Basketball players often want to imitate their role models who play in the NBA. That is why we want to imitate everything, including wearing two pairs of socks, often done by NBA players. In this article, I will reveal why NBA players wear two pairs of socks and whether they suit you.
Basketball players often wear two pairs of socks for extra comfort during the game, especially in the toe, heel, and ankle areas. Two pairs of socks wick, absorb sweat better, and reduce foot rubbing against the shoe. By wearing two pairs of socks, the foot stays drier and more rested for longer.
In the rest of this post, you will find out why NBA basketball players wear two pairs of basketball socks and the pros and cons of doing so. And what are the alternatives if wearing two pairs of socks doesn’t work for you. I also recommend reading this post, which explains the difference between basketball socks and regular socks.
Why do Basketball Players Wear Two Socks?
Basketball players often wear two pairs of socks because two pairs of socks absorb more sweat and wick sweat away from the foot better. This causes the foot to stay dry for longer and prevents unpleasant blisters. Two pairs of socks are also more comfortable, which is why many NBA players wear two pairs of socks.
NBA basketball players play 82 games in the regular season in a 6-month period. During this time, their bodies are exposed to daily efforts, which they must balance in various ways. Physical fitness and sufficient recovery after practices and games are key to ensuring they finish the season healthy.
Different accessories such as comfortable basketball shoes, compression tights, and even socks add an extra percentage to better recovery. Many NBA players wear 2 pairs of basketball socks because this has many positive attributes:
- Wearing two pairs of socks is more comfortable for the foot during running and for landing after a jump. The extra cushioning is also good for ankle and knee health, which are the most common injuries in basketball players.
- Two pairs of socks absorb more sweat than one pair of socks. This keeps the foot dry for longer and prevents blisters that could bother players during the game.
- Two pairs of socks also reduce friction between the foot and the basketball shoes, reducing the chances of blisters. You can read more about what features basketball socks need to have to prevent blisters here.
Which socks are worn by NBA players
NBA basketball players wear Nike Elite basketball socks because Nike is the official apparel sponsor of the NBA. In addition to the quality of Nike Elite socks, this is also the reason why they are the most popular basketball socks in the world.
If you would like to read more about Nike basketball socks. I suggest you read this post, where I present my opinion on why these are the best basketball socks.
Pros and Cons of Wearing Two Socks for Basketball
Wearing two pairs of basketball socks has its advantages and disadvantages, which I have outlined in the table below. As a former professional basketball player, I trained regularly, even several times a day.
Together with my teammates, we tried different ways to make our feet feel more comfortable and rested for longer during hard training sessions. We tried different brands of socks and also wore two pairs of socks, and that is how I came up with the pros and cons, which you can see in the table below.
| PROS | CONS |
| Wick and absorb more sweat, to keep feet drier | Harder to put on two pairs of socks |
| More comfortable than just one pair | Basketball shoes may fit more snugly and be less comfortable |
| Extra comfort and support at the toes, heels, and around the ankle | Two pairs of socks make the foot less breathable |
| Reduces friction of the foot against the shoe, preventing blisters |
Wearing two pairs of socks has the advantage of being able to absorb more sweat because you are wearing a thicker layer. But the truth is that wearing two layers of socks makes it harder for the foot to breathe, which makes us hotter and sweat faster. In addition, I have had problems putting on two pairs of basketball socks, which are thicker. And with two pairs of socks, it was harder to put on basketball shoes, which were tight because my foot was already wider. If I wanted to wear two pairs of socks comfortably, I would have had to wear one size bigger shoes.
However, this is not the same for everyone, and wearing two pairs of socks still had more advantages than disadvantages for me (as seen in the table). If wearing two pairs of socks will allow you to wear basketball shoes normally, and you want your socks to absorb more sweat, then wearing two pairs of socks is the way to go for you.
Better Alternatives to Wearing Two Socks
Wearing two pairs of basketball socks has at least one comparable solution. That is wearing thick basketball socks. Basketball socks are already thick enough to offer you a sufficient level of comfort. They are thick because they are made of a high proportion of absorbent materials (nylon, cotton). You can read more about what kind of socks basketball players wear here.
You can choose cushioned socks if you want more comfort than thick basketball socks. Or wear two pairs of thinner socks, which together will be thicker and more absorbent than one pair of socks.