There are five main types of NBA jerseys that you’ll need to consider. Those five jersey types are: Fanatics Fast Break, Nike Swingman, Nike Authentic, Mitchell & Ness Swingman, Mitchell & Ness Authentic.
Out of those 5 jersey types, this is my favorite based on a combination of quality and price (affiliate link takes you to NBAStore.com). Let’s take a closer look at your jersey options, and what Lakers jersey might be best for you.
Types of Los Angeles Lakers NBA Jerseys
Nike is the official outfitter of the NBA, and there are 2 different types of Nike NBA jerseys to choose from. There is one other type of jersey, called the Fanatics Fast Break Jersey, which is available to fans at a cheaper price point than the Nike jerseys.
And if you are in the market for a throwback jersey, you will have two different styles of Mitchell & Ness jerseys to choose from. Mitchell & Ness makes the throwback jerseys for the NBA. All in all, you have 5 different potential jersey types to choose from (2 Nike, 1 Fanatics, 2 Mitchell & Ness).
What you need to understand first, is that these 5 jerseys are going to differ on fit, quality, and price. The most expensive Nike jerseys (the Nike Authentic jerseys) are the closest to what the players wear on the court. The Nike Authentic jerseys will cost around $250. Some of the more affordable options won’t have the premium finishes that those Authentic jerseys have, but will save you some money.
These are the 5 types of NBA jerseys available (remember, not all of these will be available at local stores, but will be available at NBAStore.com):
- Fanatics Fast Break
- Nike Swingman
- Nike Authentic
- Mitchell & Ness Swingman
- Mitchell & Ness Authentic
Fanatics Fast Break Jerseys
The Fast Break NBA jersey is a replica jersey created by Fanatics that provides fan with a more affordable jersey option in comparison to the Nike jerseys. The Fast Break jerseys were first launched in 2017 (source).
The Fast Break jerseys are not true replicas of what the players wear (official jersey provider of the NBA is Nike), but even though the Fanatics Fast Break jerseys are not true replicas, they still have strong similarities to team jerseys.
Fast Break jerseys are popular among fans looking to rep a player or team, but looking for an affordable jersey that fits their budget. If you are operating on a tight budget, this jersey will work perfect for you.
Click here to view the Lakers Fanatics Fast Break jerseys at NBAStore.com (affiliate link takes you to NBAStore.com). The Fast Break jerseys have a standard true-to-size fit. They fit looser than the Nike jerseys. To read more about this jersey, visit our Fanatics Fast Break jersey review.
Nike Swingman Jerseys
Nike Swingman jerseys are the more affordable option between the two Nike jerseys. Nike Swingman jerseys are replica jerseys that don’t have embroidered graphics.
They look very similar to the Nike Authentic jerseys, but just lack the premium finishes. This helps keep cost down so that they can be offered at a cheaper price point.
In some instances, the Nike Swingman jerseys can be half the price of the Nike Authentic jerseys. If you are after a Nike jersey, you will have to decide whether or not you want to pay up for the premium Authentic jerseys.
Click here to view the Lakers Nike Swingman jerseys at NBAStore.com (affiliate link takes you to NBAStore.com). The Swingman jersey have an athletic, slim fit. If you prefer a baggy fit you will need to size up. To read more about the Nike Swingman jerseys, visit our Nike Swingman jersey review.
Nike Authentic Jerseys
The Nike Authentic jerseys are the closest you can get as a fan to wearing what the players wear on the court. The Nike Authentic jerseys have embroidered graphics and the same design as the on-court jerseys.
Buy the Nike Authentic jersey if you are looking for the best fan jersey on the market. As we discussed earlier, the Nike Authentic jerseys can cost as much as $250 in some cases. Choosing between Nike Swingman and Nike Authentic comes down to quality vs cost.
The sizing system of the Nike Authentics is a little different than the sizing system of the Nike Swingman. Although both styles have a slim, athletic fit to mimic the fit of the jerseys the players wear, the Authentic jerseys use a numerical sizing system (like size 40, size 44, etc), but the Swingman jerseys use a standard small, medium, large sizing system.
The Nike Authentic jerseys make for a nice collector item and are for more serious fans. Click here to view the Lakers Nike Authentic jerseys available at NBAStore.com (affiliate link takes you to NBAStore.com). Again, expect an athletic, slim fit. To read more about the Nike Authentic jerseys, visit our Nike Authentic jersey review.
Mitchell & Ness Swingman Jerseys
Mitchell & Ness Swingman jerseys are throwback jerseys. If you are looking for the jersey of a current Laker, then you will need to stick with one of the Nike jerseys, or a Fanatics Fast Break jersey.
If you remember from the Nike Swingman jersey section above, the Swingman jerseys do not have embroidered graphics. That is one cool thing about the Mitchell & Ness Swingman jerseys (at least for the jerseys I’ve owned), they do have embroidered graphics. This is how much the Mitchell & Ness Swingman Lakers throwback jerseys cost (affiliate link takes you to NBAStore.com).
Here is a look at my Shaq Lakers throwback Mitchell & Ness Swingman jersey. As you can see it has embroidered graphics. ***It is important to note that M&N makes throwbacks for different eras, and the features may differ a bit from jersey to jersey.
Click here to view this Shaq throwback at NBAStore.com to see price (affiliate link takes you to NBAStore.com). The Mitchell & Ness jerseys have an athletic fit.
The Mitchell & Ness Swingman jerseys are a cool way to rep a throwback Lakers jersey. Click here to see the entire collection of Mitchell & Ness Swingman throwback jerseys available for the Lakers at NBAStore.com (affiliate link takes you to NBAStore.com). To read more about the throwback Swingman jerseys, visit our Mitchell & Ness Swingman jersey review.
Mitchell & Ness Authentic Jerseys
The Mitchell & Ness Authentic Jerseys are the more premium version of throwback jerseys, and are some of the most coveted NBA jerseys on the market. They will cost more than the swingman jerseys we discussed above. This is the current price of the Lakers authentic throwbacks at NBAStore.com (affiliate link takes you to NBAStore.com).
The Mitchell & Ness Authentic jerseys feature premium design and embroidered graphics. As I mentioned earlier in the article, Mitchell & Ness is tasked with making jerseys from several different eras in the NBA.
Because of this, it is possible that the fit of throwback jerseys may vary a bit from jersey to jersey. That said, the Mitchell & Ness Authentic jersey is the one NBA jersey that I did have to size up. It was too slim in my normal sizing.
Click here to view what players are available for the Mitchell & Ness Authentic Throwback Lakers jerseys (affiliate link takes you to NFLShop.com). To read more about how Mitchell & Ness jerseys fit, visit our Mitchell & Ness Sizing Guide. To read more about the throwback Authentic jerseys, visit our Mitchell & Ness Authentic Jersey review.
Where to Buy Los Angeles Lakers Jerseys
NBAStore.com is the official store of the NBA. Buying your jerseys from NBAStore.com helps ensure that you are buying the real thing and not a knock-off. Click here to view Lakers jerseys at NBAStore.com (affiliate link takes you to NBAStore.com).
You do have the option also to shop locally for Lakers jerseys if you live in the LA area, but it is important to understand that most retail stores don’t offer all the types of NBA jerseys that NBAStore.com has, so your choices may be limited locally. The Pro Shop inside the Staples Center will also have a wide range of jerseys for you to choose from.
In general, buying from NBAStore.com allows you to browse through the entire selection of jerseys, and buy confidently knowing you aren’t getting scammed. I buy my gear from NBAStore.com. In my opinion, the next best option is to try the pro shop inside of Staples Center, and if that’s not an option, then try local retail stores.
Are Lakers Jerseys Stitched?
As we just discussed in the sections above, whether or not your jersey has stitched graphics will be dependent on what type of jersey you buy. The Nike Authentic jerseys will have stitched graphics (but the Nike Swingman jerseys will not). Most Mitchell & Ness throwback jerseys also have stitched graphics.
How Do Lakers Jerseys Fit?
How your Lakers jersey fits will differ greatly depending on what type of jersey you choose. Below is a brief idea of how each type will fit. For a more in-depth breakdown, visit our article How Do NBA Jerseys Fit?
- Fanatics Fast Break – Regular fit. The one NBA jersey that doesn’t run slim.
- Nike Swingman – Slim, athletic fit
- Nike Authentic – Slim, athletic fit.
- Mitchell & Ness Swingman – Slim, athletic fit. A little looser than the Nike jerseys.
- Mitchell & Ness Authentic – Slim, athletic fit. So slim I had to size up.
How Much Are Lakers Jerseys?
The cheapest NBA jerseys cost around $70, and the most expensive jerseys can cost up to $300. The most affordable Nike jersey is the Nike Swingman jersey. This is the current price of the Nike Swingman jersey at NBAStore.com (afiliate link takes you to NBAStore.com).
Remember, as we discussed earlier, the cheapest NBA jersey will be the Fanatics Fast Break replica jersey. It is not made by Nike. This is the current price of the Fanatics Fast Break Lakers jerseys (affiliate link takes you to NBAStore.com).
If you are looking for an authentic Lakers jersey, the Nike Authentic jerseys can cost around $250. Here is what the Nike Authentic Laker jerseys look like at NBAStore.com (affiliate link takes you to NBAStore.com)
Jersey Colors
Los Angeles Lakers Home Jersey Color
In the 2018-19 season, when the NBA switched to Nike as their official outfitter, the decision was made to do away with predetermined home and road colors. Each team has four colors to choose from, and the home team gets to decide what color to wear for each individual game (road team must choose a contrasting color).
Traditionally, the Lakers have worn gold at home (but again, that now has changed since Nike took over the apparel contract). Since the switch, the Lakers have started wearing the purple jerseys on occasion at home. Click here to view the Lakers gold and purple jerseys at NBAStore.com (affiliate link takes you to NBAStore.com).
Los Angeles Lakers Away Jersey Color
As we just discussed above, starting in 2018-19 season, when the NBA switched to Nike as their official outfitter, the decision was made to do away with predetermined home and road colors. Traditionally, the Lakers have worn purple on the road, but in recent years they have worn white on the road also. Click here to view the purple and white Lakers jerseys at NBAStore.com (affiliate link takes you to NBAStore.com).
Best Los Angeles Lakers Jersey Color
Many people prefer the gold Lakers jerseys over their purple and white because traditionally the gold jerseys were the home jersey, so that’s what many fans would wear to games. The gold jerseys have purple lettering and purple and white trim.
If you prefer the purple jerseys, they have traditionally been the road jersey over the history of the franchise. The purple jerseys have gold lettering and gold trim.
Best Los Angeles Lakers Jersey
Best Los Angeles Lakers Throwback Jersey
Top Selling Throwbacks:
- Kobe Bryant ‘24′ – Click here to view the Kobe Bryant “24” Authentic Throwback jersey at NBAStore.com (affiliate link takes you to NBAStore.com).
- Kobe Bryant ‘8′ – Click here to view the Kobe Bryant “8” Authentic Throwback jersey at NBAStore.com (affiliate link takes you to NBAStore.com).
- Shaquille O’Neal – Click here to view the Shaquille O’Neal 96-97 Throwback jersey at NBAStore.com (affiliate link takes you to NBAStore.com).
- Magic Johnson – Click here to view the Magic Johnson 84-85 Throwback jersey at NBAStore.com (affiliate link takes you to NBAStore.com).
- James Worthy – Click here to view the James Worthy 84-85 Throwback jersey at Mitchell & Ness.
- Jerry West – Click here to view the Jerry West 1971 Authentic Throwback jersey at Mitchell & Ness.
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – Click here to view the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 84-85 Authentic Throwback jersey at Mitchell & Ness.
Best Los Angeles Lakers Women Jersey
You can buy several different types of women’s Lakers jerseys. One of the most popular is the Fanatics Fast Break Women’s Tank jersey. Click here to view the entire selection of women’s Lakers jerseys available at NBAStore.com (affiliate link takes you to NBAStore.com).
Best Los Angeles Lakers Youth Jersey
If you are shopping for your son or daughter, there is a wide variety of youth jerseys to choose from, including throwback jerseys. Click here to view the entire selection of Youth jerseys available at NBAStore.com (affiliate link takes you to NBAStore.com).
What Lakers Jersey Should You Get?
Top Selling Current Players:
- Lebron James – Click here to view the Lebron James Nike Swingman jersey at NBAStore.com (affiliate link takes you to NBAStore.com).
- Anthony Davis – Click here to view the Anthony Davis Nike Swingman jersey at NBAStore.com (affiliate link takes you to NBAStore.com).
Top Selling Throwback:
- Kobe Bryant – Click here to view the Kobe Bryant “24” Authentic Throwback jersey at NBAStore.com (affiliate link takes you to NBAStore.com).
Where to Buy Los Angeles Lakers Jerseys
NBAStore.com is the official store of the NBA. Buying your jerseys from NBAStore.com helps ensure that you are buying the real thing and not a knock-off. Click here to view Lakers jerseys at NBAStore.com (affiliate link takes you to NBAStore.com).