth?
At the time of Jordan’s return, the autographed #45 Pro Cut sold for $850 (while his #23 autograph jersey still commanded a premium and sold for $950). I’m not sure what people are paying today, but I’ve seen the autographed #45 sell for at least $5k but I’ve also seen people asking $20k plus for it (all Upper Deck authenticated, signed on the #4 on the back of the jersey). No idea on quantity of #45 Pro-Cuts…Champion made 100s of thousands of the replica #45s.
Any idea what a 1996 Champion Jordan All Star Game Jersey would sell for now? I sold it back in 2001 for around $700 and I can’t even find another example now. I had lots of Jordan Pro-cuts back then but unfortunately sold them all 20 years ago. I had almost every one that came out. Another one I haven’t seen is the Champion Jordan Rookie Pro Cut that came out with the 50th Anniversary one. I’m just curious as to what these are worth today?
The All Star pro-cut would go for $1500+ assuming it was legit. Those pro-cuts were mostly sold through Overtime ProWear in Huntingdon Beach, as they weren’t typically available in any retail stores or mainstream catalogs like Eastbay (and of course no internet then). The Rookie Pro Cut 50th Anniversary addition I wrote a post about. Only 200 of those were made and exclusively for Carsons in downtown Chicago. Two years ago you could get it for $800 to $1k. But now that I let the cat out of the bag, the two I’ve seen have gone for over $3k. I’ve only seen 4 or 5 total in my life come up for auction on Ebay.
I have seen a Champion green Celtics Bird jersey, that seems to be an Authentic (as it had only one tag), but is a size 46. In your previous posts, you stated that Authentics came in sizes 40, 44, 48 – then added 52. Only Pro Cuts came in the “between” sizes – w/added length if necessary. Owner claims to have had it for close to 30 years, which would make sense if he got it at the end of Bird’s NBA career – even though they continued to produce after his retirement. Is it possible that an Authentic Bird was produced in size 46? Or is this a Pro Cut without second tag or custom length – which would make it an Authentic? Thanks for any help/info you can provide!
It would have been a 3rd party customization and not sold at retail. So technically authentic, but not legit
Super helpful blog! I have an old school wolves jersey, KG white away, size 46 and body length plus 3. It’s dual tagged but the designed exclusively for the Twolves tag says 1993-1994. KG hadn’t been drafted yet. What do you think the story of this jersey would be? A real Champion jersey that was blank and then customized? Either way it’s a sweet jersey. I’ll get a few pics and link here so you can see. Any insight would be appreciated!
Garnett wore a 48+3 and 46+3 during his rookies season, so sizing is correct. But since his rookie season was 1995-1996 someone just customized a deadstock wolves jersey from 1993-1994. So not a legit Pro-Cut, but like you said, still a sweet jersey
Dear Admin,
This blog is really a treasure to all collectors. May I ask that did you see any example that a Champion Procut / game issued jersey that may not have the inner two white tags (Fabric, length)?
I do have a 1998-99 Iverson home jersey in 42+2. Based on my 8+ years experience for game style jerseys, this one should be authentic. Yet, the 2 inner tags are disappeared, or been cut, but I can
The sizing matches up with Iverson and should be a legit Champion Pro-Cut. Just because tags aren’t on inside hem doesn’t mean it’s a fake, they could have been removed. My rule of thumb is all tags should be present given the price that Pro-Cuts go for these days
Any information on a champion Minnesota Wolves Kevin Garnett size 46 body length + 0?
I believe Garnett was a 46+3…but I would need more information on the year of the jersey. But most likely a 3rd party vendor who customized a Champion wolves jersey…not a legit Pro-Cut
Hi!
Sorry to be off topic, but there’s no email of yours, to contact you directly.
I have a question though, for how many seasons Champion produced the replicas of their purple alternate jersey? I’m not sure, but according to sports logos site, they wrote the Charlotte Hornets used the alternate purple uniform for 1994-1995 and 1995-1996 season, but someone commented it was 3 seasons, including 1996-1997, is this correct?
If so, how was with the replicas? The thing is, in 10 years of looking, i’ve saw purple Charlotte Hornets champion replica jersey in size 52 only twice and both had ”assembled in mexico” tag not sure if this was coincedence or they made size 52 only for last season.
Thanks
Lukas
The Hornets had the alternate purple road uniforms for three seasons, 1994-1995 through 1996-1997. Champion didn’t add size 52 to their replica collection until 1996-1997 season (previously they only made sizes 36, 40, 44 and 48).