Like basketball shoes, basketball clothes have changed considerably since the creation of basketball. As styles go in and out in real life, so do different types of basketball clothes. This is a complete history of the advancement of technology in basketball clothes.
At the beginning of the sport, people played basketball in regular street clothes, and there was no such thing as basketball clothes or uniforms. The game was meant to be played as a wintertime sport, so many people originally wore sweatpants and sweaters.
As the game gained popularity and began to have tournaments, the first uniform was invented in 1901, and the uniform was made of woolen tees and knee-length padded fitting shorts. They also had jerseys with quarter-length sleeves with another option of a sleeveless jersey
As Basketball became more popular, people wanted to make the uniforms more different from others to help distinguish the players. Improvements were made in 1904, and dyed wool and cotton was used to make shorts and shirts. The uniforms also had letters and symbols to show off their team
In the 1920s, as the sport was really increasing in popularity, the uniform manufacturers made the uniforms more functional for its players. The new uniforms were consisted of mid-length shorts and sleeveless jerseys to make it easy to move around and shoot. During games, players tudkced in their jersy and were able to tighten their shorts to not let their jersey get untucked. Knee high socks were still common during this time
At the beginning of the game, clothes were made out of wool and cotton, the natural fabrics of daily wear in that era. Nowadays, it seems like it would be uncomfortable to play in, but it was all they had back then. Back in this time, games were shorter and played at a slower pace than today's games, making the uniforms not as bad as we might think.
In the 1930s, the invention of synthetic fibers like nylon revolutionized basketball and many other industries. Nylon was initially made a cheap replacement for silk and was used in everything back then. Basketball uniforms made from nylon-polyester blends became popular in the 1930s. The was such a great innovation because they were light, durable, stretchy, breathable, inexpensive, and easy to launder. This new type of material would change the game and be a significant influence in the decades to come.
Before the 1940s, uniforms were made from blended synthetics with shorter shorts and body-hugging sleeveless jerseys. Because of the recent merger of the two leagues in America (the NBL and the NBA), they decided to make new uniforms to signify their new partnership. The Harlem Globetrotters, made in 1928 and now popular around the world, their famous jerseys, would be a template for the future of basketball uniforms.
These uniforms became famous due to their unique traits, such as being flamboyant and flashy. Even though baseball teams have been putting numbers on their jerseys since 1916, basketball only started numbering their jerseys in the 1950s. Shorts were able to get even short due to new technological advancements by making them with built-in belts made from plastic buckles, fabric, and aluminum.