Your Guide to NBA Jerseys for Basketball Fans

If you are looking to buy a gift for a true basketball fan, then official NBA jerseys are the way to go. Basketball fans can support their favorite team on or off the court with authentic NBA jerseys, NBA replica jerseys or the popular Swingman jerseys. All of these jerseys are made of high quality fabric and designed with the team name, official team logo and your favorite player's number featured on the front and back, just like those that the NBA stars wear on the court. The difference between them is quality, cut, trim and cost. Depending on your budget you can determine which is best the hoops fan in your life.

Most basketball fans are true in their support and wish to wear the real thing, however this is not practical for everyone. Because authentic jerseys are like the real ones worn on the court, they can often be too large for most fans. Authentic jerseys are cut with the same trim, fabric and application as the pros and although various sizes are available, they will still fit for function and performance. Because they are made to withstand intense wear and tear, they are much more durable. This is ideal if you only want the best, but if a fan is more interested in showing support, an NBA replica jersey may be a better choice. Replica jerseys offer the same styling as the authentic jerseys, but have screen printed lettering made of a lighter mesh material, making them less expensive and a bit more comfortable. Another option for your NBA fan are the Swingman jerseys. These jerseys are favorites among fans because they are less expensive than the authentic, yet carry many of the same qualities. The biggest difference between the Swingman jersey and the authentic jersey is the material and the lettering. The Swingman jersey features screenprinted tackle twill lettering.

If you're shopping for women or kids, you'll probably want to stick to the replica jerseys or even select jerseys made specifically for youth and women's sizes. The material used on replica jerseys is softer and more comfortable. Regardless of the jersey that is best for your fan, all official NBA jerseys carry the official NBA and team logos.

You can find jerseys at a number of places, you can either shop at apparel stores or you can take your shopping online. I'm a big proponent of online shopping for many reasons, but beyond selection and availability, price is the biggest benefit of online shopping. You do need to make sure that the retailer is reputable and carries only authentic products. While it's not fool proof, you can get a pretty good idea of the level of service based on customer testimonials and reviews. Another sign of quality service is the ease of transaction and the availability of live support or telephone support. Being in business for a longer period of time doesn't' always mean that the service will be the best, but it is definitely a good indicator. There is one site that I found that makes the online shopping experience not only worthwhile but convenient. SidelineApparel.com offers a great incentive in their One Size, One Price Program. Often times, retailers will charge more for larger sizes. Here you will experience significant savings in that regardless of the size, you pay the same price.

There are a number of reputable retailers that carry jerseys and apparel for all the NBA teams and often times you can find the same jersey for a fraction of the cost. So whether you are shopping for yourself or looking for a gift for an avid basketball fan, NBA jerseys are one of the best ways to support your team of choice. Nothing makes more of an impact than the real thing. Giving your fan a pair of tickets to a home game partnered with an authentic NBA jersey is an excellent anniversary gift, birthday gift, Christmas gift or just because.

As a personal shopper, Sam Brown searches for the best gift ideas and popular shopping must haves. This article is designed to help basketball fans celebrate in style with the best selections of NBA Jerseys, Youth NBA Swingman Jerseys & NBA Replica Jerseys

Becoming An NBA Basketball Player

Theoretically anyone can become an NBA player but in reality in order to become an NBA player you have to meet a whole lot of criteria, you have to be noticed by scouts and above all there has to be spot for you on the team.

In order to selected in NBA, you have to play at college level. You have to know the nuances of the game and of course, train very hard. Players keen to selected for NBA maintain a strict diet regimen, exercise very hard and ensure they sleep well to help their body recover. They also spend a lot of time practicing to improve their game and skills. They make sure that they learn and evolve continuously as players. Usually, basketball players have to be tall. However, if a player is not tall, he makes up for this lack by being quick and accurate with shots and passes. All basketball players need to excellent and outstanding maneuvering abilities.

For those players who could not make it to the college team for some reason or the other, they should not feel disheartened. They always have the option of playing in Europe. However, you need to have good contacts. Players should find out how to get in touch with scouts. You can also get yourself an agent who will help you in all these matters.

Remember, if you are talented and top notch player, you will get noticed for the draft because of all the publicity you get. But this does not mean that you will be selected. There has to be an open slot in the team for you.

In order to part of the NBA, you would have to make basketball you life. You would be required to put in very long hours of training and practice. Plus take care of what you eat and drink as these are all connected to your fitness. You would have to build your focusing abilities so that during games you concentrate on the issue at hand rather than being distracted.

Once you have learned to do these things, it should be a lot easier to get selected for an NBA draft. Remember, commitment and perseverance will go a long way so start planning your NBA future today.

About the writer: Nigel Kerry is an American free lance writer born in Los Angeles, California. Kerry writes Sportsbook reviews, sport book articles and articles with respect to Sports Betting.

NBA Basketball - Number One - LeBron Or Kobe - Or Maybe Neither

You can't go anywhere in the NBA without hearing the never-ending argument about who is better, LeBron James or Kobe Bryant. Yes, it's over-hyped, although we're happy to get into it to some extent.

The way I'll get into it is through a little protest. Let me point out that in terms of the question "Who is better, Kobe or LeBron?" I'm not sure I necessarily agree with its limits. Is it between LeBron James of the Cavs and Kobe Bryant of the Lakers, wholly and exclusively? Are there other contenders? I felt, even before Kevin Garnett got to Boston, that he was the best all-around player in the league, and that particular thought was reinforced after putting the Celtics on his back and taking them to a title. Garnett demonstrated three things to me that were critical: (1) That he didn't even think twice about giving something up on his personal scoring numbers in order to focus on the bigger picture, which was to win; (2) That he could, pretty much by his lonesome, create a defensive culture that was enough to win a title, keeping in mind that the other two elements of Boston's "Big Three," Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, had never gained a reputation as defensive "stoppers" and (3) That he was the leader, on and off the court, pure and simple.

To me, looking at pure scoring figures means very little (although, incidentally, Garnett's career average of 20.2 ppg, with a career high of 24.2, is more than respectable enough). An NBA team is going to score X amount of points per game; who gets to score those points is dependent on a lot of different factors, including who creates the opportunity for that score, by way of a defensive play, a great pass, a screen, drawing multiple defenders, etc., or who gets the plays called for him. Almost everyone who comes into the NBA can score points, In a sense, that is how they got there. In other words, if I was a coach, and I chose to designate one guy on my roster to be the guy who takes 30 shots in an effort to score 25 points, I am confident that I could find several players who would be able to fill that role. All they would have to do is shoot enough to get it done. It's basically a function of how I structure the offense and who I call the plays for.

On the other hand, I can't simply designate someone to be a guy who can stop the other team's best scorer, could I? I couldn't pick out any individual on my roster to trade blows with someone in the paint, to control the boards, or to make passes out of the post to open men. I could try, but they wouldn't necessarily succeed. I know what Garnett can do defensively. Yet I have always doubted the credibility of those All-Defensive team selections which have found people like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant on them consistency, or LeBron James this year. That's because I wondered how many times those guys were really tabbed to do battle with the other team's top scorer, as someone like, say, Shane Battier or Bruce Bowen often are. What I found is that they often took advantage of the flexibility of being able to guard any of two or event three different positions, in order to avoid the energy they would have to expend on the defensive end against a foe's big gun.

With Garnett, let's face it - he usually has no choice but to guard the other team's power forward, and as we know, there are some absolute monsters at that position. He'll go against centers too. The Celtics, who were the second seed in the East this season, were quite obviously a much different team - a less defensive team, to be sure - as he was out of the lineup in the post-season.

I'm not drawing any conclusions here, but I would make the suggestion that from the standpoint of the total player, the argument could and should remain open, whether it's with Garnett as a major candidate or even others.

Charles Jay, a long-time sports columnist and handicapper, enjoys helping people pick sports winners at http://totalactionextra.com If you are in need of top-quality sports information, from an insider's perspective, come and check out what's available at http://totalactionextra.com

Top 10 NBA Gifts - Basketball For All

It's always a challenge to think up unique gifts for sports fans. If it's a person's passion, they must already have most of the items that are readily available. What then can you give them that they probably don't have yet and will definitely like? Here are some ideas:

1. Sports Themed Sandals. Women are the hardest to buy sports stuff for because most basketball-themed products look thoroughly masculine. Few products are available for women. Sports-themed sandals fill that niche. They're definitely feminine yet sporty and certainly useful.
2. Sports Fan Dog Bowls. Another gender-neutral gift. That basketball fan's canine buddy is sure to be as much of a sports fan. This bowl with alternating paw prints and NBA team logos will be fun for both dog and master NBA buffs.
3. Padded Stadium Seats. If your sports fan loves to attend live games, these padded stadium seats are sure to come in handy. Games definitely last for over an hour - who wouldn't want to enjoy that padded comfort?
4. NBA Cufflinks. The New York Nicks, the Phoenix Suns - practically every team is readily available in cufflinks design. If you can't find one you like, you can also get one custom-made. For guys who are climbing up the corporate ladder, these unique cufflinks helps add a conversation piece to an otherwise bland corporate fashion scene.
5. NBA Monopoly Set. Kids and adults alike are sure to appreciate this really unique twist to an old board game. What basketball fan wouldn't grab a chance to control a whole team, even if it is just in a board game.
6. NBA Memorabilia. A ball that's signed by his favorite player or a shit that's signed by his favorite team - if you don't mind spending a bit more, these are really special gifts that any sports fan would be thrilled to own.
7. Special Game Tickets or Season Passes. Just keep this in mind: you can't jusyt give one. Buy at least two tickets because it's certainly no fun watching a game alone.
8. NBA Bean Bags. Customize brightly colored bean bags with the team's logo or a picture of his favorite NBA star. This gift would be ideal for either men or women who have their own apartments as well as kids who have just received their own room.
9. Customized Jerseys or Team Jackets. Make him feel as if he's part of the team he so admires by getting him official team wear with his name and number printed on it. It will surely find its place at the top of his clothes pile; above any other generic shirts he's ever been given!
10. Sports Magazine Subscription. Save him some money by buying him a subscription for the rest of the year. This is a great gift for workmates or acquaintances - not too intimate but sure to please the recipient as well.

It's always tricky to make sure you've chosen the right gift for a person that's important to you but don't stress too much! It's a gift so it should be well-received no matter what you chose to give.

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