Here we are – 2020 – and if you are trying to find out what
companies are licensed to make products for the NBA, you have come to the right
place.
Allow me to offer a bit of background…
Eight years have passed since 2012 when I launched a
searchable Online Directory of 2500+ North American Licensed Sports Products
Companies – LicensedSports.net. This is a highly searchable directory of
licensed sports products companies in North America. There are companies that
have been licensed by various sports leagues (NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, NCAA, MLS,
NASCAR, NFLPA, MLBPA, NHLPA and others). You can search by licenses held,
product categories, by city or state or country of the licensee, and many other
searchable fields. Virtually every company record has addresses, phone numbers,
websites, contact names, titles, email addresses, Linkedin url’s, etc. It costs just $59 to use the database for
three months. There is nowhere else on the internet that you can find this info
– it just doesn’t exist anywhere else. And I update the database weekly,
sometimes daily. So if you need details about the companies licensed by the
NBA, please sign up – it’s just $59 for three months. If you're not sure if
this database would be worth the investment, check out this 3-minute video that
gives you a sense of what to expect.
So while I encourage you to subscribe to the actual online directory to get up-to-date (and far more detailed) information,
here is a snapshot of the 181 current NBA licensees in the database as of 2020.
January 2020
List of NBA / National Basketball Association Licensees
1 - 2K Sports / Take Two Interactive Software Inc. / T2
2 - Active Dreamers
3 - adidas America / Reebok (Sports Licensed Division)
4 - Alleson Athletic- a div of Founder Sport Group
5 - Aluminati Skateboards- a division of Frontier Aluminum
6 - Americus Diamond
7 - Amicus Publishing
8 - Aminco USA / Aminco International
9 - Amscan Inc. / Amscan Holdings
10 - The Antigua Group
11 - Applied Icon
12 - Authentic Street Signs
13 - Baby Fanatic
14 - Basic Fun - formerly Good Stuff / Win Stuff / The
Bridge Direct
15 - bathletics- a division of LaBottega
16 - Bauerfeind Medical
17 - Bensussen Deutsch & Associates / BDA
18 - BIC Inc. / Bic USA
19 - Bleacher Creatures / Uncanny Brands / Phenom Gallery
20 - Bling it On by Titana / Titania Bling
21 - Boelter Brands
22 - The Bradford Exchange Ltd.
23 - Branded Custom Sportswear Inc. / BCS - Nike
24 - Branded Logistics
25 - BT Swim / Blue Torrent
26 - Build A Bear Retail Management Inc.
27 - Bulletin / Tricot Mondial Inc.
28 - Camelot Fabrics
29 - Care + Wear
30 - Columbia Sportswear by OCS / Outdoor Custom Sportswear
31 - Concepts Sport
32 - Converse
33 - Creative Apparel Concepts Inc.
34 - Cufflinks
35 - Curriculum Associates
36 - Dapper Labs - NBA Top Shot / Axiom Zen
37 - Designs by Chad & Jake
38 - Disruptive Media Publishers Inc.
39 - DMA United / Westbrook Frames
40 - DRKBLU
41 - EA Sports - Electronic Arts
42 - Eagles Wings
43 - The Emblem Source
44 - Enterbay USA
45 - Express
46 - Fabrique Innovations / Sykel / Scrub Dudz / Collegiate
Snuggie
47 - Fan Brander
48 - Fanatics - TeamFanShop - FansEdge - divisions of
Kynetic
49 - Fanatics Authentic / Mounted Memories
50 - Fanatics Brands / Fanatics Apparel / Let Loose By Fanatics
Apparel / Fanatics Licensed Sports Group
51 - Fanatics Majestic Athletic Co. / VF and VFC / VF
Licensed Sports Group
52 - FanDuel
53 - FatHead- LLC
54 - FISLL- a division of H & H Legacy- LLC
55 - Fliips
56 - Forever Collectibles / FOCO / Team Beans
57 - Forty Seven Brand / Twins '47 Headwear/ Banner '47
Apparel
58 - From The Bench Games
59 - Funko
60 - G-III Apparel / G-III Leather Fashions Inc. / G-III
Sports by Carl Banks / 58 Sport / Touch by Alyssa Milano
61 - GameDay Case / Winner Wireless / NEOCube
62 - Gameday Couture- LLC
63 - Gamevil Inc.
64 - Gertex Hosiery
65 - Great American Products Inc.
66 - Happy Feet- a division of NJD Specialty Retail- Inc.
67 - Harman International
68 - Herschel Supply Company
69 - The Highland Mint / Bullion International
70 - Homage
71 - Hybrid Apparel / Hybrid T's
72 - Icer Brands - UNK NBA
73 - Icon AI
74 - IDNA Brands / Sportula Products
75 - Ikonick
76 - Innovative Concepts in Entertainment / ICE Games
77 - Interactive Play Technologies
78 - ISlide
79 - Item Of The Game - Maingate
80 - Jarden Sports Licensing- LP / Rawlings Sporting Goods -
a division of Newell Rubbermaid
81 - Jason of Beverly Hills
82 - Jewel Craft
83 - JH Design Group / Jeff Hamilton
84 - Jones Golf Bags
85 - JR286
86 - Junk Food Clothing / Delta Apparel
87 - Kidrobot
88 - Kolder
89 - Label Daddy- LLC
90 - Levelwear / Accolade Group / Accolade USA
91 - Levi Strauss Co. / Levi's / Dockers
92 - Little Earth Productions Inc.
93 - Logo Brands / Logo Inc.
94 - Logoart - A Division of Jewel-Craft Inc.
95 - Loot Crate / Sport Crate
96 - Lucky Explorers
97 - Lulu DK Lifestyle LLC
98 - Maccabi Art
99 - Malbon Golf
100 - Mars / M&M's / Mars Retail Group
101 - Math Hoops - Learn Fresh Education Co.
102 - McArthur Towel and Sports- a Wincraft Company
103 - McFarlane Toys / TMP International
104 - MeiGray Group
105 - The Memory Company
106 - Mitchell and Ness Nostalgia Company
107 - Mitchener-Farrand Jewelers
108 - Mojo Licensing - a division of Concept One - formerly
Denco Sports Luggage Inc.
109 - MuscleAidTape
110 - Nap Cap
111 - Nemcor Inc.
112 - New Era Apparel - 5th & Ocean Clothing
113 - New Era Cap Co. Inc.
114 - NHS dba Nor-Cal Clothing
115 - Nike USA / Nike Team Sports
116 - The Northwest Company LLC
117 - OpSec Security
118 - Outerstuff
119 - Panini Group / Panini America
120 - Party Animal Inc.
121 - Pearl Street Caviar
122 - Pegasus Sports LLC - a division of Pegasus Home
Fashions
123 - Perfect Timing Brands. / Turner Licensing / The Lang
Companies / By Design
124 - PersonalizationMall.com - a division of Bed Bath and
Beyond
125 - Pets First Inc.
126 - Photo File Inc. / Photofile Inc.
127 - Pintrill
128 - Poolmaster
129 - Pop Sockets
130 - Pro Specialties Group Inc.
131 - Pro Standard
132 - Profile Enterprises
133 - PSP Sports - Hoop Magazine
134 - PwrPods
135 - Rastaclat LLC
136 - Refried Tees
137 - Rico Industries / Tag Express
138 - Robin-Ruth USA / RR West Coast
139 - Saber Interactive
140 - Scobre Press
141 - Seamus Golf
142 - Shut LLC
143 - Silver Crystal Sports / FanZones dot com
144 - Skinit Inc. / Global Wireless Entertainment
145 - Sleakers / SLKRS
146 - Snaps
147 - Spalding / Huffy Sports- a Division of Russell Brands
148 - Spec Seats- Inc.
149 - Sportiqe Apparel Co.
150 - Sportradar US- a division of Sportsradar AG
151 - Sports Licensing Solutions LLC- formerly Fanmats
152 - Sprayground
153 - Stahls' Inc. / Hotronix
154 - Stance Socks
155 - Stay Charged Up
156 - Steiner Sports
157 - Tailgate / Tailgate Clothing Company / T-University /
Threadless - a div of American Eagle Outfitters
158 - Tee Shirt Central
159 - Tervis Tumbler
160 - The Dunk Collection
161 - The Upper Deck Company / Upper Deck Authenticated
162 - The Very Warm
163 - Tissot
164 - Top Dog Collectibles Inc.
165 - Trends International USA
166 - Trends International- LLC
167 - Triumph Books
168 - Twelve Twenty One / 1221
169 - Two Hype
170 - Under Armour
171 - UPI Marketing Inc. / Team Keys
172 - Vice Golf
173 - Victor Solomon
/ Literally Balling
174 - Victory Tailgate
175 - Wax Works / Team Marketing
176 - West Coast Novelty / WCN Group
177 - Williams-Sonoma Inc. / Pottery Barn / PB Teen
178 - Wincraft Inc.
179 - Winning Streak Sports
180 - Zephyr Graf-X / Zephyr Headwear / Mission Belts /
Tokyodachi
181 - Zipway NBA Apparel / Oved
I have also pasted below a jpg of the same list showing the
City, State/Province and Country of each of these 181 NBA licensees. But once
again, remember that if you subscribe to the searchable directory for $59 for
three months, you will get complete information on each company and you can
search using all sorts of criteria.
March 2012
List of NBA / National Basketball Association Licensees as
of 2012
1 2K Sports / Take Two Interactive
2 5th & Ocean- a division of New Era
3 A & A Global Industries
4 Accolade Group / Accolade USA / Levelwear
5 A-DATA
6 adidas America / Reebok
7 The Antigua Group
8 Authentic Street Signs
9 Bleacher Creatures
10 Boelter Brands
11 B for Betsy
12 Bombo Sports and Entertainment
13 Brite Lite Logos
14 Charm 14
15 ComfyFeet
16 Concept One Accessories
17 Coveroo
18 Creative Innovisions
19 Cufflinks
20 Dazadi / Harvil
21 Deco Pac
22 Designs by Chad & Jake
23 Dreamseats LLC
24 Eagles Wings
25 Fan Mats
26 FatHead LLC
27 For Bare Feet / FBF Sportswear
28 Forever Collectibles aka Team Beans
29 Forty Seven Brand / Twins í47 Headwear/ Banner í47
Apparel
30 Franco Apparel Group- a division of Infinity Group
31 Game Time Geeks / Flash Ventures / Tribeca
32 Game Time Watch / Game Time LLC
33 GameWear International / Wear The Game
34 G-III Leather Fashions Inc. / G-III Sports / 58 Sport
35 Good Stuff / Win Stuff
36 Great American Products
37 Guidecraft
38 The HB Group LLC
39 The Highland Mint / Bullion International
40 Hunter Canada
41 Hunter Manufacturing
42 Icer Brands - UNK NBA
43 ID Blingz
44 IMAGIX†/ LDT Import-Export
45 Imperial USA
46 Industry Rag / Majestic Threads
47 Jarden Sports Licensing- LP
48 JF Turner / John F. Turner & Co. / Lang Holdings -
See Perfect Timing
49 JH Design Group / Jeff Hamilton
50 Junk Food Clothing
51 Knights Apparel- Inc.
52 Kolder
53 Little Earth Productions Inc.
54 Logo Chair Company
55 Logoart - A Division Of Herff Jones- Inc.
56 Majestic Athletic / Majestic Industries / VF and VFC
57 McArthur Towel and Sports- a Wincraft Company
58 McFarlane Toys / TMP International
59 MDI Entertainment- a Scientific Games Company
60 Milliken Rugs / Milliken and Company
61 Mounted Memories
62 National Design
63 National Emblem
64 New England Flag and Banner
65 New Era Cap Co. Inc.
66 NIKE USA
67 The Northwest Company LLC
68 Pangea Brands
69 Panini Group / Panini America
70 The Party Animal Inc.
71 Perfect Timing- Inc.
72 Phiten USA
73 Photo File Inc.
74 Power Balance LLC
75 Power Decal- a division of Axiz Group
76 Pro Specialties Group
77 Profile
78 Promark / Team Promark
79 Pure Orange Inc.
80 Reebok - Mitchell and Ness Nostalgia Company
81 Reebok - Outerstuff- a division of adidas
82 Reebok - Sports Licensed Division
83 Replay Photos LLC
84 Rico Industries / Tag Express
85 Sara Lynn Togs / College Concepts / Concepts Sport
86 Siskiyou Gifts / Siskiyou Buckle Co.
87 Skinit Inc.
88 Spalding / Huffy Sports- a Division of Russell Brands
89 Sportiqe Apparel Co.
90 Sports Coverage
91 Sporty K9
92 Team Grill Inc.
93 TeamHeads
94 Tervis Tumbler
95 Three60 Gear- a Division of A&E Group
96 Top Dog Collectibles Inc.
97 Top Shelf Coffee Inc.
98 Topperscot
99 Trends International- LLC
100 Trends International USA
101 Triumph Books
102 UPI Marketing Inc. / Team Keys
103 The Upper Deck Company
104 Virtual Greats LLC
105 VOmax
106 Warface By Design
107 Warner Home Video / Warner Brothers
108 Wincraft Inc.
109 Winning Streak Sports
Now comes the fun part – of the 109 licensees in 2012, how
many companies do you think are still licensees in 2020 (remember that there
are now 181 licensees)? Would you guess 80 companies (73%)? Maybe 70 companies
(65%)?
The answer is 50 companies – 46%. Drink that in for a minute
– of the 109 NBA licensees in 2012, a short eight years later only 50 (46%) are
still NBA licensees.
Let’s look at this another way – of the 181 NBA licensees as
of 2020, just 28% - only 50 companies - were NBA licensees in 2012, just eight
short years ago. Holy smokes!
Here are the 50 NBA licensees from 2012 that are still NBA
licensees in 2020:
1 - 2K Sports / Take Two Interactive Software Inc. / T2
2 - adidas America / Reebok (Sports Licensed Division)
3 - Authentic Street Signs
4 - Bensussen Deutsch & Associates / BDA
5 - Bleacher Creatures / Uncanny Brands / Phenom Gallery
6 - Boelter Brands
7 - Cufflinks
8 - Designs by Chad & Jake
9 - Eagles Wings
10 - Fanatics (was known as Majestic Athletic / Majestic
Industries / VF and VFC)
11 - FatHead LLC
12 - Forever Collectibles / FOCO / Team Beans
13 - Forty Seven Brand / Twins '47 Headwear/ Banner '47
Apparel
14 - G-III Apparel / G-III Leather Fashions Inc. / G-III
Sports by Carl Banks / 58 Sport / Touch by Alyssa Milano
15 - Great American Products Inc.
16 - Icer Brands - UNK NBA
17 - Jarden Sports Licensing- LP / Rawlings Sporting Goods -
a division of Newell Rubbermaid
18 - JH Design Group / Jeff Hamilton
19 - Junk Food Clothing / Delta Apparel
20 - Kolder
21 - Little Earth Productions Inc.
22 - Logo Brands / Logo Inc.
23 - Logoart - A Division of Jewel-Craft- Inc.
24 - McArthur Towel and Sports- a Wincraft Company
25 - McFarlane Toys / TMP International
26 - Mitchell and Ness Nostalgia Company
27 - New Era Apparel - 5th & Ocean Clothing
28 - New Era Cap Co. Inc.
29 - Nike USA / Nike Team Sports
30 - Outerstuff
31 - Panini Group / Panini America
32 - Perfect Timing Brands. / Turner Licensing / The Lang
Companies / By Design
33 - Photo File Inc. / Photofile Inc.
34 - Pro Specialties Group Inc.
35 - Rico Industries / Tag Express
36 - Skinit Inc. / Global Wireless Entertainment
37 - Spalding / Huffy Sports- a Division of Russell Brands
38 - Sportiqe Apparel Co.
39 - Sports Licensing Solutions LLC- formerly Fanmats
40 - Tervis Tumbler
41 - The Antigua Group
42 - The Highland Mint / Bullion International
43 - The Northwest Company LLC
44 - The Upper Deck Company / Upper Deck Authenticated
45 - Top Dog Collectibles Inc.
46 - Trends International USA
47 - Triumph Books
48 - UPI Marketing Inc. / Team Keys
49 - Wincraft Inc.
50 - Winning Streak Sports
Let me share one other fact with you. In the time that I
have been maintaining my licensee database - from 2012 to the writing of this
posting in 2020 - I have built a list of a whopping 227 companies who once held
an NBA license in the last eight years but no longer do. That’s 227 companies
over a fairly short eight year period. Yikes! If you want to see the list,
subscribe to my database and you can see for yourself. (You might ask – why
would someone have any interest in a list of former NBA licensees – what good
would that info do me? My answer is simple – if you are an aspiring NBA
licensee and you want to learn some lessons BEFORE you became an NBA licensee,
here’s a remarkable list of 227 companies and people who have first hand
experience being NBA licensees. And because my database has people’s LInkedin
url’s, you could find many of these people even though they have long since
changed jobs and even industries – the lessons they learned are there for you
to learn from if you wish.)
How do the Big Four pro sports leagues compare in this
regard – how many companies once held a license from the NFL / MLB / NBA / NHL
between 2012 and 2020 but no longer do?
According to my stats, here are how many companies were licensees of a league between 2012 and 2020 but are no longer licensees of that same league:
NFL – 61 companies (about 36% of the current number of NFL
licensees)
MLB – 142 companies (about 57% of the current number of MLB
licensees)
NBA – 227 companies (about 125% of the current number of NBA
licensees)
NHL – 122 companies (about 57% of the current number of NHL
licensees)
So what are we to take away from this?
I’d say there are three main takeaways:
1. The fact that only 28% of the current NBA licensees were
NBA licensees just eight short years ago tells me this isn’t a business for the
faint of heart. That is a lot of turnover, all of which happened in a period of
fairly robust economic activity. Scary to think what the number would have been
if there had been a tough economy.
2. The fact that the NBA currently has 181 licensees and yet there are 227 companies that are no longer licensees but were at one point in the last eight years also suggests to me, no perhaps screams to me, that being an NBA licensee is not for the faint of heart. You had better be darned sure that you want to enter this licensing space.
3. The fact that the number of NBA licensees grew from 109
to 181 over eight years suggests to me that the NBA is open to new licensees.
So if you are an aspiring NBA licensee, that’s a good thing - it says to me
that the NBA is open to ideas.
Allow me a parting comment: I am a consultant and that's how
I make my living. My speciality as a consultant is working with people who would
like to obtain their own (sports) license, as well as working with people who
would prefer to work with an existing licensee. Often times people don't know
the pluses and minuses of each so we discuss both and then they are better able
to decide which route is best for them. I work a number of ways, but the most
popular are hourly telephone consulting and full day face-to-face consulting
sessions where I come right to your place of work and meet with you.
Many thanks for your time and fire away if you have
questions!
Scott Sillcox
Cell: 416-315-4736
