How many players are in a basketball team?
Officials' detail · Players, officials and the court · 1 of 2A basketball team has 5 players on the court and up to 7 substitutes, 12 in all. Shirts carry a number on the front and back, from 0 or 00 to 99. Players may not wear anything that could injure someone, which rules out jewellery, hard guards and hair accessories.
How it works
- Up to 12 team members entitled to play, one of them the captain; a head coach; up to 8 other delegation members, including assistant coaches, on the bench.
- 5 on the court during playing time.
- Shirts and shorts of the same dominant colour; shirts tucked in; sleeves, if any, end above the elbow.
- Numbers: 0, 00 and 1 to 99. At least 16 cm high on the back and 8 cm on the front. No two teammates share a number.
- The home team wears light shirts, preferably white, and the visitors dark, unless they agree to swap.
- Not allowed: jewellery, hair accessories, anything that could cut and any guards, casts or braces of hard material on the finger, hand, wrist, elbow or forearm, even if padded.
- Allowed: padded protection on the upper arm, thigh or lower leg; compression sleeves and undershorts; knee, shoulder and ankle braces; a nose protector; a clear mouth guard; glasses that are safe; wristbands and headbands up to 10 cm wide; taping; headgear that does not cover the face and has no hard or sticking-out parts.
- A team's compression garments, headgear, bands and tape must all be one solid colour.
- Shoes may be any colour, without lights or reflective material.
Tricky cases
Can a player wear a hijab or turban?
Yes. Headgear is allowed if it does not cover any part of the face, is not dangerous and has no fastenings around the face or neck or parts sticking out.
Can a player wear a hard cast on the wrist if it is padded?
No. Hard guards, casts and braces on the finger, hand, wrist, elbow or forearm are not allowed even with padding.
Can a late player join the game?
Yes, if their name was entered on the scoresheet before the start.
Why the rule exists
Numbers let referees and scorers record fouls and points against the right player. The kit rules protect opponents and stop equipment giving an advantage.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FIBA rules | As above | A4 |
| 3x3 basketball | Three players a side on a half court, under separate rules | ../3x3/ set |
From the rule book
FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026, Articles 4 and 7.1, valid from 1 October 2026. Checked 13 October 2026. Official document: FIBA Official Basketball Rules (PDF).