The NBA leads the athletic world in fashion choices. Whenever a player is photographed off the court, they’re guaranteed to be wearing stylish threads. But it wasn’t always like this. There was a time when NBA players never dressed up and wore t-shirts and sweatpants on a regular basis.
So, why the change? Here’s the story of how the NBA became style-conscious and how it has benefited the league.
How fashion became a part of the NBA
Towards the end of 2004, the NBA’s public image had taken some major hits. One of the most notable was the infamous Malice at the Palace event, in which players from both the Detroit Pistons and the Indiana Pacers engaged in a brawl with each other and fans on national television.
Causal fashion choices, like baggy clothes and du-rags, also contributed to the negative image that many Americans had begun to hold against NBA players.
In an effort to repair the NBA’s image at the beginning of the 2005-2006 season, the league’s commissioner, David Stern announced the implementation of a mandatory dress code for all players.
The new rule stated that all NBA players must dress up in business or conservative attire while arriving and departing a game, on the bench while injured, and when conducting official NBA business, such as press interviews or charity events. It also banned chains, pendants, or medallions, sleeveless shirts, du-rags, and “headgear of any kind.”
Because many of the banned items represented hip hop culture, many players and fans were openly critical about the dress code, deeming it “racist.”
Leading the fight against the new rules was Allen Iverson. “They’re targeting my generation – the hip hop generation,” Iverson said during a televised interview, as reported by Rolling Stone.
However, over time, the benefits of the new dress code became apparent. Before, players would sometimes endorse athletic brands like Nike and Adidas, but with the new dress code, they were able to widen their influence into fashion and accessories. For example, when LeBron James was photographed wearing Beats headphones, sales went crazy.
But even outside of sponsorships, encouraging players to focus on their fashion choices, allowed them to develop a brand for themselves outside of basketball.
“They’re developing themselves as people, which is hard when they’ve spent most of their lives on the court,” Luke Wood, president of Beats Electronics told Esquire. “Fashion gives them the chance to actually stop and think about who they are and who they want to be.”
NBA players use fashion to build their personal brand
With the help of social media to share their fashion choices, players are now able to build themselves as an influencer and a brand. And this is extremely beneficial to players when their basketball career eventually comes to an end.
“The NBA encourages players to have businesses outside of basketball,” NBA’s Lisa Piken Koper told Esquire.
“It’s the reality of life; sometimes these careers don’t last that long and we want them to be prepared. We absolutely want them to have life after basketball and seek those interests while they’re in it. The more exposure we can get for our athletes is great.”
When a player is able to build their brand outside of basketball, they have much more success when they retire from the court. And fashion can be a huge help with that. Although the rules have relaxed somewhat since the dress code was introduced, the NBA has embraced its new role as fashion trendsetters.
Today, when players are walking off a plane, or to and from games, it’s often referred to as the “concrete runway,” because it’s a chance to show off their unique threads and style. Players can use that exposure to build their personal brand, and fashion brands benefit from the exposure as well. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.
“We all in the NBA feel like we’re fashion gurus,” Nick Young told the New York Times. “Fashion kings.”
The dress code was developed with the intention of combating image problems that had plagued the NBA in recent history. Under current NBA dress regulations, if a player does not dress to participate in a game, he must dress in a manner suitable for a coach.
All athletes look forward to game day, and most teams show that in their attire. There has always been a tradition of teams wearing certain clothing on game day to both let others know about the game and also to show their love for the team. This tradition started with the football team.
The new rule stated that all NBA players must dress up in business or conservative attire while arriving and departing a game, on the bench while injured, and when conducting official NBA business, such as press interviews or charity events.
The jerseys and bottoms of teammates must have the same color, design, and style. Opposing teams must wear different colors, with the home team typically wearing light colors and the visiting team wearing dark colors. However, both teams can mutually agree to modify this rule.
To avoid injury, a club must keep its players warm and limber while they sit on a bench or stand at the sidelines. The warmer the muscles, the more they can flex without strain.
Top athletes utilize a pre-competition or pregame routine that helps reduce distractions, minimize anxiety and allows them to slowly narrow their focus. Basically, successful athletes use pregame rituals to prepare to compete and enter the competitive mindset that best suits them for optimal performance.
Research shows that individual sport athletes sleep on average 6.5 hours a night while team sports come in at 7 hours. It was also reported that individual athletes are more prone to taking a nap.
A 2019 ESPN report cited five NBA athletic training staff members who separately noted that players netted an average six hours of sleep per 24 hours, this figure combining nightly sleep and pregame naps.
This means that in the lead up to a game, athletes have to ensure that come game time, their bodies have enough fuel to sustain a high level of performance all through. One of the best ways to do this would be to load on carbohydrates. This includes anything from rice and pasta to bread and a lot of fruit.
In conclusion, NBA players do not get new jerseys for every game. The exact frequency of when they receive new jerseys depends on several factors such as the team, the type of game, and the length of the season.
7: Shot Clock. The 'shot clock' shall refer to the timing device that displays a countdown of the time within which the team possessing the ball must attempt a field goal. The shot clock shall start at 24 seconds unless otherwise provided in Rule 7.
The NBA does not allow the number 69 to be worn by players as it carries a sexual connotation and could offend some fans. Despite Dennis Rodman seeking permission to use it when he joined the Mavericks in 1997, the league declined and he had to settle for wearing #70 instead.
Dunking IS legal during games in most of the United States, as most states have adopted the NFHS rulebook. It is NOT legal during warmups though, and is assessed as a technical foul against the player AND as an indirect technical foul to their coach, the shots being the first thing that happens once the game begins.
Curry is often seen on the sidelines with a towel over his head. Many athletes do this to cool down and soak up sweat, and Curry is often caught on camera with a towel draped over his head.
Soon football and basketball players began to wear mouthguards. In the 1950s, the American Dental Association (ADA) began to research the benefits of wearing mouth protection during contact sports, uncovering that dental injuries by athletes dropped significantly if they used a mouthguard.
What do NBA players do after games? Shower and then enter ice baths in order to regenerate their body for the next game. The players and coach will also discuss what happened in the game. The NBA players then have to complete their media obligations.
Many athletes use music in diverse ways in order to achieve a certain level of focus and concentration before a game or competition as well. Music enables them to put aside all other outside distractions in order to concentrate and envision what they want to accomplish during the game.
Endurance athletes who need to perform for long periods use meal strategies, such as glycogen loading, to accumulate glycogen in their muscles. Before a game, some athletes also avoid fatty, foods that are slow to digest and try to eat mainly familiar, easily digested, high carbohydrate foods.
Mornings. Sleep is a crucial aspect of any athlete's routine, and LeBron James is no exception. He averages 12 hours of sleep daily, usually broken down to 8-9 hours at night and three hours of napping in the afternoon.
According to a recent discussion on the Tim Ferriss Show podcast, James and his trainer Mike Mancias have stated that the basketball star strives for between eight and ten hours of sleep per night.
Nighttime eating can indeed lead to overconsumption of calories and encourage poor food choices, but for athletes it may improve recovery, increase muscle protein synthesis overnight, and even help you get to sleep faster.
players needed more sleep than the average person, about nine hours a day. Typical N.B.A. games end about 10 p.m., and with showering, eating, interviews and unwinding factored in, many players do not get to sleep until much later.
"We're like baristas on game day," Forcier says. It's a Blazers game-day ritual, carefully timed so that when the pregame meeting starts 35 minutes before tipoff, the players have a hot, fresh cup of java in hand -- their pregame pick-me-up.
Use a diet high in carbohydrates (avoid fats, grease) about 1-2 hours before game-time or practice (you need time to digest it). Players should eat enough to feel their hunger is satisfied, but not overeat or stuff themselves.
Yes, basketball players typically eat at halftime. Halftime is typically a 15-minute break in the middle of the game, during which players go to their locker rooms to rest, hydrate, and refuel for the second half of the game.
“In the first half hour after a game, Jordan and various teammates would pound down five or six beers and often fire up a cigar. It's not unusual for pro basketball players to drink beer after games. They've been doing it for decades. It helped them replace the body fluids they've sweated away.”
The energy obtained from around 55% of rich carbs like pasta, rice, bread, and fruits are the muscles' preferred source of energy, helping these athletes last a 48-minute game.
This figure was then divided across the 24 bi-weekly paychecks NBA players receive on the 1st and 15th of every month, which was the determining factor in the final rankings.
NBA players shower immediately after a game (or at least I hope so). After that, many players get into a ice bath or cryo chamber, stretch to regenerate their bodies, and then grab a huge meal. Typically I eat anything in my way after a game because I am so hungry from expending so many calories.
NBA players often change sneakers throughout a game or practice session, depending on their personal preference and the condition of their shoes. Some players may switch out their sneakers every quarter or even more frequently, while others may go for longer periods without changing.
Good quality compression wear helps protect the muscles from inflammation as well as injuries. Compression wears increase blood flow to the heart, delivering much-needed oxygen to working muscles.
Dress-up encourages creative thinking and communication skills. It also helps kids practice language development and their social skills. Playing with another child or adult requires teamwork, cooperation, and sharing. The act of putting on and taking off costumes or outfits also has physical benefits.
For instance, in track, both men and women wear body-fitting uniforms made out of lightweight material. For track, the lack of material helps them to perform better because it allows the athletes to be aerodynamic and reduces friction.
There's no rule that says you have to wear denim to a sporting event. Jeans are optional! Leather skirts, cigarette pants, paper bag, and loose-fitting trousers are all fair game. So choose your bottom of choice and select your footwear (from sneakers to over-the-knee boots) accordingly.
The way you dress for your job can affect how motivated you are to work and therefore also affect how productive you are. If you look the part, you're more likely to feel the part and will have a greater drive to do what you are supposed to do.
Children dressing up as the opposite gender is very common (almost as common, in fact, as parents who are worried about this behavior.) But rest assured, it is perfectly normal.
Dress-up play usually starts around age 24 months, and continues to evolve as toddlers grow and gain more interest in what's around them. Your 2 year-old will begin to take notice of different clothing people wear to work, what they wear outside on a cold or rainy day, or what characters in fairy tales look like.
Dress-Up Tutu's are a great tool for dramatic play. Children often use them in different ways than they are intended for, improving their creative skills and keeping them thinking outside the box.
Women's shorts: The design of women's shorts are made to fit a female waist, hips, and thighs more accurately to get the best and most comfortable fit, with shorter inseams and less room in the groin.
One such instance was when John McRoe made sexist comments towards Serena Williams, he said that if Serena Williams were to play against men, she would not even crack the top 700, disregarding her accomplishments in tennis.
“Chafing can also be caused by going commando because if the outside clothing is too rough or too tight, it's going to rub against the skin. Pants can prevent this friction by creating a layer between your delicate areas and your sports kit. The key thing is to select the right underwear when running.
Wear clothes that allow you sit, bend, crouch, run, jump, spin, roll, and even be upside-down and still remain covered and comfortable. (Dresses and skirts are not good to wear to P.E. class.)
If you attend hot football games where sporty is normal, don't be afraid to wear fabrics that are made for workouts. I tend to gravitate towards tank tops, skorts, bike shorts, etc. Items that I can sweat in and they won't be super sticky and that will hopefully give some good airflow.
The best game night dates are comfy, casual, and a little competitive. A classic outfit like this looks poised, but is actually super chill. Grab your favorite white tee or tank, layer it with an oversized sweater in a gray or neutral tone, and throw on some black leggings to complete the look.
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