Over the last couple of years, McFarlane toys has been able to sequester all the licenses in the four major sports: Basketball, Hockey, Baseball, and Football.  This guide will be focusing on the most practical way to collect McFarlane NBA Figures.

In collecting these figures, there are two important issues that need to be answered first, 1) Why am I collecting these figures? (Goal); and 2) Where will I place this figures? (Practicality).  Both questions were very relavant during my time collecting these figures and I feel this will help you immensely in your hobby.  Using Series 10 as a baseline for this artile:  McFarlane NBA Series 10 (Rashard Lewis, Manu Ginobili, Vincent Lamar Carter, Steve Nash, LeBron James, and Tracy McGrady) features in my opinion 3 new sculpts in Nash, James, and Ginobili.  McGrady is very similar to the Series 9 Kobe Bryant, Carter is a repaint his Toronto Second Edition figures except that he now sports a spandex headband, and Rashard Lewis seems to be another Yao Ming Sculpt.  My point is this: Steve Francis = Steve Nash First Edition, Jermaine O'Neal = Kevin Garnett First Edition = Kwame Brown. 

Basically, your not getting your money's worth since your getting the same figure probably with a different head sculpt.  This is where goal setting and practicality comes into play.  Unless you have a lot of money to burn, I suggest selecting the figures that you really want instead of getting the whole set.  For example, if you are a big fan of Dwyane Tyrone Wade and only like his red variant uniform, then just get that figure.  The compulsion to get both figures is really strong but this is where self-control and rationalization comes into play.  Are you going to open the figure?  Display it?  Do you have a display case?  If the figure's clamshell gets damaged, will you open it?  Do you think you will even get tired of the figure?  What if the player gets traded, retires, remains unsigned or moves on to another team, what will you do with the figure? Such is the case with McFarlane figures of Jalen Rose, Chris Webber, Vince Carter, Kwame Brown, Steve Francis, and Steve Nash (traded or moved on to another team), Pippen and Miller (retired), Sprewell (unsigned).

eBay is a great place to look for NBA McFarlane figures as you can get quality deals by buying "lots" of the figures you are looking for (e.g., type "NBA McFarlane Lot" on eBay search engine).  Want to get an awesome tip?  If you can amass 49 boards (the stand/base of each McFarlane NBA figure) and two backbords/rings.  You can creat your own whole court.  I've done the math, it will go seven boards across and seven boards down.  It is certainly a sight to see!  Enjoy your bidding and happy collecting! 

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