As is the case with dynamic rookie seasons, it doesn’t matter that a player gets better in their second year or third year; the “newness” has worn off.  An athletic freak like Griffin is capable of still bringing people off their seats with an amazing dunk, but the fans and collectors not only want to see dunks, but wins as well.  The leash is still there, but its way smaller than you might expect.  Then Chris Paul showed up…

The arrival of Chris Paul to the Clippers meant one thing to Griffin: the grace period was over with a bang.  Whereas other hobby superstars of recent memory had at least a season or two after their rookie year to grow into their role and lead their team to the playoffs and beyond, Griffin will not have the same luxury.  Nobody expected Yao Ming or LeBron James, the last two overly-hyped rookies and “sure things” to come into the NBA, to win championships right away.  Griffin is the first true sports star of the Youtube and Twitter era, and in a world where social media and immediacy has also affected how cards are collected, people want results right away.  It was why Blake’s cards shot up so high as they did last season and why they can drop just as quickly if the Clippers don’t show signs of living up to the hype.

Here are some Blake Griffin rookie card sales numbers to look at.  In the 90 days before Chris Paul was traded to the Clippers (which included the prolonged NBA lockout), Blake’s rookie cards were selling for an average of $162.79 (601 cards sold) on eBay, including an amazing $32,000.32 for his 1/1 National Treasures Logoman Autograph card.  This was a huge drop from the $243.34 (1,949 cards sold) average that Blake cards enjoyed during the stretch in the regular season (from February to April) when Griffin was racking up awards and accolades.  Since the trade for Paul, the average actually has dropped to $149.13 (569 cards sold), and that even included the sale of the 1/1 National Treasures card again for $38,032. The Clippers have gotten off to a solid start to the season, but it was not the world-beating “Lob City” that people were expecting.

Crazy as this might sound and real world statistical evidence proves otherwise, Blake Griffin has been a hobby disappointment in his second year so far.  And it shows in the softening of his card values.

Now should you expect this slide to continue if the Clippers continue to just be a “solid” team and not a championship contender?  Unfortunately for Griffin collectors who bought way too high last year, the answer is a definite “yes.”  Last year was a lightning in a bottle moment where the demand for Griffin’s cards was bringing in money from both the hardcore collectors and the casual fans who wanted a piece of the action because they caught a Blake highlight on Sportscenter.  Now that collectors are moving on to other players like Ricky Rubio and eagerly anticipating the first official cards of the 2011-12 season, the money is not there in the Griffin market.

Now, this is great news if you’re more of a Griffin collector and not a Griffin investor.   If you’re not willing to break the bank with a National Treasures or Upper Deck Exquisite rookie of Blake, several key rookie cards right now can be had for significantly less than what they were during the madness of last season.

The 2009-10 Playoff Contenders Rookie Ticket Autograph comes with a great pedigree from football and was one of Griffin's most desirable rookie cards overall, averaging $243.73 for ungraded copies during the first few months of 2011, but now can be had in the $150-$170 range.

Another card with a history is the Crown Royale die cuts and it averaged a staggering $307.39 per ungraded card.  Now it can be had for as low as $185 on eBay, although it still easily cracks the $200 barrier regularly.

A vastly underrated on-card autograph featuring Blake is from 2009-10 Classics.  With a focus more on the legends in the game for that product, Blake’s rookie that is numbered to 499 can now be had for anywhere between $190-$225, which amazingly was not that far from its average during Blakeamania ($210.16).

If you have no interest in autographs, Blake’s best non-autograph rookies comes from Topps final hurrah in basketball before they lost their NBA license.  While you can pick up a Chrome rookie numbered to 999 for less than $100 and even for as low as $50 last year, the Chrome refractors rival many of Blake’s autograph rookie cards.  Last year the refractors that were numbered to 500 averages to around $208 and now can be had for practically half at $104.76.

Because of the fickle nature of collectors, unless Blake somehow manages to win an NBA MVP in the next two seasons (possible) or win an NBA championship (longshot, but not totally out of the question), you will never see those numbers reach the astronomical heights that they achieved last season.  The somewhat sobering reality is that by then, we will have all moved on to the proverbial “next one.”  You can check out what Blake Griffin rookie cards are available on eBay now by clicking here. here.

The shortage of Air Jordan Concords in retail stores is very similar to the craze that happened when Microsoft's new Xbox 360 hits stores in the US in 2005. That release also led to a lot of violence and it brought out the worst in people. If the people in line for those Xbox products knew that they were available on eBay, even though they were unavailable anywhere else, they may not have resorted to such barbaric measures to try to get one. The Jordan 11 Concord shoes are truly a hot commodity right now, but they, too, can be found on eBay. All it takes is a quick eBay search and you'll find the shoes in all sizes and different colors.

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AIR JORDAN XI 11 CONCORD RETRO 105 SPACE JAM    US $500.00

NIKE Air Jordan XII 1997 PLAYOFFS OG black white red DMP XI XII concord 10 11 12    US $400.00

Nike Air Jordan XI 11 Concord 105 SB X VI Cement Bred Space Jam Cool Grey IV IX    US $325.00

Nike Air Jordan Retro XI 11 Concord sz 9 2011    US $296.00

NIKE AIR JORDAN XI 11 CONCORD SPACE JAM    US $107.50

Nike Retro Jordan 12 Sz 11 Lebron Kobe Durant Air Concord XI Flint Fuelband Max    US $202.50

Nike Air Jordan Retro 11 Xi Concord Shoes Size 11 100 Authentic    US $325.00

Nike Jordan 2011 Sz 11 Lebron Kobe Durant Air Max Flight Concord XI I III    US $59.99

Nike Retro Jordan 13 Sz 11 Lebron Kobe Durant Air Concord XI Flint Fuelband Max    US $192.50

Nike Jordan 2010 Sz 11 Lebron Kobe Durant Air Max Flight Concord XI I III    US $89.99

Nike Air Jordan 11 XI Retro Concord Tshirt NEW with tags Mens sz 2XLarge    US $12.95

Nike Jordan Collezione 18 5 Sz 11 Lebron Kobe Air Concord XI Flint Fuelband Max    US $349.99

Nike Air Jordan Retro X 10 Chicago concord cool grey xi lebron    US $150.32

Nike Air Retro Jordan XI low Sz 115 KD Lebron Kobe Max Concord Foamposite Penny    US $76.99

Air Jordan Retro 11 XI concord Jordan 10 Chicago kobe 6 lebron 9 space jam    US $675.05

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There are several reasons why these shoes are so popular and so in-demand. One of the main draws behind the Air Jordan is in the name alone. Michael Jordan is considered the greatest player ever, and people who play basketball--or just walk around-- while wearing the shoes feel like they are carrying on his legacy. Jordan's line of basketball shoes are definitely high-quality.  They also represent the latest edition in a long line of Air Jordans.   There are thousands of people who collect Air Jordans.  Maybe you're won of them.  If you consider the comfort, style and legacy surrounding the shoes, they are worth every penny of the purchase price.

Air Jordan Concords have been released at a time when people are getting a little bit more money back in their pockets. The US economy has begun a slow, time-consuming crawl out of a recession, and people are growing more confident in the markets now. They are more willing to spend money now since there is a little less worry or if disappearing. These Air Jordan XI retro shoes have always been a popular brand of shoe, and the new Concords are no exception.

The stock of Air Jordan shoes on eBay virtually never runs out. You can avoid all of the hassle and forget about overpaying by buying in a fair market situation. Make sure you get the correct size, and it would be a great idea to contact the seller personally to make sure the listing is correct. If you can find the correct size for the Air Jordan shoes on eBay, you'll save money and be guaranteed to get your own pair.

There's no hurry to get Air Jordan Concords from the stores. Even though places like FootLocker, Payless and others may run out of stock, eBay will always have at least a few pairs of the great Air Jordan shoes for sale.

The Virginia Squires ABA Dr. J jersey was a rare style in use for only one year in the now defunct league. “We had never even seen a common jersey of this type, let alone a Dr. J game-worn example. We knew it had an excellent chance of making $100,000 at auction. It did that and much more,” said Richard E. Russek, president of Grey Flannel Auctions.

The iconic navy and gold UCLA coaching jacket donned by John Wooden was another slam-dunk winner in the sale. Offered with a letter of authenticity signed by the late Bruins' legend, it garnered 17 bids before settling at $183,500.

A serious collector paid $115,242 for Fred Brown's 1979 Seattle SuperSonics NBA championship ring. The sharp-shooting captain of Seattle’s 1978-79 team holds the Sonics’ all-time record for points in a regular season – 58.

Brown’s 14K gold Championship player’s ring, emblazoned “NBA WORLD CHAMPIONS” and featuring a large central diamond, was accompanied by a letter of authenticity written by Brown who said he was donating much of the proceeds to charity after his wife did some housecleaning.

“I think it’s very significant that seven out of the top 10 lots in this sale were associated with basketball. It’s a category that has continued to attract many new and serious collectors to our auctions over the past few years,” said Russek.

Among the top basketball lots were Wilt Chamberlain’s 1968-69 L.A. Lakers Playoffs game-used road jersey, $73,409; a circa-1897 leather-laced basketball with side-panel construction, $59,135; and 1981 NBA Finals MVP Cedric “Cornbread” Maxwell’s Boston Celtics World Championship player’s ring with a letter of authenticity from Maxwell, $55,152.

The priciest football-related item was Steve Wright’s  Green Bay Packers Super Bowl ring, with LOA, which scored a winning bid of $73,409. “To our knowledge, it is the only player’s ring from the first Super Bowl ever to be offered in a public auction,” said Russek.

Baseball lots were dominated by a 1959 Roberto Clemente Pittsburgh Pirates game-used flannel home jersey vest, which knocked it out of the park at $55,152.

Russek commented that the excitement level for the sale was “unprecedented…The phones ran hot till 6:55 a.m. We knew that the Dr. J jersey, John Wooden jacket and multiple Championship rings would finish at the top, but we didn’t know in what order. It was a great sale, and we want to thank everyone who participated in the bidding.”

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Sports Illustrated January 14 1974 Julius Erving Nets    US $4.99

Dr J Julius Erving Roosevelt High School Jersey Size 58 Limited Edition    US $34.99

1986 Julius Erving Fleer Sicker 5    US $.99

Sports Illustrated May 17 1976 Julius Erving VG FREE SHIPPING    US $2.99

Julius Erving Dr J ABA Mitchell Ness Nets Jersey Sz48    US $149.99

1979 Topps Julius Erving 20 PSA 7 NM    US $.99

Julius Erving 1972 73 Topps 195 Rookie Card Real Good Condition Va Squires    US $36.00

Julius Erving BOSTON GARDEN 1981 76ers Poster Print    US $39.95

30 cards straight from Packs of 1974 topps basketball 226 julius Erving Nets    US $9.99

1980 81 TOPPS MAGIC JOHNSON ROOKIE JULIUS DR J ERVING    US $8.40

JULIUS ERVING 6 76ers SIXERS REEBOK SWINGMAN JERSEY YOUTH MEDIUM 10 12    US $26.00

1978 79 TOPPS 130 JULIUS DR J ERVING 76ers    US $3.75

MARCH 231987 THE SPORTING NEWS MICHAEL JORDAN JULIUS ERVING    US $2.50

1972 73 TOPPS 263 ARTIS GILMORE JULIUS DR J ERVING MEL DANIELS    US $3.50

1972 73 TOPPS 195 JULIUS DR J ERVING SQUIRES ROOKIE SHARP    US $125.50

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Even after his last stint with the Washington Wizards ended in 2003, Michael Jordan memorabilia continues to be some of the most highly sought-after pieces from any player of any sport. Jordan's legacy continues on through his autographs, which still sell at a brisk pace.

The world's infatuation with MJ stems from not only the greatness that he displayed throughout the years with the Chicago Bulls but also in the rivalries that he was a part of with players like Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Isiah Thomas. Legendary games with some of the best players ever to play the game of basketball allowed Jordan to rise to almost god-like prominence amongst sports fans.

Even at today's sports collectors shows where Kobe Bryant autographed memorabilia and other products signed by NBA superstars are prevalent and in high demand, it is still Michael Jordan's signature that is one of the most sought after. Due to his career 30 PPG, 6 RPG, and 5 APG averages and his almost unheard of 50% career shooting from the field, Jordan continues to remain a basketball icon in today's society. His court presence, the ability to lead his teammates, and the patented Michael Jordan swagger all make #23 one of the greatest legends in all of sports.

Rare items such as Jordan autographs  and other pieces of history from his days at North Carolina are still some of the most expensive pieces at auctions and memorabilia stores all over the nation. Due to his lack of prominence in college (even though he was an All-American during his senior year), it is difficult to find items that date back to his days under legendary head coach Dean Smith. For this reason, autographed sneakers, jerseys, and other North Carolina items demand big money on the open market.

Michael Jordan rookie cards--signed or unsigned--might actually be a bargain right now.

Another expensive set of Jordan items are from his days on the Olympic Dream Team with many of his fellow NBA rivals. The Dream Team, to this day, is still considered the greatest group of basketball players to ever play in the Olympics. As this type of memorabilia is also rare in comparison to his Chicago Bulls merchandise, basketballs, shoes, and jerseys all highly sought after within the industry.

As years pass and  autographed basketballs and other general sports items become even more scarce, their value and the demand for these pieces will ultimately increase.  MJ's contract with Upper Deck Authenticated has pushed more Michael Jordan autographs into the marketplace, but like Ruth, Mantle, Gretzky and other sports icons, there just aren't enough to go around.

The  cocktail of excitement and the adrenaline of the moment surging through your veins is unlike anything else. Even after hunting for basketball autographs for years, the joy of seeing your hardwood hero in person is unequaled and never loses its appeal. But now that you have the autograph, the next question is what to do with it now?

Basketball signatures are best protected in a display case or otherwise sealed location, keeping dust and outside contaminants from getting to the signature and potentially ruining it. The condition of the autograph plays a large part in the overall value of the autographed piece as maximum worth can be given to an item in mint condition. Dust and wear becomes immediately apparent unless housed properly in a display case. The most ideal display case is a glass one, as the whole point of getting an autograph is to show it off to friends and family, instantly becoming the recipient of jealousy and awe.

Glass or high quality acrylic display cases can be purchased online through links here on Hoops Collector. Prices for cases range from $15 to upwards of $200 depending on the quality and size of the case needed. High quality acrylic cases have the same appearance as glass cases for a fraction of the price. To the casual observer the difference is tough to spot. The memorabilia will remain safe inside and avoid any kind of dust or other contamination. However, for the most valued signed merchandise, it is highly suggested to purchase a glass display case. These cases are typically $100 or more; again, depending on size and shape. There are cases for signed jerseys, basketballs, trading cards, and photos, each with a stand or hook for the prized basketball signature.Once placed in a protective case, be sure to keep the autograph in the box, avoiding handling it as much as possible, as this is one of the leading causes of wear.

So if you ever have the good fortune to receive an autograph, remember that a basketball signature is best protected in a display case. So don't waste time and immediately get that item into a protective case before it gets ruined.  There are hundreds of very nice different cases available on eBay.  Click hereto see what's available.

While not everybody has the skill of a LeBron James, they can still own a piece of history by purchasing items that have been signed by the game's most versatile NBA talent. This allows for a connection to be made between fan and player, and there are still great items at a fair price.  And yes, there is plenty of authentic material out there despite naysayers who think everything is fake.  Players sign more items than you realize and many are even under contract to memorabilia companies who then wholesale the signed jerseys, photos, basketballs and other items to dealers around the world.

When two of the most popular teams in the NBA square off (for example, the Celtics and the Lakers), it is a world-class event that showcases how much the rivalry means not only to the teams but to the people in the stands as well. Unfortunately, not everyone is able to see the game live or even on TV. Due to distance, budgetary reasons, or a sold out arena, everybody that would like to go is unable to do so.

For a person in Detroit who is a big Lakers fan, it's not prudent to go see Celtics-Lakers at Staples Center. NBA signed memorabilia then becomes such an important connection for that fan. There is a bond that is established between the players and fan, even though they are 2,000 miles apart.

NBA signed materials, such as a Lakers signed basketball or Kobe Bryant jersey, provide the sense of being the ultimate team supporter that the fan otherwise might not be able to experience if they didn't have the merchandise available to them. NBA superstars are known around the world and among the least visible of all pro athletes. Those factors help drive demand higher each year.  That's where the authentication process and private autograph contracts between players and memorabilia companies have helped fill the gap.  Many of those items are sold on eBay.  Just be sure to watch for proper certificates of authenticity.

Even though Michael Jordan hasn't played in seven years, his signature on basketball-related items is still sought the world over by people looking to rekindle a childhood memory or bear witness to Jordan's greatness.

NBA items that have been specifically autographed by the players themselves carry a special significance with them that cannot be found in unsigned jerseys, shoes, and player cards.

While a person might never get the chance to make the Miami Heat roster and play alongside Dwayne Wade, it is good to know that there is an outlet where that person can go in order to find the connection that he needs to feel like a real NBA fan. NBA signed items will continue to increase in value and demand as the game grows around the world.

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DWYANE WADE AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED SPALDING NBA BASKETBALL PSA DNA    US $149.00

KEVIN DURANT AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED SPALDING NBA BASKETBALL PSA DNA    US $149.00

MAGIC JOHNSON HOF 02 SIGNED AUTOGRAPHED AUTHENTIC NBA BASKETBALL PSA DNA    US $40.00

ELGIN BAYLOR HOF 76 SIGNED AUTOGRAPHED AUTHENTIC NBA BASKETBALL PSA DNA    US $35.99

KOBE BRYANT SIGNED AUTOGRAPHED AUTHENTIC NBA LEATHER BASKETBALL PSA DNA COA RARE    US $33.99

JERRY LUCAS HOF 79 ROY 64 GOLD SIGNED AUTOGRAPHED NEW NBA BASKETBALL PSA DNA    US $17.59

JOHN SALLEY Signed 8 x 10 NBA WORLD CHAMPION PSA DNA COA    US $5.99

JAMAL MASHBURN KENTUCKY NBA ALL STAR ORIGINAL HAND SIGNED FILA POSTER PSA DNA    US $.99

Magic Johnson Signed Lakers Basketball PSA DNA COA Autographed Autod NBA Ball    US $159.99

GEORGE MIKAN HOF 89 SIGNED AUTOGRAPHED AUTHENTIC NBA LEATHER BASKETBALL PSA DNA    US $.99

WALLY SZCZERBIAK SIGNED NBA I O BASKETBALL PSA DNA    US $9.95

MICHAEL OLOWOKANDI SIGNED NBA I O BASKETBALL PSA DNA    US $9.95

Elgin Baylor Signed Lakers Basketball PSA DNA COA HOF 1977 Autographed NBA Ball    US $149.99

BRANDON ROY AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED NBA LEATHER BASKETBALL PSA DNA    US $169.00

1962 63 CELTICS TEAM SIGNED PSA AUTH NBA BASKETBALL    US $1,495.00

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Each player has helped bring Celtic fans NBA Championships and plenty of memories that will never be forgotten. The Celtics have one of the most loyal fan bases around as well as some of the most knowledgeable. Celtics signed memorabilia continues to be sought after by fans and collectors alike. No matter if your talking about autographed jerseys, basketballs, or even sports cards Celtics collectibles are very hot these days.

The Celts were founded in 1946 and through the years have won a total of 17 NBA Championships, 20 Conference Titles, and 28 Division Titles along the way. With all these accomplishments many collectibles were introduced as fans sought a tangible piece of the great memories.

Even the old Boston Garden, where the Celtics used to play, was special. As you can see with all these players and history, many collectibles and signed memorabilia appeal not just to Celtics fans but NBA fans in general.

The Celtics' great teams of the '70s and 80s are represented by Havlicek, Bird, Dennis Johnson, Robert Parish and so many others.

Bird will go down as one of the best Boston Celtic players of all-time and his collectibles are still highly sought even today. An autographed Larry Bird basketball makes a great conversation piece for your desk or family room.

Far and away one of the most exciting players to come to Boston in recent years has been Kevin Garnett. His enthusiasm is contagious and a Celtics signed jersey of Kevin Garnett framed is a very special collectible indeed.

Signed photographs are a collectible that has really become popular these days, especially for the affordability factor. They show special moments that will be remembered forever. Paul Pierce is the face of the franchise right now and getting an autographed photo of him from the championship series will be remembered long after Pierce retires from the game.

Bill Russell is among the toughest autographs, but his memorabilia contract has allowed more autographed items of #6 into the market.  Authenticated Celtics signed memorabilia can be found, but of course the popularity of the franchise and its Hall of Fame players means you'll pay a little more to get something nice--but for long term value it's hard to beat when furnishing your den, office or hobby room.

Shop for Celtics autographs on eBay

With fresh stars like LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Deron Williams, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwight Howard, it's got a new level of excitement among fans and collectors of basketball autographs.

With the rising popularity in an increasingly digital age, where games can be watched anywhere on a laptop or even a mobile phone, the reach  of the sport is seeping across international  borders Fans who have been watching the game for years have witnessed breakout performances from international stars beginning to make a serious name for themselves. With the new caliber of overseas talent and international fans naturally comes a new market for the basketball hobby of hunting for autographs and signed memorabilia.

These international players have brought the love of the game to their native lands. The entire country of Turkey roots for the Utah Jazz because of Mehmet Okur and Irsan Ilyasova  while Argentina sings the praises of its hometown hero, Manu Ginobli of the San Antonio Spurs.

Basketball courts fill with kids and adults alike as they imagine playing alongside their hardwood heroes. With this new level of devotion to their NBA players, comes the hunt for player and team memorabilia, especially autographs.

The basketball hobby is relatively new to other countries and incredibly difficult, with virtually all NBA games are played in America. However, foreign born players always return to their hometowns in the off season or for international competitions and oblige their fans with promotional signing events as well as most autograph requests on the street.

Another simple, and easy, way for international fans to find their favorite player's autograph is off eBay or any number of collector sites selling signed NBA memorabilia.

Recently the NBA has begun playing preseason exhibition games overseas featuring NBA franchises as well as hometown professional teams. In 2007, China played host to a set of three games featuring the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Orlando Magic, and the China Men's National Team. Along with any of these types of exhibition events will naturally come promotional events in which international basketball enthusiasts will get a chance to meet NBA players and receive NBA player autographs and signed memorabilia.

It's all part of the NBA's effort to expand overseas and tap into a new market for the sport, and the market has certainly demanded it. In 2009, 25-27% of all licensed NBA merchandise purchased has been from overseas, implying that the basketball hobby of autograph hunting is only growing internationally.  Fans of international players can also seek signed items here at Hoops Collector by checking out the links to signed items on eBay.

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DWYANE WADE AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED SPALDING NBA BASKETBALL PSA DNA    US $149.00

KEVIN DURANT AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED SPALDING NBA BASKETBALL PSA DNA    US $149.00

MAGIC JOHNSON HOF 02 SIGNED AUTOGRAPHED AUTHENTIC NBA BASKETBALL PSA DNA    US $40.00

ELGIN BAYLOR HOF 76 SIGNED AUTOGRAPHED AUTHENTIC NBA BASKETBALL PSA DNA    US $35.99

KOBE BRYANT SIGNED AUTOGRAPHED AUTHENTIC NBA LEATHER BASKETBALL PSA DNA COA RARE    US $33.99

JERRY LUCAS HOF 79 ROY 64 GOLD SIGNED AUTOGRAPHED NEW NBA BASKETBALL PSA DNA    US $17.59

JOHN SALLEY Signed 8 x 10 NBA WORLD CHAMPION PSA DNA COA    US $5.99

JAMAL MASHBURN KENTUCKY NBA ALL STAR ORIGINAL HAND SIGNED FILA POSTER PSA DNA    US $.99

Magic Johnson Signed Lakers Basketball PSA DNA COA Autographed Autod NBA Ball    US $159.99

GEORGE MIKAN HOF 89 SIGNED AUTOGRAPHED AUTHENTIC NBA LEATHER BASKETBALL PSA DNA    US $.99

WALLY SZCZERBIAK SIGNED NBA I O BASKETBALL PSA DNA    US $9.95

MICHAEL OLOWOKANDI SIGNED NBA I O BASKETBALL PSA DNA    US $9.95

Elgin Baylor Signed Lakers Basketball PSA DNA COA HOF 1977 Autographed NBA Ball    US $149.99

BRANDON ROY AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED NBA LEATHER BASKETBALL PSA DNA    US $169.00

1962 63 CELTICS TEAM SIGNED PSA AUTH NBA BASKETBALL    US $1,495.00

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Several years later, though, James has not only lived up to the hype, he’s starting to surpass it. LeBron James autographs are now the most sought after by fans and collectors alike. As the 2009 NBA MVP, he’s now in elite company among the game’s greats, but it’s possible signed LeBron James memorabilia is still a relative bargain.

Think about it.

James has already played six seasons in the league. He owns a Rookie of the Year award, an MVP and an Olympic gold medal…and he’s still just 24 years old. It’s possible before he’s through that he’ll own every meaningful NBA record. Almost as important, he’s begun building a reputation as a sportsman, someone who knows how to avoid trouble, has a bit of a social conscience and appreciation for basketball history that endears him to those who admire athletes.

James is an athlete like no other. His exploits bring to mind some of the special things Michael Jordan did as a young player, but James is an NBA player like no other. At 6’8, 260, he’s Jordan in a power forward’s body. He has few weaknesses and a killer instinct. He raised the level of his game in 2008-09 to the point where the Cavs were a clear favorite to win the NBA Eastern Conference title.

Collectors like to gravitate to James autographs because of his superstar status and because he’s proven to be someone worthy of admiration. His connection to his old high school in Akron was so strong that the news conference to announce his MVP award was held there. He cheered this year’s team on from the stands as they captured an Ohio state title—not because he thought it would look good to be there, but because he truly cares. His willingness to play for his country also scores big points among fans.

James has an exclusive autograph arrangement with Upper Deck and the company has produced numerous memorabilia items and basketball cards, many of which sell for hundreds of dollars. You can also find LeBron James autographs by searching eBay—just be sure to buy something with a certificate of authenticity from a respected company or from a dealer with an excellent and lengthy feedback history.

James will be a star for at least another decade and it’s likely his status as an American sports icon hasn’t even scratched the surface. Buying now—even in the wake of a highly-publicized NBA MVP season—is probably a wise investment.