Athletic Gear and Equipment: Basketball

Basketball is one of the world's most popular sports. Invented in 1891, basketball involves two teams of five players each trying to score points by throwing ("shooting") the ball through the basket ("the hoop").

The world's most popular and watched basketball league is the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the United States, and as such it isn't surprising that the many of the best basketball gear and equipment are on display there. What the NBA players wear and what the league uses are frequently emulated the world over, from kids playing makeshift basketball courts on the side streets to the various international leagues that have prospered in the last decades.

The most important equipment in the sport is the ball; without it, there's no sense playing! Usually 30 inches in circumference, the basketball is usually orange in color; there exist variants, such as balls of the darker shade and tricolor (blue, white, red) balls. There are black lines that follow the contour of the ball and aid the basketball player in his/her grip. In recent years, basketballs with glossy, high-quality graphics imprints have been sold, and while these balls are playable, they serve better as collector’s items due to their designs and higher prices.

The basketball uniform is another vital piece. This consists mainly of the jersey and shorts. Sometimes, the term "basketball jersey" is taken to mean both the garment for the torso (the "tops") and the shorts, as these two usually come in a set. Decades ago, basketball uniform hugged the skin of players; nowadays, they're loose.

Many basketball players don accessories to go with their uniforms. Some of them are headbands, wristbands, armbands, and fingerbands. These bands are strips of cloth (usually woolen) that are used to improve performance, wipe off sweat, or simply look good. These come in various colors and are often stitched with the logos of basketball leagues or teams.

Basketball shoes are not only for the court – they're also fashion pieces, great for casual attires. Shoes made for the sport are lightweight, cushioned, and have good ankle support, grip, traction, ventilation, and shock absorption, among others. These shoes come in low-cut and high-cut forms, "cut" here referring to how high the shoe to the ankle. Basketball shoes are so popular in the world today that some of the biggest athletic gear brands have been associated with them.

Speaking of brands, some of the most recognizable ones are Nike, adidas (spelled with the small a!), Reebok, Converse, and Puma. In fact, the logos of these brands are so popular that even people with a passing interest in basketball can recognize them!