Buzz
Uniforms serve a functional role—to clearly distinguish opposing teams during the game. After all, the game would quickly become chaotic if the audience couldn't identify which team is which.
In contrast, many North American football and hockey teams sport bright, multi-colored jerseys at home. For visiting teams, however, unless granted special approval, they are generally required to wear white uniforms.
Basketball turns this trend on its head. In both college and professional leagues, the home team typically wears white while the visiting team wears more attention-grabbing attire. This guideline is enforced by organizations like the NCAA, NBA, and WNBA. According to the official NCAA men’s basketball rulebook, ‘Opposing team uniforms shall be of contrasting colors.’ It further stipulates, ‘The home team shall wear light game jerseys and shorts, while the away team shall wear dark jerseys and shorts. This rule may be altered with mutual consent of the competing institutions.’
How did this custom come to be? It likely has roots in America's beloved pastime.
Around the early 1900s, Major League Baseball teams began sporting dark blue, black, or typically gray jerseys when playing away games, and white jerseys when at home. Back then, it was often a struggle for teams to find laundry services outside their home cities. As a result, visiting players had no choice but to repeatedly wear their unwashed jerseys. Darker uniforms helped to conceal the inevitable dirt and grass stains.
In its early days, basketball likely borrowed and modified this tradition. From elementary school leagues to professional courts, teams generally stick to the white-at-home, colors-on-the-road rule, though there are exceptions.
Consider the Los Angeles Lakers. In 1967, the legendary team made a bold change. Prior to that year, their color scheme consisted of navy blue, royal blue, and white. That year, however, they introduced their iconic purple and gold colors. Remarkably, the Lakers became the first NBA team to adopt non-white jerseys as their regular home uniform. Fans quickly got used to watching Jerry West and the team in their now-famous yellow jerseys.
Moreover, fans are treated to an array of different jersey styles and colors when the visiting team arrives. Given how adventurous the NBA can get with uniform designs (sleeves?!), a bit of consistency at home is definitely appreciated.
