Andrew Pace
The NBA is a professional basketball league with 30 teams that play across two conferences: the Western Conference and the Eastern Conference. The colors of NBA teams can change based on the team's city, character, history, or foundation culture. Traditionally, the home team would wear a white jersey, with only occasional exceptions for teams that wore a different light color as their preferred home jersey. However, in 2017, Nike took over the contract to produce NBA jerseys and eliminated the white-at-home standard, allowing teams to wear the colors of their choosing. Today, the most common dual-color matchup is a black jersey against a red one, and the most popular jerseys tend to include white, black, blue, and red color tones.
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What You'll Learn
Team jersey colours
The colours of team jerseys in basketball have changed a lot in recent years. Since Nike took over the contract to produce NBA jerseys in 2017, the traditional aesthetic standards have been overhauled. The white-at-home standard has been eliminated, and the very notion of a "home" or "away" jersey has been done away with. Instead, Nike has introduced four "editions" for each team's wardrobe.
One of the most notable changes has been the introduction of the "City Edition" jerseys. These jerseys are not based on the team's usual colours and logo but rather on other references to their home cities or states. For example, Miami's "Vice" series and Minnesota's Prince-inspired uniforms are perfect examples of how the "City Edition" jerseys celebrate local culture and history.
The traditional basketball standard was that the home team wore a white jersey, with only occasional exceptions for teams that wore a different light colour as their preferred home jersey, such as the Lakers wearing gold. However, these days, it is quite rare to see a team wear a white jersey at home. Instead, fans are more likely to see teams wear white on the road, with nearly half of the away games featuring teams in their white Association jerseys.
The most common dual-colour matchup is a black jersey against a red one, occurring in 81 games. Blue vs. red matchups are also common, with 105 games featuring neither team wearing black or white.
While the number of jerseys has decreased, the variety of colours and designs has increased, with teams now having more leeway to experiment with their uniforms. This has led to some interesting and unique combinations, such as black and neon green or brown and teal.
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Logos and symbolism
For example, the Atlanta Hawks' logo symbolizes their nickname, while the Boston Celtics' logo represents the heritage and traditions of Boston. The Brooklyn Nets' logo is a nod to the sport of basketball and their location, while the Charlotte Hornets' logo is a straightforward depiction of their team name.
Some teams choose to incorporate symbolism that reflects their region or state. For instance, the Dallas Mavericks' logo symbolizes the state of Texas, also known as "The Lone Star State," and its history of horse rearing. The Denver Nuggets' logo references Denver's geography, known for its mountains, and the city's rich mining history.
Other teams may opt for logos that depict their team name more literally. The Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Milwaukee Bucks all feature logos that showcase their respective team names alongside imagery of a bull, sword, and buck.
The colour schemes chosen by teams can also carry significance. While black, white, blue, and red are commonly used, specific colours may be selected to represent a team's identity. For example, the Phoenix Suns' yellow colour and logo symbolise the sunny weather in Arizona, while the Miami Heat's logo features a basketball on fire to represent the team's name and the red colour associated with heat.
Over time, the aesthetic traditions of professional basketball have evolved, with the standard of home teams wearing white jerseys being phased out in favour of more diverse colour choices and creative designs. Despite these changes, logos and symbolism remain essential in distinguishing teams and fostering a sense of identity and community among players and fans.
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Home and away jerseys
The notion of "home" and "away" jerseys in basketball has evolved significantly over time, with traditions and trends influencing the colour choices of teams. Historically, the standard practice in basketball was for the home team to wear white jerseys, while the away team wore a darker colour, typically their predominant colour. This tradition dates back to the black-and-white television era, when a "white vs. colour" game was easier for viewers to follow.
However, this dynamic began to shift in the 1990s, with teams like Chicago and Charlotte introducing alternate third jerseys in different colours and experimenting with oversized logos. The shift continued with Adidas, who introduced even more alternate jerseys with unique designs and sleeves during the 2000s and 2010s.
In 2017, Nike took over as the official outfitter of the NBA, marking a significant turning point in the aesthetics of basketball jerseys. Nike eliminated the traditional "home" and "away" jersey designations and introduced four "editions" for each team's wardrobe: Association (analogous to the old home whites), Icon (darker-coloured jerseys), City Edition, and Community Edition. This change allowed teams to choose their jersey colours regardless of whether they were playing at home or away.
While the traditional white-at-home standard has been officially eliminated, some teams still maintain classic schedules for wearing their jerseys. For example, the Chicago Bulls have kept their core uniforms and schedule, wearing their white Association uniforms for 68% of home games and only 10% of their away games.
Today, when you tune into an NBA game, you may find yourself asking, "Which team is which?" as you encounter teams in unexpected colour combinations or unique jersey designs. This evolution of jersey colours and designs in basketball has added a layer of intrigue and unpredictability to the game, creating a visually captivating experience for fans and viewers alike.
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Black and red jerseys
Black and red are two colours that are commonly associated with sports jerseys, and basketball is no exception. While the traditional standard in basketball has been for the home team to wear white jerseys, with the visiting team wearing a darker colour, this is no longer always the case. In fact, in recent years, it has become quite rare to see a team wear a white jersey at home, with only 27% of games in the most recent season featuring a home team in white.
Instead, colour vs. colour matchups have become more common, with black and red being the most popular combination, occurring in 81 games in the latest season. This is perhaps because black and red jerseys make a bold statement, with their colour combinations standing out on and off the court. They are also designed with style and performance in mind, often featuring breathable fabrics that wick away moisture to keep players cool during play.
Some teams have become known for their distinctive jerseys, such as the Lakers and their gold jerseys, or the Chicago Bulls, who have maintained a classic schedule of wearing their white Association uniforms for the majority of home games. However, even the Lakers have moved away from their traditional yellow jerseys in recent years, with home teams wearing white in just 27% of games last season.
You can find black and red basketball jerseys for both men and women at retailers such as Foot Locker, which offers a range of styles and fits to cater to all preferences, whether you're a player or a fan.
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Basketballs
National Basketball Association (NBA)
The NBA is a professional basketball league with 30 teams, 29 of which are from the United States and 1 from Canada. The colours of NBA jerseys can reflect the team's character and the fans' perception of the team. Traditionally, the home team would wear a white jersey, while the away team would wear a coloured jersey. However, in recent years, Nike has eliminated the white-at-home standard, allowing teams to wear their colours of choice and introducing the concept of four "editions" for each team's wardrobe. As a result, it is now common to see colour vs. colour matchups, with black vs. red being the most popular combination. Other common colours include blue, gold, brown, teal, neon green, and off-white.
NBA Team Logos and Colours
The colours and designs of NBA team logos can vary widely and often symbolise the team's name, location, heritage, or other cultural influences. For example, the Atlanta Hawks' logo symbolises the team's nickname, while the Boston Celtics' logo represents the heritage and tradition of Boston. The Brooklyn Nets' logo references the sport of basketball and their location in Brooklyn, while the Charlotte Hornets' logo is a straightforward visual representation of their team name. Some logos also incorporate basketball imagery, such as the New Orleans Pelicans, the New York Knicks, and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Historical Variations
The colours and designs of basketball jerseys and team logos have evolved over time, with different leagues and periods having their own unique aesthetic standards. For example, the Basketball Association of America (1946-1949) featured Celtic green, gold, and white as official colours during the Holiday/St. Patrick's Day season.
Sponsorship and Advertising
The influence of sponsors and advertisers can also impact the colours and designs of basketballs and jerseys. For instance, a Reddit user imagines a future where the "Official Mountain Dew Game Ball" features sponsor logos and advertising, potentially leading to basketballs in sponsor-specific colours.
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Frequently asked questions
The most common colours used in basketball jerseys are white, black, blue, and red.
NBA team colours can be based on the team's city, character, history, or foundation culture. They can also reflect the team's character and the fans' perception of the team.
The logos of NBA teams often symbolise the team name, location, or heritage. For example, the Boston Celtics logo symbolises the heritage and tradition of the city of Boston, while the Brooklyn Nets logo represents the sport of basketball and the team's location in Brooklyn.
