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Why do home teams wear white uniforms in Basketball?
Posted on 1/21/17 at 3:57 pm
Posted on 1/21/17 at 3:57 pm
And the opposite for football. Anyone know the reason for this "tradition"?
Posted on 1/21/17 at 4:30 pm to Syd
The NHL was home dark, away white in the 60s.
Switched to home white, dark away in the 70's because it was believed it would bring more color and variety to each arena -- every opponent will have a new look, as opposed to always seeing your team vs white.
Relatively recently they switched back to home dark, away white.
NBA might be similar reason.
Switched to home white, dark away in the 70's because it was believed it would bring more color and variety to each arena -- every opponent will have a new look, as opposed to always seeing your team vs white.
Relatively recently they switched back to home dark, away white.
NBA might be similar reason.
This post was edited on 1/21/17 at 4:31 pm
Posted on 1/21/17 at 11:20 pm to Syd
The rise of alternate uniforms in the NBA has made this less of a tradition and more of a guideline
For example, tonight's Spurs/Cavs game in Cleveland saw the Cavs wearing black, sleeved alternates and the Spurs in their traditional whites.

For example, tonight's Spurs/Cavs game in Cleveland saw the Cavs wearing black, sleeved alternates and the Spurs in their traditional whites.

This post was edited on 1/23/17 at 7:58 am
Posted on 1/22/17 at 1:32 pm to Syd
Baseball is *typically* home white as well, though with alternate unis and such it doesn't always end up that way. Every team's primary home uni is white though.
Posted on 1/22/17 at 7:17 pm to Syd
Technically, doesn't home team get their choice and away team then automatically goes opposite?
Posted on 1/22/17 at 9:58 pm to Syd
Tex Schramm wanted the Cowboys to wear white at home and away because it made the uniform matchups different every week, and it was consistent on television. Schramm wanted national viewers to always associate the team wearing white with Dallas. Dunno how this relates to basketball, but Go Cowboys.
Posted on 1/26/17 at 5:26 am to Syd
I was just thinking this last night. I have no idea. I generally like some sort of color over white. I especially hate all white uniforms. It's just so fricking bland. White is a nice complementary color, but nothing more. It's also fascinating why football will often wear some color pants with white tops, but basketball will never wear colored shorts with white tops.
TBirdSpur2010, Spurs silver uniforms with awesome spur logo are probably the best in the league. It's a fresh change from all the same old boring city/name script most teams go with.
TBirdSpur2010, Spurs silver uniforms with awesome spur logo are probably the best in the league. It's a fresh change from all the same old boring city/name script most teams go with.
This post was edited on 1/26/17 at 5:35 am
Posted on 1/26/17 at 5:31 am to TeLeFaWx
I always thought the Cowboys navy blue uniforms looked so much better with the silver pants than the bland white. Unfortunately, they only wear the navy blue a few times a year.
Posted on 1/26/17 at 10:05 am to Syd
Because of evil white men in power
Posted on 1/26/17 at 10:57 am to Sleeping Tiger
quote:
Switched to home white, dark away in the 70's because it was believed it would bring more color and variety to each arena -- every opponent will have a new look, as opposed to always seeing your team vs white.
It was also because the road teas didn't get to wash the jerseys as often, so the dark colors made it less noticeable.
Posted on 1/26/17 at 1:58 pm to CRDNLSCHMCPSN11
quote:
I generally like some sort of color over white. I especially hate all white uniforms. It's just so fricking bland. White is a nice complementary color, but nothing more.
I'm right there with you on that

quote:
It's also fascinating why football will often wear some color pants with white tops, but basketball will never wear colored shorts with white tops.
That is pretty strange. And football, obviously, will still bust out monochromatic uniforms regularly, but I can only think about that happening once or twice for basketball (and never done well

quote:
TBirdSpur2010, Spurs silver uniforms with awesome spur logo are probably the best in the league. It's a fresh change from all the same old boring city/name script most teams go with.
Love those, too! The black version is even better


I believe the Spurs' gray alternates were the first NBA unis ever to not feature any script at all on the front of the jersey. Sharp look for the current Spur logo, too (we've only had that one for about 15 years or so).
This post was edited on 1/26/17 at 2:00 pm
Posted on 1/27/17 at 5:31 am to TbirdSpur2010
I'm with you. Texas A&M road uniforms look much better when they go with the maroon pants. The helmets with the outline of the state of Texas look much better than the usual helmets as well.
Would it bother you if Texas A&M basketball wore maroon shorts with the white uniforms, and white shorts with the maroon uniforms?
I just really hate these sleeved uniforms some NBA teams wear now. Just doesn't look right. I really liked the sharp alternate uniforms Bulls, Suns, and Magic wore in '90s. They should go back to those.
Would it bother you if Texas A&M basketball wore maroon shorts with the white uniforms, and white shorts with the maroon uniforms?
I just really hate these sleeved uniforms some NBA teams wear now. Just doesn't look right. I really liked the sharp alternate uniforms Bulls, Suns, and Magic wore in '90s. They should go back to those.
Posted on 1/27/17 at 2:24 pm to CRDNLSCHMCPSN11
quote:
The helmets with the outline of the state of Texas look much better than the usual helmets as well.
Wholeheartedly agree. Honestly the uniforms we've had since the SEC move are my favorites ever for us (same goes for Mizzou, btw--have defended y'all's threads many a time on here


quote:
Would it bother you if Texas A&M basketball wore maroon shorts with the white uniforms, and white shorts with the maroon uniforms?
I'm open to it. Just depends on how it's done. I think the Warriors had an alternate recently with solid tops and vertically striped shorts. Looked like some cheap Harlem Globetrotters knockoffs. Awful.
But it's definitely doable, IMO.
quote:
I just really hate these sleeved uniforms some NBA teams wear now. Just doesn't look right. I really liked the sharp alternate uniforms Bulls, Suns, and Magic wore in '90s. They should go back to those.
I guess the sleeves themselves really don't bother me so much as the designs are hit/miss from team to team. Some of 'em look fantastic while others look like Walmart knockoffs.
Posted on 1/27/17 at 2:35 pm to TbirdSpur2010
Way it was explained to me by Spoonhour and some other old coach was that teams wore white
1. to see the different colors of teams when at the game
2. when black and white TV was the thing you had a constant color scheme for your team, as generally you did not get away games.
How true that is? I am not sure but, Spoonhour seemed to have a sense of history for the game.
The one I never figured out was differing numbers for home and away. Back in the 50's you had 0-4 at home and 1-5 on the road as second digits and your first digit basically described your position.
Example of this is Houston with Guy Lewis
Olajuwon wore 34 at home 35 on the road
Gettys wore 44 at home 45 on the road
so on and so forth...
1. to see the different colors of teams when at the game
2. when black and white TV was the thing you had a constant color scheme for your team, as generally you did not get away games.
How true that is? I am not sure but, Spoonhour seemed to have a sense of history for the game.
The one I never figured out was differing numbers for home and away. Back in the 50's you had 0-4 at home and 1-5 on the road as second digits and your first digit basically described your position.
Example of this is Houston with Guy Lewis
Olajuwon wore 34 at home 35 on the road
Gettys wore 44 at home 45 on the road
so on and so forth...
This post was edited on 1/27/17 at 2:40 pm
Posted on 1/27/17 at 3:48 pm to sms151t
quote:
The one I never figured out was differing numbers for home and away. Back in the 50's you had 0-4 at home and 1-5 on the road as second digits and your first digit basically described your position.
Example of this is Houston with Guy Lewis
Olajuwon wore 34 at home 35 on the road
Gettys wore 44 at home 45 on the road
so on and so forth...
Never understood that, either. Honestly didn't realize it was a home/away thing until you mentioned it.
Glad they don't do that anymore

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