NBA: franchises on clearance
Starting at £387.72
£213.76
Starting at £116.73
£75.03
The NBA clearance features items in the colours of North American league franchises that are end-of-line: small bouncy balls from several teams, from the Miami Heat to the Toronto Raptors, caps from the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers, a Larry Bird jersey in the colours of the Boston Celtics, faded Lakers shorts, and a Wilson Tribute ball from the New York Knicks. It’s a great way to show your team spirit or delight a young fan.
Your team's colours, at a sweeter price.
Thirty franchises, two conferences: getting to know the NBA
The NBA brings together thirty franchises split between the Eastern and Western conferences, each divided into three divisions of five teams. The Boston Celtics, the New York Knicks, the Miami Heat, or the Toronto Raptors, the only franchise based in Canada, play in the East; the Los Angeles Lakers, the Phoenix Suns, the Houston Rockets, or the Oklahoma City Thunder play in the West. The regular season consists of eighty-two games per team before playoffs played in a best of seven format. A franchise can relocate: the Thunder was born in Seattle under the name of the SuperSonics before moving to Oklahoma City in 2008.
The other end of season sales
The basketball clearance also includes:
All the end of season sales can be found on the basketball page.
Celtics and Lakers, the rivalry of the 1980s
No rivalry has marked the league as much as that of the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers, opposing each other many times in the finals. In the 1980s, it is embodied by two players: Larry Bird, a sharpshooter for the Celtics, and Magic Johnson, a playmaker for the Lakers. Bird won three titles with Boston, in 1981, 1984, and 1986, along with three consecutive regular-season MVP awards from 1984 to 1986. His green jersey with the number thirty-three remains one of the most sought-after among retro basketball fans. The Lakers' faded shorts, in purple and gold, are worn on the playground as well as in the city.
NBA Caps: adjustable or fitted model
NBA caps are often made by New Era, a manufacturer founded in 1920 in Buffalo, New York, whose fitted model 59FIFTY, created in 1954, established the shape of the flat-brim baseball cap. For a fitted model, size is chosen based on head circumference, measured with a tape one finger above the eyebrows. The adjustable models, like the Lakers' dad cap, with a curved brim and soft crown, or the Bulls' faded cap, fasten with a strap at the back and adjust to all head sizes. The fading gives a vintage look right from the first day, without waiting for the sun to do its work.
NBA balls and basketballs: what size according to age
The official NBA ball has been made by Wilson since October 2021, marking a return to its roots as the brand produced the league's first balls in 1946. It's a size seven, about 75 centimeters in circumference, used by men from adolescence. Size six is used for women's competitions and youth, while size five is for children. The Wilson Tribute ball of the Knicks, decorated in the franchise's colors, is used for play as well as for decorating a fan's room. The small bouncy Dribbler balls, which fit in the hand, feature the logos of many franchises and make a simple gift for a young supporter.
Frequently asked questions
What is the height of an NBA basketball hoop?
The rim is set at 3.05 meters above the ground, or ten feet, like in all basketball competitions around the world. Its inner diameter is 45 centimeters, just under twice that of the ball.
What are the dimensions of an NBA court?
An NBA court measures 28.65 meters by 15.24 meters, slightly larger than the FIBA court, which measures 28 meters by 15. The three-point line is also further back, at 7.24 meters from the basket in the centre, compared to 6.75 meters in FIBA.
How do you choose the size of an NBA jersey?
NBA jerseys follow the American sizing chart, often more generous than European sizes. For a more fitted look, you usually go down a size; to wear over a t-shirt, like on the playground, you stick with your usual size.
Why do we talk about franchises in the NBA?
NBA teams are not promoted or relegated clubs: they are franchises, rights granted by the league to owners for a city. There is no promotion or relegation, and a franchise can change cities with the league's approval.
How does one become an NBA player?
You enter the league through the draft, held annually, or by signing as a free agent. You must be at least nineteen years old in the year of the draft, and many European players get in after several professional seasons in their country.
