What are basketball jerseys made of? Most are polyester mesh, which takes dye well. Hamco Sports custom basketball jerseys use 160 to 180 GSM Airweave mesh, fully dye-sublimated, in men’s, women’s, girls’ and boys’ cuts. A jersey and shorts set starts at $69.99 a player (1 to 24 sets).
What are basketball jerseys made of?
Modern basketball jerseys are made of polyester, usually knitted as an open mesh so air moves through the fabric. Some jerseys add a small share of spandex for stretch.
What does GSM mean on a basketball jersey?
GSM means grams per square meter, the weight of the fabric. A higher number is a heavier, denser fabric. A lower number is lighter and more open.
Hamco Sports basketball game jerseys use 160 to 180 GSM Airweave mesh. Your colors, graphics, names and numbers are dyed into the fabric by full sublimation, so there is no print layer to crack or peel.
Sublimated team names, player names, numbers and logos are included in the per-player price. Tackle twill is $5 per name and $5 per number. With no minimum order, a single replacement jersey is a normal order. See every style and color of our sublimated basketball jerseys.
Mesh, interlock or dazzle: what’s the difference?
Mesh, interlock and dazzle are three common ways to knit polyester for team jerseys. Each one feels and looks different on court.
| Fabric | How it’s knitted | What it feels like |
|---|---|---|
| Mesh | Open knit with small holes | Airy; the most common game-jersey fabric |
| Interlock | Tight, smooth double knit | Soft and smooth, with a clean surface for printing |
| Dazzle | Polyester knit with a shiny finish | Glossy look; less airflow than mesh |
General team-wear knit types, described by the Hamco Sports team.
Mesh suits basketball because players sweat in a warm gym and the fabric needs to breathe.
How are reversible basketball jerseys made?
Reversible jerseys are double-ply: two layers sewn together, each fully sublimated in its own color. One side carries your home color and the other your away color. A player flips the jersey instead of changing into a second one.
Reversible jerseys are popular with rec leagues and clubs, because one jersey covers home and away and practice scrimmages. Hamco Sports reversible basketball jerseys start at $49.99 a player (1 to 24), prices as of October 2026.
What are basketball shorts made of?
Most basketball shorts are polyester, in a mesh or a smooth knit, with an elastic waistband and often a drawcord. Polyester shorts move with the player.
A Hamco Sports uniform set is one price per player for the jersey and shorts together, both in your team’s colors and design.
Why are basketball jerseys sleeveless?
Basketball jerseys are sleeveless mostly by tradition. The first official basketball uniforms, sold in a 1901 sporting goods catalog, already offered a sleeveless top next to a quarter-sleeve one. The sleeveless cut stayed the standard game jersey (Wikipedia, Basketball uniform, citing James Naismith’s 1941 book; checked October 31, 2026).
Why are basketball shorts so long?
Basketball shorts got longer over time, not because a rule demands it. Shorts were short and tight in the 1970s and 1980s, then grew longer and looser in the 1990s (Wikipedia’s basketball uniform history, checked October 31, 2026). We know of no NFHS rule on shorts length: the NFHS rule changes and the 2026 to 2027 apparel specifications we read set none. The one recent NFHS note on shorts allows players to fold or roll them at the natural waistband seam (NFHS Rule 3, Section 5, Article 5 note, May 22, 2019).
Shorts length is a fit choice for your team. Hamco Sports makes every basketball uniform in a men’s, women’s, girls’ and boys’ cut. If a player needs longer or shorter shorts than the chart, ask about custom sizing, which is available for all teams.
What can players wear under a basketball jersey?
High school players may wear an undershirt and compression gear, but the NFHS rules control the colors. Under Rule 3, Section 5, Article 6, undershirts must be a single solid color similar to the torso of the jersey. They must be hemmed, with sleeves of the same length (NFHS rule changes for 2016 to 2017, checked October 31, 2026).
Starting with the 2023 to 2024 season, undershirts under visiting jerseys may also be black. “All teammates wearing undershirts must wear the same solid color” (NFHS rule changes for 2023 to 2024, checked October 31, 2026).
Rule 3, Section 5, Article 3 covers compression shorts, tights and arm sleeves. They “shall be black, white, beige or the predominant color of the jersey,” and teammates must wear the same color (NFHS Basketball Equipment/Apparel Specifications for 2026 to 2027, IESA copy, checked October 31, 2026).
Matching under-layers are easier when they come from the same order. Hamco Sports compression shorts start at $44.99 a pair and arm sleeves at $22.99 a sleeve (1 to 24). Products can be mixed on one quote to reach a price tier. Order them in the color your rule calls for. College rules differ, so check yours.
Frequently asked questions
Are basketball jerseys 100% polyester?
Many are, and some blend polyester with a little spandex for stretch. Hamco Sports basketball game jerseys use 160 to 180 GSM Airweave mesh, a polyester mesh, fully dye-sublimated so your colors are part of the fabric. Check the fabric line on any supplier’s product page before you order.
What does GSM mean on a jersey?
GSM means grams per square meter. It tells you how heavy the fabric is. A higher number is a heavier, denser fabric, and a lower number is lighter and more open. Ask for the GSM of the exact jersey you are quoted, so you compare like with like.
Are reversible basketball jerseys two layers?
Hamco Sports reversible basketball jerseys are. Each one is double-ply: two layers sewn together, each fully sublimated in its own color. A player turns the jersey inside out to switch between home and away.
Can you wear a T-shirt under a basketball jersey?
In high school, only if it meets NFHS Rule 3, Section 5, Article 6. It must be a single solid color similar to the jersey torso, or black under a visiting jersey, hemmed, with sleeves of equal length. Every teammate who wears one must wear the same color. A gray cotton T-shirt under a red away jersey would not meet the rule.
How long should basketball shorts be?
We know of no NFHS rule that sets a length, so the right length is the one your players move best in. If a player needs longer or shorter shorts than the size chart, Hamco Sports offers custom sizing for all teams.
See the fabric on your team’s design
Not sure how many to order? Our guide to how many players are on a basketball team turns a roster into an order count.
Send us your colors, logo and roster. You get a free mockup within 12 hours, and we change it as many times as you need. Nothing goes into production until you approve it. Your uniforms are ready 2 to 3 weeks after design approval, then take 3 to 5 days to reach you.
The price we quote is the price you pay, with no setup fee and no extra charge for bigger sizes. Shipping is free in the USA. Canadian teams pay the shipping. We pay the tariffs, duties and import fees on US and Canada orders. Get My Free Quote
For washing, see our guide on how to wash a jersey.
How we made this guide: written by the Hamco Sports team. We used our own fabric specifications and price list (as of October 2026) and the NFHS basketball rule changes for 2016 to 2017, 2019 and 2023 to 2024. We also used the NFHS apparel specifications for 2026 to 2027 (IESA copy) and Wikipedia’s history of the basketball uniform. Facts checked October 31, 2026.
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