New All-Star jersey alert! The 65th NBA All-Star game will be played in Toronto on February 14, 2016, and the players will be rocking the jerseys you see above, courtesy of adidas. The uniforms pay homage to the passionate Toronto basketball fans and the history of basketball in the area. Now the question is, who will earn the right to put one on?
Here’s the official press release from the NBA and adidas:
TORONTO (Dec. 3, 2015) – adidas, the official on-court apparel provider for the National Basketball Association (NBA), today unveiled the uniforms and apparel collection for the 65th NBA All-Star Game on Feb. 14 in Toronto. The uniforms incorporate elements indigenous to Canada and pay homage to Toronto’s NBA history, passionate basketball fans and cosmopolitan energy.
“This is the first NBA All-Star Game to be played outside the United States, and it is a very exciting time for basketball in Canada,” said Chris Grancio, adidas global basketball general manager. “To honor this global celebration and pay tribute to Toronto – the site of the NBA’s first game – we’ve incorporated design elements that are inspired by the city’s basketball history, sports culture and unique fashion scene to make an All-Star collection that players and fans will love.”
The red-and-white Western Conference and white-and-blue Eastern Conference uniforms feature a maple leaf overlay on the front of the jerseys as a tribute to the national symbol of Canada, while Toronto’s cityscape is featured across the back to represent the host city. Clean, single-layered fonts are a nod to the NBA’s early days in Toronto, where the first NBA game was played on Nov. 1, 1946, between the Toronto Huskies and New York Knickerbockers.
A star patch that incorporates the maple leaf and NBA logo is displayed on the upper back of the uniforms, while black-and-gold jock tags display the Toronto Raptors’ alternate team colors and claw logo. Featured on the jersey’s neck liner and shorts’ draw strings is a mosaic of flag colors that represent the multinational makeup of the league’s players.
The NBA All-Stars will sport warm-ups that embrace Toronto’s winter fashion and style. Black and heather gray fleece jackets include star patches that acknowledge the number of NBA All-Star appearances for each player, while patches on the right zipper pocket call out the game’s top accolades, including: Kia NBA Most Valuable Player, Kia NBA Rookie of the Year, NBA All-Star Game MVP and NBA Championships. The on-court warm-ups also include a performance fleece shooting shirt and tapered pant with white and gold trim.
NBA All-Star jerseys ($70 – $110), as well as a full range of NBA All-Star apparel, including adult and youth T-shirts ($20 – $30), adult track jackets ($110 – $200) and headwear ($20 – $26), will be available on NBAStore.com in January. Select NBA All-Star merchandise will also be available internationally on NBAStore.eu and NBAStore.cn.
