UDINE (Italy) - Alberto Cecere would most easily be considered a collector of basketball items. But those who know him would consider the 67-year-old more a historian and even a scholar of the game, driven to pass on the knowledge he has acquired along with his collectables over the past four-plus decades.
Cecere has become one of the most influential collectors in the world - especially in Europe. The native of Palmanova, near Udine in Italy, really does not know how large his collection is, telling FIBA Foundation in an exclusive interview: “Thousands and thousands. I have more than 1,000 uniforms alone.”
Cecere’s collection has transformed him from just a fan to a historian or even a scholar of the game. And he rightfully holds a spot in the Community of Basketball Historians.
FIBA has accumulated 90 years of basketball history and heritage through its vast collections, and to help promote this cultural wealth, FIBA is working on establishing a global network of historians and experts. The goals of this effort are to share knowledge of basketball history and values; encourage collaborations between museums, National Federations, and historical institutions; and promote cultural activities that celebrate the sport’s legacy.
When asked to describe the size of his collection, Cecere said: “The best word to describe it is an ‘arsenal’. I have everything: shoes, uniforms, jerseys, balls, books, watches, shot clocks, medals, cups. Everything related to basketball. I also have very important historical objects, like early 24-second shot clocks.”
Cecere energetically launches into the story of how he found two large shot clocks online - each the size of a travel suitcase.“The American seller didn’t really know what they were. I researched and found photos of them in NBA books and even in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. I decided to buy them,” he recalled. “The problem was shipping. They were heavy and full of wires and lights. Italian customs called me because it was a sensitive time due to terrorist attacks. They didn’t understand what was inside. Luckily, the customs officer was a basketball fan. I showed him photos from American magazines, and he allowed them through.”
Through more research, Cecere discovered that only a few of the clocks still exist, declaring: “One is in the Naismith Hall of Fame in Springfield, one in an American college attended by the inventor, and a replica is displayed in Syracuse. The other two are in my home.”
Cecere owns anything you could think of. Well, almost. His first basketball memory was an orange wristband he received from David Hall of the local Udine Serie A team at the end-of-season party in 1972-73. Cecere wore it everywhere - even hiding it under his Sunday shirt at church.
“When I finally received that wristband, it became a symbol of belonging. It made me feel bigger, stronger, like a superhero,” he recalled.
And it ultimately led him to where he is now:
It was the spark that gave me the passion to start looking for objects that tell the story of basketball.
Cecere himself used to play the game, competing in Italy’s minor leagues, but did appear in one Italian Cup game for Lebole Mestre against Udine. And as you could imagine, Cecere has a fun tale about that game as well.
“My coach put me into the game wearing another player’s jersey, Luciano Bosio’s jersey. Someone in the stands shouted, ‘Did you put Bosio in the washing machine? He got smaller!’ But we won the game. I still play basketball every week and in summer almost every day at playgrounds.”
Cecere’s collecting days started by studying the names of American teams, colleges, and the colors of their uniforms. He bought a couple of replica jerseys and then met an American dealer from the state of Wisconsin who sold sports memorabilia.
Cecere ended up buying what he called his “first important piece” - a Sacramento Kings jersey belonging to Derek Smith.
“I chose it because I couldn’t afford very expensive pieces, so I looked for special stories. He is considered the player who introduced the high-five in basketball,” Cecere said of Smith.
“That opened a whole new world,” he beamed. “I started with a small monthly budget. Back then, prices were affordable. I even bought NBA game-used shorts for 5 dollars. Over time, I also received many gifts from fans, players, and coaches.”
The collection just grew and grew - thanks mainly because of timing and the internet. Timing, because he started early, and objects were still reasonably priced. And the internet, because of the sheer number of items available online through sellers.
“I started sharing my collection on social media, especially Facebook, and in groups of former players. They saw my passion and how I preserved these objects. I started receiving items not only from regular players but also from very important ones. I have objects from Olympic tournaments, and I often attend events with former players. Now I am known in this circle,” Cecere said.
Two things Cecere gets asked a lot are where he keeps everything and if they can see it. He said he stores his massive collection in various storage places with the help of friends. And in terms of people seeing the collection, that is a bit trickier.
“The only way is through exhibitions, where part of the collection is shown,” he said.
Such as the Superbasket 45 Tresori della Memoria (Treasures of Memories) exhibition from April 22 to June 4, 2023 in Pesaro to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the start of the Italian Superbasket magazine.
With so many items in the collection, Cecere is asked the nearly impossible question: What are some of the items he values most sentimentally?
“At first, my most precious item was a Larry Bird jersey, because I considered him the greatest player and a leader for his teammates,” he said.
“Over time, my perspective changed. Now I care more about the history and origins of the game.”
Another unique piece Cecere values is the Harlem Globetrotters jersey given to Pope Francis in May 2015 with “Pope Francis” and the No. 90 on the jersey.
However, one of his most sentimental items is a women’s basketball uniform from the early 1900s because he says it represents women’s emancipation.
He doesn’t know the exact year of the women’s jersey, but said, “I have a photo of a team wearing the same style of uniform from the early 1900s, and I display the uniform with that photo for context.”
Some might wonder what the next item is that Cecere is looking to get.
“I always say: ‘After this one, I’ll stop,’ but there is always another dream. The one I would most like to have is a Krešimir Ćosić jersey. It’s very difficult to find, but I consider him one of the greatest European players of all time - someone who was decades ahead of his era,” he said.
Collecting is not just a hobby for Cecere. It is his way of helping future generations remember those from the past.
“I realized that in Italy, especially, older players are not celebrated enough. They feel like a lost generation. I try to give historical recognition to these pioneers of basketball and acknowledge their merit,” he said.
Collecting is also a way to learn the history of the game, as well as different periods of time.
“The most interesting part of an object is what is behind it. Studying the rules, strategies, and tactics of basketball over time helps you understand how society evolved. Basketball was a mirror of society. In the early 1900s, it represented modernity. By studying old books and manuals, you can understand the spirit of the time,” he said.
One of Cecere’s closest friends is Giampiero Hruby, a former player and coach in Italy for more than two decades who eventually bought the Italian magazines Superbasket, Giganti del Basket, and American Superbasket and brought them back to prominence. The two grew up playing basketball together in Udine and remained close over the past decades.
“Alberto is a scholar of basketball. He studies things that very few people study and brings knowledge that is fundamental. Players learn technique, but they are rarely taught the history, the objects, and the culture of the game. That’s what Alberto tries to pass on,” Hruby told FIBA.
“He teaches basketball through initiatives in his region, Friuli Venezia Giulia, and at universities. Not as a traditional coach, but by sharing the deeper, undervalued knowledge of the game.”
Cecere modestly listens to his friend speak highly of him and looks out in his own thoughts.
What about Cecere’s legacy? What would Alberto Cecere like to leave behind?
“It’s a very difficult question. I hope I have contributed, in a small way, by shining light on lesser-known aspects of basketball. Even when I give university lessons, my goal is to give something back to the sport. As I always say: ‘Everything for basketball, everywhere.’”
His passion for the game's history and promoting its values led him to the Community of Basketball Historians. Following the Superbasket 45 Tresori della Memoria exhibition, he was invited by the FIBA Foundation to visit the Patrick Baumann House of Basketball in Swizterland, to explore potential collaborations and build a strong relationship.
"The FIBA Foundation is not only preserving the memory of the game, but actively giving it meaning for the present and for future generations — safeguarding basketball’s cultural soul with the same passion with which it is played around the world," expressed Alberto.
Throughout 2026, the FIBA Foundation will highlight members of the Community of Basketball Historians showcasing their fantastic work and contribution the legacy of the game.
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About the FIBA Foundation
The FIBA Foundation is the social and legacy arm of FIBA that addresses the role of sports particularly basketball in society, preserving and promoting basketball’s values and its cultural heritage.
FIBA’s cultural heritage is the heart of the FIBA Foundation’s cultural and historical activities. It is one of the driving forces behind the promotion and dissemination of FIBA’s values.