NBA players are the best basketball players in the world, so they wear the highest quality basketball socks. Their socks need to be comfortable, so basketball players can more easily withstand the tough pace of games that the NBA schedule brings. Below, I reveal which socks are worn by NBA basketball players.
NBA players wear Nike Elite crew socks because Nike is the official sponsor of the NBA. The colors of their socks must be white or black or must match the team colors they play for, but most players prefer to wear white socks. The socks worn by NBA players are thick and very comfortable to wear.
Below I’ll reveal all the socks that NBA basketball players have worn in recent years. I’ll also include links to where you can buy them. If you are interested in choosing basketball socks that will look good with your basketball shoes, you can read about it here.
What socks do NBA players wear?
There are a few rules about wearing socks in the NBA, which I will explain later in this article. What I can briefly say is that NBA players must wear official NBA socks, which are from Nike. These socks are crew socks to display the NBA logo, and it is rumored that Michael Jordan has contributed to this rule; more on that below.
Nike became an official sponsor of the NBA at the start of the 2017-18 season. Since then, all uniforms have been branded with their signature swoosh or the Jumpman logo, which is the logo of the Jordan brand, which is under the Nike brand.
The Nike socks worn by NBA basketball players are the Nike Elite model, which, in addition to being the official socks of the NBA, are also very popular because they are high quality. There are many reasons why Nike Elite socks are the best-selling basketball socks in the world: they are very comfortable, they breathe well, they wick sweat well, and they absorb a lot of sweat.
You will notice 4 important features in the socks worn by NBA basketball players:
- the socks must be crew length so that the NBA logo is visible and not hidden behind the shoes,
- NBA logo on both sides of the sock,
- must be white, black, or one of the team colors,
- the Nike swoosh must always be visible.
If you are interested in learning more about Nike socks, I encourage you to read the full post, where I explain in detail what makes Nike basketball socks the best in the world.
Michael Jordan popularized wearing ankle socks in his day, which the NBA didn’t like. Because the high basketball shoes made the NBA logo not visible and therefore did not serve as advertising. Of course, the greatest publicity for the league and its sponsors is to have their best players wearing products with their recognizable logo.
This is also why the official NBA socks are always long enough for the logo to be visible, and the players are not allowed to cover the logo, as Stephen Curry and James Harden have done in the past.
Nike has not always been the official sponsor of the NBA, and in the past, NBA players have worn other brands of socks.
Those are the best Nike and Jordan basketball socks:
- NIKE Dry Elite 1.5 Crew Basketball Socks
- Nike Jordan Jumpman Dri-Fit Crew
- NIKE Dry Elite Crew Basketball Socks
Stance Logoman
At the start of the 2015-16 season, Stance Logoman, made by Stance, became the official socks of the NBA. At that time, it was a relatively young company exclusively dedicated to socks manufacturing. By signing a royalty agreement with the NBA, they doubled their revenue every year. They remained an official partner for the following season, 2016-17, after which Nike became the official sponsor. Today, you can still buy Stance socks with the NBA logo or a picture of your favorite team or player.
You can buy Stance socks here: Stance Icon Sport Crew Socks and Stance Logoman Quarter Sock.
Why do NBA players wear high socks?
NBA basketball players wear high socks because it’s an NBA rule that socks must be crew length so that the NBA logo and Nike swoosh are visible. The league logo is sewn on both sides of the socks for greater visibility.
NBA basketball players used to wear compression socks instead of traditional basketball socks, which reach up to the knees and promote blood circulation throughout the body. Wearing compression socks while playing basketball reduces the chance of cramps during the game. Most basketball players wear compression socks after the game and practice as this speeds up the recovery of the legs for the next game.
Fortunately, non-NBA basketball players can wear any socks and compression socks while playing basketball. If you often have problems with cramps and your legs are tired after the game and practice, I recommend you to read this post and try compression socks.
Why do NBA players wear 2 pairs of socks?
Some NBA players wear two pairs of socks for extra comfort. Two pairs of socks are more comfortable and softer and absorb more sweat. This way, the foot is more rested and stays drier for longer while playing basketball.
If you want to be more comfortable while playing basketball, I suggest you read this detailed post, where I show you the pros and cons of wearing two pairs of socks.
Choosing good quality basketball socks can prevent uncomfortable blisters when playing basketball. There are 3 key features that every sports sock should have to prevent blisters.