Fan giveaways at professional sporting events, especially the NBA, are nothing new. They have been a staple since the introduction of towel giveaways in the 1970s. Every fan yearns for a t-shirt, and the playoffs have had special playoff t-shirts since the Oklahoma City Thunder popularized them during their 2012 playoff run.

Each section of the crowd alternated between blue and white t-shirts, showcasing a deeply invested atmosphere inside the arena that led the way for many years, as many other NBA teams picked up on the trend.

Above shot from the 2012 NBA Playoffs between the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder

 The Golden State Warriors’ three championships in four years during the mid to late 2010s also displayed the power of the giveaway t-shirt, creating a sea of gold. It seemed like every fan in attendance wore the giveaway shirt during those games.

However, just a few years removed in 2025, the playoff atmosphere inside the arenas is not the same. Fans with the best seats in the stadium refuse to wear the giveaway t-shirts, an unfortunate situation easily visible on camera.

What’s The Real Issue?

Why aren’t fans wearing the shirts? What has changed this once highly sought-after event for fans who get to attend such an incredible sporting event in person? The answer is money. The real basketball fans have been priced out of the best seats in the house. People who can afford super close or even courtside seats are typically so rich they wouldn’t be caught dead in a free t-shirt.

This doesn’t even consider the playoff aspect – not only are the costs of the seats way higher than the regular season, but they are much more likely to be taken up by corporate season ticket holders using the seats as business leverage.

End Of My NBA Giveaway T-Shirt Rant

With NBA tickets only becoming more and more expensive, the fans who truly care about the game but don’t have enough money for a ticket are priced out of the experience. While there is a pool of people who are both true fans and able to afford the tickets, the majority of them are only going because they have the opportunity to do so.

Whether that be through company tickets or just being able to afford a day-of ticket, they would rather look good in their expensive seats rather than supporting the team like a true fan wished they could.

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