Basketball Team Shirt Ideas for Players and Parents

In this article

Basketball teams are small, which changes the maths. A twelve-player roster means the team alone will not clear a bulk discount — but once parents, siblings and grandparents are counted, it clears easily.

That is worth knowing before you order, because most teams order twelve shirts and pay full price when twenty would have cost barely more.

Player and team shirts

Team name front, surname and number back. The default — see custom basketball shirts.

Shooting shirts. Worn in warm-ups over the jersey. A distinct design from the game uniform, usually with the team name large and the player's number small. Players care about these more than anything else on this list.

Full roster on the back. Twelve names fits comfortably and reads well, which is an advantage basketball has over bigger-roster sports.

Season record shirts after a strong year.

Tournament and AAU shirts with the event and year. AAU families accumulate a collection over a summer.

Championship shirts. After, not before.

Senior night shirts with the player's photo and four years of stats if you have them.

Parent and family shirts

Jersey-style parent shirt. Your player's number large on the back with "MOM" or "DAD" above.

Full roster for the parent section. A gym is small and a block of matching parents is genuinely visible.

"[Player]'s Grandma · #23."

Travel and AAU shirts listing every tournament city.

"My Heart Plays #11."

Gym jokes

"Basketball Mom: Part Driver, Part Medic, Part Referee Critic."

"That Was A Foul." Worn by every parent in every gym.

"I Yell Because I Care."

"Ball Is Life. Laundry Is Also Life."

"Travel? He Was Clearly Pivoting."

"Buckets." One word, which is how players actually talk.

Coach and programme shirts

"Coach" in team colours, distinct from players.

Programme-wide shirts across every team in a school or club. This is the order that gets properly cheap per shirt.

Team camp shirts for a summer programme.

Scorekeeper and volunteer shirts.

End-of-season coach gift with every player's name in a signature layout.

Fundraising

Booster club shirts sold to the whole school.

Sponsor shirts with local businesses on the back.

Tournament merchandise if your programme hosts.

Fifteen or more gets 25% off, which for a booster fundraiser is the difference between worthwhile and not.

Organising the order

Confirm numbers against the official roster. Numbers change between seasons.

Count parents and grandparents, not just players. This is how a twelve-shirt order becomes a twenty-five-shirt order at 25% off.

Use a form. Player, number, parent, size, paid.

Order at the start of the season.

Check school rules on logos. Team name and colours are almost always fine.

Ordering

No minimum. Fifteen or more gets 25% off. Different names and numbers on every shirt cost nothing extra. No setup or artwork fees, including the roster. Free design proof. S–5XL at $25, $28 and $30 — and in basketball the larger sizes matter, so ask explicitly.

Related: volleyball shirts and cheer shirts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a shooting shirt?
A warm-up shirt worn over the jersey before a game, usually with the team name large and the player's number small. Players care about these more than any other team shirt.

Can every shirt have a different name and number?
Yes, at no extra cost.

Our team is only twelve players — can we still get the discount?
Count parents, siblings and grandparents. Most teams clear fifteen easily once they do, and twenty shirts often costs barely more than twelve.

Can we print the full roster?
Yes, with no extra charge. Twelve names fits and reads well.

When should I order?
At the start of the season.

What sizes do you offer?
S through 5XL. Ask the whole team — the larger sizes matter in basketball and are often not volunteered.