All-Star uniforms pay homage to 1st NBA game
The NBA and Adidas on Thursday revealed the All-Star Game jerseys and supporting apparel for the 2016 game in Toronto.
Adidas, for the second straight year, is going simple with the jerseys, after last year’s designs — modeled after the early days of New York basketball — were lauded.
The simplicity this year has its roots in the types of jerseys worn by the players on the Toronto Huskies and the New York Knickerbockers, who played the very first NBA game on Nov. 1, 1946.
In a nod to Toronto, which is hosting the game for the first time, the back of the jerseys feature both a maple leaf and the city skyline. The shorts feature a raptor claw carved into a star.
“The goal here was to reflect the past, but also have something that spoke to the fact cosmopolitan city that Toronto is and bring it into the modern age by telling a team story as well,” said David Cho, the senior director of Adidas who handles the partnership between the company and the NBA.
The All-Star jersey also has the Kia logo on the upper left corner of the jersey, a deal negotiated by NBA TV partner Turner as part of a one-time logo patch deal test. The Kia logo will also appear on all jerseys sold at retail.
One of the most popular items for fans are the All-Star jackets, which will once again have patches to symbolize awards that players have won. This year’s jacket has an outdoor look, but is made of lighter materials so as to be worn inside.
The All-Star jerseys will cost between $70 and $110, depending on material, while the jackets will range from $110 to $200. Both items go on sale Jan. 21, when players are selected.
The All-Star Game will take place Feb. 14.
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