If you are an avid fan of the NBA you are most likely also be an avid collector of different memorabilia. The most popular memorabilia are those that have an autograph or signature from basketball’s top players. Some of the most expensive memorabilia is sold from specialty stores and sometimes there are concerns and issues regarding their authenticity. As a result, collecting autographs through the mail (or, TTM as it is commonly known amongst collections) became one of the most popular and least expensive ways to have get the signature of your favorite NBA player.

These NBA athletes are most of the time accommodating and friendly to their fans. One of the best places to catch your favorite athlete is through the office of their team which doesn’t change address much. This is the easiest way of making sure that the mail reaches its destination. Acquiring basketball autographs through the mail is indeed fun and cost-effective pastime available to anyone.

Most NBA stars are snowed under and flooded with autograph requests while they are in the pinnacle of their profession. They receive hundreds of requests everyday and it would be difficult for them to respond to the request fast or in a timely manner. Hence, when collecting autographs from basketball stars, PATIENCE is the keyword. When you send a letter of request, make sure that you enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) in order to accommodate the return mailing. If you are sending your own item like balls, trading cards or photos, make sure that your envelope or box is large enough to ensure a safe and fast delivery.

Here are some tips when asking for an autograph through mail:

• You can write a brief letter to a player, asking him to sign your item. It would be nice if you could mention things about him or team that you admire and like the most.
• Be polite all the time. Refer to them as “Sir” or “Mr.” and don’t forget to use magic words such as “please” and “thank you” throughout the letter.
• Enclose an item where you want your favorite players to sign in. Never enclose expensive items because it might not reach its destination.
• Make sure that your address is correct when attaching a SASE.
• Be patient! Some players will get to your request slower than others because of their schedule and some won’t write back to you at all. But if you are polite and diligent enough, you will surely get responses. You just have to be patient and understanding sometimes.

Collecting autographs has never been this fun. Ggoing through your mail and checking for your returned envelope will bring thrills and excitement all year long.