Ayrton Oneill
In basketball, the home team traditionally wears white jerseys, while the away team wears dark jerseys. This is true for both collegiate and professional contests, with the NCAA, NBA, and WNBA enforcing this general guideline. However, in recent years, the NBA has introduced new uniforms each season, moving away from the traditional white home jerseys. While the home team still wears light-colored jerseys, they are not limited to white and can choose from a variety of colors. This has led to a decrease in the use of white jerseys, with teams opting for more colorful and creative designs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Colour of jerseys worn by the home team | Light-coloured, traditionally white |
| Colour of jerseys worn by the away team | Dark-coloured, traditionally white |
| Purpose of jerseys | To distinguish the two teams from one another |
| Colour of jerseys in the National Basketball Association (NBA) | Home uniforms are white or yellow, and visiting teams wear darker colours |
| Colour of jerseys in NCAA Division I college basketball | Home team wears white, and the visiting team wears dark colours |
| Colour of jerseys in National Federation of State High School Associations | Visiting team wears a white jersey, and the home team wears a dark jersey |
| Colour of jerseys in the University Interscholastic League | Home team wears white with prior notification to the visiting team |
| Colour of jerseys in FIBA | Home team wears light-coloured shirts (preferably white) |
| Colour of jerseys in IFAB | Home team wearing white (or light-coloured) is not a requirement, but both teams must wear distinct colours |
| Trend of jerseys in the NBA | White home jerseys are becoming a rarity |
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What You'll Learn
The history of white jerseys in basketball
The use of white jerseys in basketball has evolved over time, with the colour traditionally associated with home teams but now offering more flexibility.
In the early days of basketball, the home team typically wore white jerseys, while the visiting team wore darker colours. This convention was influenced by Major League Baseball, where clubs wore dark or grey jerseys on the road and white ones at home. Basketball adopted and tweaked this custom, with the white-at-home, colours-on-the-road standard becoming prevalent.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) previously had rules stating that the home team must wear light-coloured jerseys, which were usually white, while the visitors wore dark jerseys. This tradition was also followed in collegiate basketball, with the NCAA, NBA, and WNBA enforcing this general guideline.
However, starting with the 2017-18 season, the NBA eliminated the designations of "home" and "away" jerseys. Teams were now allowed to choose their jersey colours, and the focus shifted to ensuring a sufficient contrast between the home and away teams' jerseys. This change was accompanied by Nike's introduction of the "City Edition" jerseys, which drew inspiration from teams' home cities or states rather than their usual colours and logos.
Despite these changes, white jerseys continue to hold a significant place in basketball. Even with the flexibility to choose jersey colours, some teams still opt to wear white jerseys at home. Additionally, the use of white jerseys on the road remains prominent in other sports leagues, such as the National Football League (NFL), where road teams are often assigned to wear white.
In summary, the history of white jerseys in basketball has evolved from a traditional home team colour to a more flexible choice. While the NBA has eliminated specific designations, white jerseys remain a familiar sight in basketball and continue to be worn by some teams at home and on the road.
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The home team wearing white is no longer a requirement
In basketball, it was traditionally the case that the home team wore white jerseys, while the away team wore a darker colour. This was the case in the NBA, NCAA, and WNBA. However, this is no longer a requirement, and the home team is now allowed to choose whether to wear a light or dark jersey, with the away team wearing a jersey of sufficient contrast.
This tradition of the home team wearing white dates back to the turn of the 20th century when Major League Baseball clubs began wearing dark blue, black, or grey jerseys on the road and white ones at home. This was partly due to the difficulty that teams had in finding laundry services outside of their own cities, with darker colours helping to mask dirt and stains.
Over time, the home team wearing white jerseys became a staple of basketball, with this tradition being followed at every level from grade school to the pros. However, there have always been exceptions, such as the Los Angeles Lakers, who wear yellow at home.
Beginning with the 2017-18 season, the NBA introduced a four-uniform system, with the ""Association" uniform being a white jersey, the "Icon" uniform being a dark jersey, the "Statement" uniform being an alternate jersey, and the "City Edition" uniform changing annually with no set colour scheme. Teams are now required to wear the "Association" and "Icon" uniforms at least 10 times during a season, the "Statement" uniform six times, and the "City Edition" and "Classic" uniforms three times.
With these new uniform options and the requirement to wear each jersey a certain number of times, the home team wearing white is no longer a requirement or even a regularity, with white jerseys now being more commonly worn at away games. This change can be attributed to a combination of factors, including the league's desire to introduce new uniforms each season, the marketing of the latest "City Edition" jerseys, and the interest in promoting greater recognition and aesthetic identity for each franchise.
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The decline of the white home jersey
The white jersey has long been a staple of basketball, with the home team traditionally wearing white or light-coloured jerseys, and the away team wearing darker colours. This convention was in place to help distinguish the two teams from one another, particularly during the era of black-and-white television, where a "white vs colour" game was easier to follow.
However, in recent years, the white home jersey has been in decline. Beginning with the 2017-18 season, the NBA eliminated "home" and "away" uniform designations and introduced a four-uniform system: the Association (white), Icon (dark), Statement (alternate), and City Edition (changing annually). While there are rules on how often each jersey must be worn, the home team now has the flexibility to choose any jersey colour, provided it contrasts with the away team's choice. This has resulted in a reversal, with white jerseys now being worn more often by away teams than home teams.
While the white home jersey may be disappearing, it is important to note that the NBA's uniform landscape is ever-changing. The league's creativity and willingness to experiment have led to a dynamic and evolving aesthetic that reflects the modern nature of the sport.
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The introduction of Nike's four-uniform system
In basketball, the tradition is that the home team wears white or lighter-coloured jerseys, while the away team wears darker colours. This is the case in both collegiate and professional basketball contests. The NCAA, NBA, and WNBA enforce this general guideline. However, there are exceptions, such as the Los Angeles Lakers, who wear yellow at home.
Nike, the popular sportswear company, has designed uniforms for major sports leagues, including the NBA and Major League Baseball (MLB). In 2018, Nike, Fanatics, and MLB agreed to a partnership that gave Nike and Fanatics the opportunity to focus on their strengths. Nike handles the prototyping, design, and marketing, while Fanatics handles the sewing, decorating, and manufacturing. The new Nike uniforms for MLB, introduced in 2024, have received criticism from players and mockery from fans due to their fit, material, fabric transparency, and tiny lettering.
- Home Uniforms: These are the traditional uniforms worn by the home team during regular-season games. They typically feature the team's primary colours and are designed to be easily recognizable by fans.
- Away Uniforms: Also known as road uniforms, these uniforms are worn by the visiting team when playing at another team's arena. They are usually designed with contrasting colours to the home team's uniforms to avoid confusion during the game.
- Alternate Uniforms: Alternate uniforms, or third jerseys, offer a unique look for special occasions or to showcase the team's creativity. They can be used for specific events, anniversaries, or to honour a particular player or cause.
- City/Community Uniforms: This set of uniforms celebrates the team's connection to its city or community. They often incorporate local culture, history, or iconic landmarks into the design, fostering a sense of pride and engagement with fans.
Nike's four-uniform system provides teams with flexibility and the opportunity to showcase different aspects of their identity. It allows teams to cater to different audiences, honour traditions, and explore creative designs. The system has been well-received by many teams and fans, offering a balance between tradition and innovation in the world of sports uniforms.
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The use of white jerseys in other sports
The use of white jerseys as home uniforms is a tradition in many sports, although this is changing in some leagues. In basketball, until the 2017–18 season, the home team wore white or light colours, and the visiting team wore dark colours. However, since then, the home team can choose to wear either a light or dark jersey, while the away team must wear a jersey of sufficient contrast. In college basketball, the home team almost always wears white, while the away team wears dark colours.
In gridiron football, including the NFL, NCAA football, and CFL, the away team usually wears white. In the NFL, this tradition began in the 1950s due to the prominence of black-and-white television, as it was easier to distinguish between the teams. Even today, the use of white jerseys in the NFL remains common, with teams in hot climates often choosing white jerseys for home games during the first half of the season, as they absorb and retain less heat.
In high school football, the visiting team is required to wear white, while the home team wears dark colours. In NCAA football, the home team can wear white with prior notification to the visiting team. In baseball, the away team usually wears grey, while in Major League Baseball, it is common to wear white at home.
In rugby, away kits are often used when there would otherwise be a clash between teams with similar colours. In international rugby, this arises most often in the Six Nations, where Scotland, France, and Italy all have blue kits. In the 2011 World Cup, England caused controversy by wearing an all-black second kit, the home colour of New Zealand.
In soccer, away kits are also used to avoid colour clashes, and some teams have third and fourth kits to increase the offer for their paying public during the season.
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Frequently asked questions
Traditionally, the home team wears white or light-coloured jerseys, and the away team wears dark colours.
Home teams wearing white jerseys dates back to the early 20th century when Major League Baseball clubs began wearing white jerseys at home and dark colours on the road. Basketball adopted this tradition, and it has continued due to the practical reason of distinguishing the two teams from one another.
Yes, there are exceptions. For example, the Los Angeles Lakers wear yellow at home, and the Michigan Wolverines wear yellow at home in NCAA Division I college basketball.
White jerseys are becoming less common in basketball, especially in the NBA. They are now more often worn at away games, and teams are increasingly wearing coloured jerseys at home.
