As an NBA fan, I can’t help but marvel at the on-court spectacle during each game. The jaw-dropping athleticism, the buzzer-beaters, and the camaraderie between players never cease to amaze me. But have you ever wondered about the jersey these basketball titans wear? Specifically, do NBA players don a brand-new jersey for each game, or do they reuse them like the rest of us mortals?
Believe it or not, understanding the NBA’s uniform policy can provide a fascinating insight into the world of professional basketball. It reveals aspects of the game that often go unnoticed but are crucial to the players’ comfort and performance on the court.
After finding some inside info, I concluded the following:
Generally speaking, NBA players do not wear new jerseys every game. Instead, they have multiple jerseys for each season, including home, away, and alternate versions, which are cleaned and maintained by the team’s equipment staff. The frequency of jersey change depends on team management and player preferences.
Do not go anywhere, as we found very interesting facts about NBA players, jerseys, and what equipment managers say about all of that. Keep reading.
The answer from NBA equipment managers
What I will write next comes from true people whose job is to make sure every player is rightly equipped before the game, called equipment managers. It is fair to assume that every NBA player team has one (usually a couple of them). As we can see from the job description, their job can include washing equipment (in this case, jerseys).
So, logically to find the best possible answer, we decided to research them. In the video, the Milwaukee Bucks equipment manager says: “It’s a lot of gear to go out and get washed and cleaned.”
When referring to team equipment (including jerseys), his colleague says in the other video: “Most of them wear the same stuff every game. Wash it every day and collect it every day.”
As we dig deeper, we come across a Rocket legendary equipment manager, Tony. This guy has been washing and cleaning Rockets jerseys for 30 years. So it is fair to assume the jersey will be reused at least a couple of times. If you are interested in more about what happens behind the scenes, watch the video in which he explains everything.
I know a guy whose uncle used to work for Nike, and he shared some cool insights about how NBA players handle their gear. You know, the star players usually get a fresh jersey for every game. After the game, they might donate it, give it to friends, or even sell it to collectors.
And it’s not just jerseys; these guys get custom shoes for each game too! He also owns a pair of Tim Hardaway shoes with his grandma’s initials stitched onto them. Some players even have their shoes pre-broken in, but that’s not too common.
Now, for the bench warmers, it’s a different story. These guys might actually reuse their gear. Take Matt Bonner, for instance; he goes out of his way to find the New Balance shoes he wears and only has a couple of pairs for the whole season.
So, you see, it really depends on the player when it comes to how often they switch up their jerseys and shoes.
It all depends on the NBA team
You know, as an NBA fan, it’s pretty interesting to learn about how teams handle their players’ uniforms. So, the training gear and game jerseys for the NBA players are provided by the team, and they’re considered “public property.” The team’s equipment manager takes care of everything: managing, washing, and even getting rid of the old ones.
From what I’ve heard, teams don’t let players just give away their jerseys because the league sees them as valuable merchandise. If a player wants to give away their jersey after a game, they actually have to buy it themselves!
Now, each jersey costs around $100-200, but the value of a star’s worn jersey is much higher. If you check NBA jersey auctions, you can see that the prices can reach $30k. Under normal circumstances, NBA jerseys are worn for just 4-5 games before they’re auctioned off to make some extra cash. The players can just focus on training and playing while the team professionals handle the jerseys.
But it’s not the same for every team, especially when it comes to big stars like Jokic, Doncic, Stephen Curry, etc. Keep in mind that fans are always asking for their jerseys after games, so teams might handle things differently for them. These stars might still have to pay for the jerseys they give away, but it comes out of their own pockets.
As for legendary players like Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, or LeBron James, sometimes they’ll “wing it” and give away jerseys on the spot, and their teams might not even ask them to pay for them. It’s just one of those cool things that make being an NBA fan so exciting!
NBA jerseys and auctions
It’s not just the action on the court that gets us excited; the world of NBA jerseys and auctions holds its own unique allure. Auctions featuring game-worn jerseys of our favorite players offer a chance to own a piece of basketball history while also providing teams and the league with an opportunity to generate revenue and raise funds for charitable causes.
Collectors may sometimes be NBA players themselves, such as Gilbert Arenas. In the interview, when asked why spending countless hours participating in online auctions, he said that he wanted to build a gym in which he would put all jerseys of each player he came in contact with.
Game-worn jerseys are a hot commodity, especially when they belong to NBA stars or are from iconic moments in the sport’s history. These jerseys often carry significant sentimental and monetary value, from record-breaking performances to playoff heroics. Auction houses like Heritage Auctions, SCP Auctions, and Goldin Auctions specialize in sports memorabilia and frequently feature rare NBA jerseys in their listings.
The money from these auctions can serve multiple purposes. For one, they contribute to the team’s revenue stream, which can be used for various operational expenses. Additionally, teams and players often collaborate with charities and non-profit organizations, using jersey auctions as a way to raise funds and awareness for important causes.
For example, the NBA has previously partnered with American Red Cross to auction off game-worn jerseys and provide disaster relief assistance.