Basketball kits - from snug speedos to digitally connected vests.

All team sports kit designs have a function and a fashionable purpose. No other sport has been influenced by popular culture than basketball. Hip hop and basketball culture have gone hand in hand since the 1980s. But what were the kits like before hip hop? How did hip hop culture influence the kits? and what technology has been introduced throughout the years?

Pre 1970s

Basketball kits were highly functional. Made to be durable and last rather than for pace or comfort. The designs were built to last and looked more like modern triathlon suits. The fabrics were thick and not breathable. Shorts were akin to speedos or hot pants!

1970 - 1980s

Snug. Tight. Restrictive. Uncomfortable.

4 words to describe the basketball kits in the 1970s. With more African-American players entering the sport in these decades the average height of basketball players increased. However the length of their shorts remained the same. Players were uncomfortable and embarrassed with the fit of the kits!

1990s Revolution

It all started with the Fab Five. The Fab Five were the 1991 University of Michigan men's basketball team, they are considered by many to be one of the greatest University teams of all time. They brought streetstyle to the hardwood. Having grown up in some of the roughest areas of the United States, they did not care about etiquette or political correctness. They absolutely disliked those panties they were supposed to wear. So they just helped themselves. When picking his first ever Michigan uniform, Jalen Rose just grabbed the biggest pair of short he could find – a short, by the way, that were supposed to be worn by a much larger teammate.

All 5 players spoke to their coach and said, "we really want baggy shorts. Please don't let us play in these Speedos!" Their coach succumbed and made sure the fit was right to appease his players. As a result their confidence went sky high and the on court results were outstanding.

The Micheal Jordan Effect

Thanks to a certain Michael Jordan things changed. MJ was constantly tugging down his shorts to make them longer which led to NBA uniforms becoming customizable. This allowed players to decide how their jerseys and shorts should fit and as a result shorts became longer and short-shorts became a thing of the past.

2000s

Nike, Adidas and Reebok became official NBA partners. As a result they invested in fabric technology, fit and design. Resulting in far superior performance fabrics for basketball players. Brands were experimenting with looser fits shorts and tighter vests.

2017 -

The NBA announced that it has signed an apparel deal with Nike beginning with the 2017-18 season. The deal is an eight-year partnership. Financial terms were not immediately disclosed, but the deal is worth roughly $1 billion, according to sources, which is approximately a 245% annual increase from the previous deal with Adidas/Reebok.

"This partnership with Nike represents a new paradigm in the structure of our global merchandising business," NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. "As our exclusive oncourt apparel provider, Nike will be instrumental in our collective efforts to grow the game globally while applying the latest in technology to the design of our uniforms and oncourt products."

Informed by more than 25 years of research on all levels of basketball and insight from current NBA players, the uniform is built on a refined version of the Nike Aeroswift basketball chassis. The players influence helped Nike refurbishing the NBA uniforms in areas like the armhole, neck and side seams. Therefore 3D-body maps of players, including heat and sweat maps were employed and as a result, the new uniforms are lighter, have a different fit and the overall construction of them has changed.

Members of Team USA have helped developing the jerseys by testing them and giving their opinion on certain aspects and as Kyrie Irving put it, “The fact that Nike listened to all of our feedback while developing the new NBA uniforms speaks volumes. I’m excited for the new fit and feel.”

The uniform is comprised of a combination of so-called Alpha Yarns and recycled polyester (each athlete uniform represents approximately 20 recycled PET bottles). According to Nike this yarn blend removes moisture more quickly than previous NBA uniforms, wicking sweat 30-percent faster than current NBA uniforms. Plus there’s a chip in each jersey, Nike Connectivity, that lets fans get closer to their jersey’s player with the help of an app which provides exclusive NBA content. Talk about high-tech.

Another all new approach comes via naming of the jerseys. There are no more Home and Away uniforms, but home teams will pick which of their uniforms will be worn at all home games and visiting teams will choose a contrasting uniform within their own assortment. Therefore Nike and the NBA worked together to create four core uniforms for each team, classified as “editions,” which draw from the rich heritage of the NBA and its respective franchises.

The first two editions, old Home and Away, were already revealed in July. They are called “Association” and “Icon”. The Association Edition, traditional home white uniform that all 30 teams will have in their assortment, links them as members of the most exclusive basketball club in the world, the National Basketball Association. The Icon Edition represents the rich heritage and iconic identity that exists within each franchise and utilizes the team’s primary color, a color that dominates the closets of most diehard fans.

If your Basketball team is wanting some advice on kit please reach out to [email protected]