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I don’t know if bootlegged NBA jerseys is a thing, but I figured that I’d ask if you guys think this retro Hill jersey I found online looks legit



I don’t know if bootlegged NBA jerseys is a thing, but I figured that I’d ask if you guys think this retro Hill jersey I found online looks legit

by clocke6346

17 Comments

  1. Crafty_Substance_954

    Bootlegged/fake/counterfit jerseys are totally a thing. Post this to r/basketballjerseys and you’ll get a response in a few minutes.

    This is older than most I look at, but I think it’s legit? I’m much better with modern stuff.

  2. ObiFloppin

    Bootleg everything is a thing. Literally. Everything.

  3. refunned

    If it’s cheap, go for it but beware the logo and lettering will fade/rip off after some washes if it’s low quality (like my $20 dhgate Grant Hill jersey)

  4. At first glance, the front numbers look much larger than they should be under the Pistons logo. Either that or the Pistons logo looks small. Also, maybe someone can correct me, but didn’t size 48 used to be size XL? (Not Medium?). Back in the Champion jersey era, 48 was XL. One more thing I noticed is often these Nike jerseys have a small tag underneath the Nike tag that says “Length +2”. This one not having that makes me suspicious.

  5. uncledeathbomb

    “Do you guys remember if Grunt Hall was on our team, the Pistols?”

  6. Berzerker-Barrage

    There are tons of bootleg jerseys, especially once you get into Mitchell & Ness, any hardwood classic as well. I don’t even buy them because they’re so prevalent and I don’t have the wherewithal to learn what to look out for.

  7. PlaybolCarti69

    r/basketballjerseys might be more helpful/knowledgeable with this

  8. timothythefirst

    This is definitely not authentic. I’ve collected jerseys on and off since the early 2000s, I could tell just at a glance. And I have the authentic version of this jersey from 1996 to compare.

    – the jock tag on the bottom is way too high up. That’s a dead giveaway for bad fakes of any team/any sport. That tag should be down towards the bottom maybe like an inch above the hem. If you see one higher it’s fake every time.

    – the coloring of the trim is way off. It should be about half black with a yellow strip in the middle and then the maroon is thinner than the black part. This jersey has orange taking up most of the trim and just a tiny strip of black.

    – the numbers are way too big. The 33 on mine starts underneath the first S in pistons and ends underneath the N. The 33 on this one covers the whole front.

    – I don’t think nike ever even made this jersey in a swingman style, but if they did it would have “length +2” underneath the jock tag. And the nike on-court authentics from that time were dri fit material.

    – the sizing is wrong. Medium should be size 40 (or 44 if you’re buying a brand new current year Nike jersey). It says 48 on the tag and 48 would be XL in authentic sizing.

    – the embroidery on the nba logo is really bad. The letters should be nice and straight and clean, not one side of the N being shorter and the A being slanted

    – the shape of the jersey overall is just way off. The shoulders should be skinnier and it should flare out more at the bottom of the arm holes so it’s wider. If you buy this it will fit you super tight like an undershirt.

    If you just like the design of the jersey and you’re trying to get a deal on one I’d probably just sign up for the nba store email list because they send out 20-25% off codes every other day. But if you’re trying to get an actual vintage one from the 90s you’re gonna have to search eBay for a while to find an authentic one and then when you do find it you’re gonna have to pay a lot. I paid around $180 for mine but that was like 10 years ago and they’re a lot more expensive and rare now.

  9. Diligent_String1966

    Jerry West has kankles on the NBA logo.

  10. DTG_circlejerk

    Nike didn’t make jerseys back then. Champion made them. There should be a C where the swoosh is

  11. DrBigChicken

    Fake but nice, the best kind lol. Since they’re cheap

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