The Sport Count

If you’re an NBA fan:

1. There’s a 1.09-1 chance you occasionally browse eBay.

2. There’s a 3-1 chance you have an account on eBay you sporadically use to buy vintage rarities and top-notch basketball memorabilia.

3. There’s a 6-1 chance you’ve got a feedback boasting 74 positives and just one negative, based on the recent successful purchase of: a) an Exquisite signed Turiaf rookie numbered to 10 b) a throwback Pietrus jersey (three dollars plus shipping!) and c) a Larry Johnson doll that dunks when you press a button and screams ‘that’s Grandma!’

Oh, and d) the hunting knife with Ron Artest’s head carved into the handle which you still haven’t received.

Not bad odds, so for the auction heads ready to get their PayPal on, here’s the Sport Count guide to the NBA on eBay:

STEVE BLAKE PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS BOBBLEHEAD | bids start at: $9.99US | no bids | If you’re a real fan of the white men of Portland*, this seemingly homemade bad boy might just make your day.

Imagine little Stevie duct-taped to your dashboard, his strange little head bobbing up and down, like a miniature, car-based point guard running plays just for you, as you drive. I know! Magical!

*I’m sure we’ll find some Przybilla trinkets later.

2003-2004 ud exquisite auto rc patch darko milicic 92/99 | bids start $260US | no bids | Despite the hefty price tag attached to a lot of Upper Deck product, collectors tend to assume the worst of the company when it comes to ‘game-used’ cards; many believe the swatches of material are taken from random no-name players, or promotional events and photoshoots, or — claim the truly cynical — straight from the jersey factories.

So it’s a relief when you see a card like this: with a Darko jersey from his Detroit days, it doesn’t matter if it was ‘game-used’ or not — it will have seen the same court time.

RON ARTEST THROWBACK PACERS JERSEY | bids start at: $9.91 | no bids | What an amazing purchase at an amazing price.

Yeah, it’s a great jersey — throwback design near to its best — but the best part is the size: Kids Medium. I so badly want to see a little kid running around in a baby-sized Artest jersey. You instantly imagine the little fella holding a fork, jumping up and down, screaming.

Orlando Magic DWIGHT HOWARD All Star Sticker Mesh Hat | bids start at $6.99US | no bids | A couple of problems with the hat: it looks cheap, and it’s a trucker hat, so you will definitely look like an arsehole who won’t ever quit 2002.

Two great things about the hat: it is cheap, and it has Dwight Howard’s smiling face right on the front there. Good outweighs bad? You decide.

Allen Kobe Iverson Style Roundballcity Arm Sleeve White | bids start at $0.99 | no bids | On Kobe, or Carmelo, or Allen Iverson, an arm sleeve adds a certain touch of maximised athletic efficiency (yeah, that’s right).

But if you sport an armsleeve you bought for a dollar on eBay down to the local courts, people are going to ask ‘what’s that for?’ and you’ll say ‘oh, it keeps my shooting arm warm and ready’ and they’ll say ’seriously?’

WILT CHAMBERLAIN PSA/DNA AUTOGRAPHED BASKETBALL SHOE | buy it now for $1499US | I have absolutely no faith whatsoever in the authenticity of this shoe. If I did, I wouldn’t be posting about this shoe; I’d be buying it, and charging people $5 per 10 minutes to wear it.

Posted By: Anton

We’ll have more finds later. Found a must-have item on eBay? Email us.