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Fortnite has become well-known for its high-profile collaborations with other popular entertainment franchises, such as DC, and sports leagues, such as the NFL. In May 2021, Fortnite announced a collaboration with the NBA, allowing players to purchase NBA skins and represent their favourite team in the game. Fortnite has since released three waves of NBA-themed skins, including the 75th-anniversary defaults, the cel-shaded skins, and basketball-themed Axo and Fishstick skins. The latest collaboration with the NBA was announced in April 2025, with the release of a new pair of NBA-themed skins based on Axo and Fishstick.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of announcement | May 19, 2021 |
| Date of availability | May 21, 2021 |
| Time of availability | 5 PM PST/7 PM CST/8 PM EST |
| Name of the set | In The Paint |
| Number of uniforms | 31 |
| Number of teams represented | 30 |
| Name of the pack | Shoot & Score Pack |
| Items included in the pack | Hookshot Emote and Mini Hoop Back Bling |
| Other items | Dribblin’ Traversal Emote |
| Name of the event | The Crossover |
| Fortnite's developer | Epic Games |
| Fortnite's other collaborations | DC, NFL |
| Fortnite's availability | PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android |
| Other NBA x Fortnite skins | Blacktop Ballers, Giannis Antekounmpo, LeBron James, Axo, Fishstick |
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What You'll Learn
Fortnite x NBA skins released in 2021
On May 19, 2021, Epic Games, the developers of Fortnite, announced a collaboration with the NBA, bringing new Fortnite NBA basketball skins for players. The skins were released on May 21, 2021, at 5 PM PST/7 PM CST/8 PM EST. The In The Paint set included 31 uniforms, with all 30 of the NBA teams represented. Players could also purchase the Shoot & Score Pack, which included the Hookshot Emote and Mini Hoop Back Bling, featuring any of the 30 teams' logos. Additionally, a Dribblin’ Traversal Emote was made available during the Fortnite x NBA crossover event, titled 'The Crossover'.
During the event, which ran from May 19-23, 2021, players could team up with any of the 30 NBA teams to earn points in unique challenges and compete for V-Bucks and in-game cosmetics. The second half of Fortnite x NBA: The Crossover took place from May 25 to June 1, 2021, with an all-new NBA-themed Welcome Hub.
On July 15, 2021, LeBron James became the first NBA player to receive a Fortnite skin in the Icon series. The skin included two different outfits and different James Nike shoes. The LeBron James x Fortnite skin cost around 2000-2500 V-Bucks in the game.
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Fortnite x NBA skins released in 2025
Fortnite x NBA skins were initially released in 2021, with the game's developer, Epic Games, announcing a collaboration with the NBA. This crossover event, known as "The Crossover", introduced various NBA-themed outfits, accessories, and cosmetics for players to acquire. The collection included 31 uniforms, representing all 30 teams in the association. Players could also purchase the "Shoot & Score Pack", which included the Hookshot Emote and Mini Hoop Back Bling, featuring any of the 30 teams' logos.
Since the initial release, Fortnite has continued to release new NBA-themed skins and collaborations. In April 2025, a Fortnite Item Shop leak revealed new variants of Fishstick and Axo as part of another Fortnite x NBA collaboration. This bundle was priced at 2,200 V-Bucks, while individual skins were listed for 1,200 V-Bucks each.
While the 2025 collaboration did not provide specific details on the number of skins or their designs, it indicated a continued partnership between Fortnite and the NBA. This partnership allows players to represent their favorite NBA teams and players within the game.
The Fortnite x NBA skins released in 2025 are part of an ongoing collaboration between Fortnite and the NBA, building upon the initial release in 2021. While the exact details of the 2025 skins are not yet known, the collaboration continues to bring NBA-themed content to Fortnite players, allowing them to express their love for the sport and their favorite teams within the game.
The Fortnite x NBA skins have been well-received by players, offering a unique way to represent their favorite teams and players in the game. With the continued success of these collaborations, it is likely that Fortnite will continue to release new NBA-themed skins and content in the future, further bridging the worlds of gaming and professional basketball.
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How to unlock NBA skins in Fortnite
Fortnite has had a lot of crossovers in its history, and its collaboration with the NBA is one of the most notable ones. The NBA x Fortnite crossover brought various new outfits for players to acquire.
To unlock the NBA skins in Fortnite, players need to purchase them from the game store. To find the store, tab over to the right four times from the Play menu to access the Item Shop. Players should look for the “In the Paint” item set, which includes 31 uniforms, with all 30 of the association’s teams represented.
Players can also purchase the "Shoot & Score Pack", which includes the Hookshot Emote and the Mini Hoop Back Bling that can feature any of the 30 teams’ logos. There is also a Dribblin’ traversal emote that players can buy.
In addition to the skins, players can also unlock the Back Board Back Bling by completing challenges in the Downtown Drop LTM. Completing all 13 challenges will unlock the Sweaty style for the Back Board. The Hang Time Bundle, which costs 1,800 V-Bucks, gets you two brand new skins featuring streetwear influence from the Jordan brand.
It's important to note that the NBA skins in Fortnite do not feature real NBA logos. Instead, Epic Games, the developers of Fortnite, created fake teams with logos from their own universe.
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$7.4
The Crossover event
Fortnite is known for its high-profile collaborations with other popular entertainment franchises. On May 19, 2021, Epic Games, the developers of Fortnite, announced a crossover event with the NBA, bringing new basketball skins and outfits for players to represent their favourite teams in the game. The event, called "The Crossover", lasted until June 1, 2021, and included various in-game items and challenges.
The event also featured an in-game challenge where Fortnite players could team up with any of the 30 NBA teams to help them earn points in unique challenges and earn rewards. There was also an NBA-themed Welcome Hub available in Fortnite Creative during the second half of the event.
The Fortnite x NBA collaboration continued in subsequent years, with new waves of NBA-themed skins released. In 2025, Fortnite released a pair of new NBA-themed skins based on Axo and Fishstick, featuring team logos from the Eastern and Western Conferences and basketball-shaped heads. These skins were well-received by players, who praised the customisation options and unique designs.
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Fortnite's history of collaborations
Fortnite has become synonymous with its numerous collaborations from across pop culture, including movies, TV, anime, games, sports, and music. The game's first official collaboration occurred in the "Search for Survivors" event in Fortnite: Save the World, and the first collaboration in Battle Royale was in Season 4. Since then, Fortnite has collaborated with a wide range of brands and franchises, including Marvel, DC, Disney, Star Wars, Power Rangers, Halo, Deadmau5, Mortal Kombat, Nike, and Linkin Park.
One of the most notable Fortnite collaborations is with Marvel, which has included simple skins, entire game modes, and even taking over the whole map for multiple seasons. The Infinity Gauntlet crossover was particularly significant, and with Disney investing in Fortnite, we can expect more Marvel collaborations in the future.
Fortnite has also crossed over with other popular entertainment franchises, such as DC, with the Beast Boy skin being a recent addition. Additionally, Epic Games, the developers of Fortnite, have collaborated with sports leagues like the NFL and NBA, bringing their likeness into the game. The NBA x Fortnite collaboration, announced in May 2021, introduced various new outfits and skins for players to represent their favorite teams.
Fortnite has also ventured into the music industry with collaborations, such as with Deadmau5 and Linkin Park, the latter of which introduced a unique emote. Fortnite's collaborations extend beyond just skins and cosmetics, as seen with the Mortal Kombat collaboration, which introduced an in-game NPC, a special item, and a new Fortnite mode inspired by the franchise.
With Fortnite's history of diverse collaborations, it has become a melting pot of pop culture references, attracting fans from various franchises and continuously offering new and exciting content for its players.
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Frequently asked questions
Fortnite and the NBA collaborated to bring new Fortnite NBA basketball skins for players. The skins were released on May 21, 2021, at 5 PM PST/7 PM CST/8 PM EST.
The skins can be purchased from the game store. To find the store, tab over to the right four times from the Play menu to access the Item Shop. Look for the “In the Paint” item set.
The "In the Paint" set includes 31 uniforms, with all 30 of the NBA's teams represented. Players can also purchase the Shoot & Score Pack, which includes the Hookshot Emote and Mini Hoop Back Bling featuring any of the 30 teams' logos.
Fortnite has had many high-profile crossovers, including with DC, the NFL, and Marvel.
Some players have expressed disappointment with the skins, citing the lack of real team logos and the use of cell shading.
