NBA Dress Code

[Documad]

Because it's going to improve their image?


From the NBA: We know that you share our desire that NBA players be appreciated not only for their extraordinary talent and hard work, but also for their accessibility to fans, their community service, and their professionalism – both on and off the court. To that end, we will be instituting, effective with the start of the regular season, a league-wide “minimum” dress code. Many teams have previously issued their own dress codes, designed to demonstrate the seriousness with which their players take the representation of their teams, their cities, and our league; our new dress code is not intended to affect any of those that are more formal than what is set forth below:
1. General Policy: Business Casual
Players are required to wear Business Casual attire whenever they are engaged in team or league business.
"Business Casual" attire means:
- A long or short-sleeved dress shirt (collared or turtleneck), and/or a sweater.
- Dress slacks, khaki pants, or dress jeans.
- Appropriate shoes and socks, including dress shoes, dress boots, or other presentable shoes, but not including sneakers, sandals, flip-flops, or work boots.
- "Team or league business" includes all activity conducted on behalf of the team or the league during which the player is seen by, or interacts with, fans, business partners, members of the public, the media, or other third parties. It includes arriving at games (car or team bus to locker room), leaving games (locker room to team bus or car), attending games when not in uniform, participating in team or league events with business partners or in the community, conducting media interviews, and making promotional or other appearances.
2. Exceptions to Business Casual
There are the following exceptions to the general policy of Business Casual attire:
a. Players In Attendance At Games But Not In Uniform
Players who are in attendance at games but not in uniform are required to wear the following additional items when seated on the bench or in the stands during the game:
Sport Coat
Dress shoes or boots, and socks
b. Players Leaving the Arena
Players leaving the arena may wear either Business Casual attire or neat warm-up suits issued by their teams.
c. Special Events or Appearances
Teams can make exceptions to the Business Casual policy for special events or player appearances where other attire is appropriate -- e.g., participation in a basketball clinic.
3. Excluded Items
The following is a list of items that players are not allowed to wear at any time while on team or league business:
- Sleeveless shirts
- Shorts
- T-shirts, jerseys, or sports apparel (unless appropriate for the event (e.g., a basketball clinic), team-identified, and approved by the team)
- Headgear of any kind while a player is sitting on the bench or in the stands at a game, during media interviews, or during a team or league event or appearance (unless appropriate for the event or appearance, team-identified, and approved by the team)
- Chains, pendants, or medallions worn over the player's clothes
- Sunglasses while indoors
- Headphones (other than on the team bus or plane, or in the team locker room)
We know it's not possible to create a dress policy that will anticipate every possible situation. Our policy will therefore be interpreted in all cases to ensure that players are neatly and professionally attired, while not being unfairly burdensome.
Thank you in advance for your continued cooperation. Good luck to all for the 2005-06 season.

[ToucanSpam]

what the fuck is this?

[Documad]

American basketball would like its professional players to be "less hip hop".

[ToucanSpam]

This is the stupidest shit I've ever read. Thanks for posting this Documad, this is really interesting.....

[CrankItUp!]

-Sunglasses while indoors :confused:

[ToucanSpam]

It's complete bullshit, telling them what to wear.

[Documad]

They can't wear sneakers to or from the game. :p

[buddylee]

Nothing
But
Africans

Has lost it ! They play a sport , No sneakers?

[TurdBerglar]

i can understand this


the nba wants to have a more professional appearance i guess

[CrankItUp!]

I agree with this one.
Why ? They aren't "stoned-out" rock stars.

[Kid Presentable]

American basketball would like its professional players to be "less hip hop".

I'd like Australian Footballers to be "More Hip Hop".

[CrankItUp!]

Wearing sunglasses indoors is not cool, no matter who you are.
Cops do it all the time.

[Tzar]

I'd like Australian Footballers to be "More Hip Hop".
pahahah bollocks!
they're all metro at the moment. i wanna see more bogans. i wanna see them crack open a can of beer after a match - not powerade.

[CrankItUp!]

Yeah beer ! - fuck that Powerade shit ! (y)

[Kid Presentable]

pahahah bollocks!
they're all metro at the moment. i wanna see more bogans. i wanna see them crack open a can of beer after a match - not powerade.

They need to lose the 'Fashion' part of their 'Fashion Mullets'.

I'd like to see them start a knife fight.

[Tzar]

They need to lose the 'Fashion' part of their 'Fashion Mullets'.

I'd like to see them start a knife fight.
my mate, coincedently, reckons jeff farmer has a knife in his sock. and he's a dockers supporter.

the games i've been to with him; he screams out "WATCH OUT - JEFF'S GOT A KNIFE! HE'LL FUCK YOU UP!"

[Kid Presentable]

my mate, coincedently, reckons jeff farmer has a knife in his sock. and he's a dockers supporter.

the games i've been to with him; he screams out "WATCH OUT - JEFF'S GOT A KNIFE! HE'LL FUCK YOU UP!"

Whenever you watch the Eagles, ask Cousins for a 50 of charlie.

[Tzar]

Whenever you watch the Eagles, ask Cousins for a 50 of charlie.
pah! Eagles...
PAH!


Port is where it's at. cept Byron Pickett ain't there anymore. :( to the max

[Kid Presentable]

I still hunt the streets of Perth for you, hitmonlee and miss bhaven, yo.

[Tzar]

I still hunt the streets of Perth for you, hitmonlee and miss bhaven, yo.
i'm going into north to the bridge tomorrow night. probably black bettys with miss_bhaven. come along - i'll shout ya one.

[Justin]

I dont like the rule. Some players like to dress business like and they all do to award banquets. Nobody wants to see allen iverson in a suit and tie.

Think about it. Do you see Nascar drivers, horse jockeys, or any other sport have a code like this. NO! Its stupid!

I personally would wear the business attire because thats how i would like to carry myself, but its not for everyone

[Kid Presentable]

i'm going into north to the bridge tomorrow night. probably black bettys with miss_bhaven. come along - i'll shout ya one.

Workin. (n)

[jabumbo]

theres probably a reason for this all

david stern is probably the best commisioner out of all the major american sports...just saying...





the nba still sucks though

[CJM]

i can't see how they'd agree to that shit....STRIKE!

[Gareth]

I think it's a load of crap. I understand what they're trying to do with [forbidding] hats and 'do rags and [retro] jerseys and stuff. That's fine. But I don't understand why they would take it to this level. I think it's basically retarded...I don't like the direction they're going, but who am I?

I have no problem dressing up ... because I know I'm a nice-looking guy. But as far as chains, I definitely feel that's a racial statement. Almost 100 percent of the guys in the league who are young and black wear big chains. So I definitely don't agree with that at all.

godbless him, i love stephen jackson.

I think they're coming on way too strict. Movie stars in L.A., they're not always in jackets and ties, and they're setting trends, and we're looked at in the same light.

shut up.

I'm a dresser, so it's not going to be that much of a change for me.

this is true, jalen rose has style.

[jabumbo]

^ i can't imagine tim duncan saying crap and retarded...

[Gareth]

you calling me a liar?

[ms.peachy]

I don't understand why people have a problem with this. If you are part of an organisation, that organisation has a right to set expectations of how its members will appear and behave in professional settings. I certainly know this is true of the one I work for; why would the NBA be any different? They are well within their rights to set a certain standard.

[yeahwho]

Hey I think those fuckers ought to quit being so tall all the time too.

Fucking bullshit how they show up all tall and shit.

They should hunch when they enter the arena.

[YoungRemy]

I don't see the rest of corporate America complaining that they can't wear tanktops and du-rags to work...

thats what the NBA is, a corporation...

and many businesses and corporations have dresscodes, this is no different.

this has to do with looking like a professional when you come to work...

[g-mile7]

I don't understand why people have a problem with this. If you are part of an organisation, that organisation has a right to set expectations of how its members will appear and behave in professional settings. I certainly know this is true of the one I work for; why would the NBA be any different? They are well within their rights to set a certain standard.


the fact is there alot of worry that this has alot to do with the whole Ron Artest issue, keep in mind that the league is backed by people who love to promote the whole hip-hop image (Rebook, Nike etc.) so this doesnt make sense in terms of this. It comes down to this the league is trying to fix their image sadly the whole hip-hop image is still being labeled as a sterotype of a thug....the local newswriter said in the Sac Bee that this is to make the people looks less threating and more professional....and I agree to an extent. But people that compare the NBA to a actual business such as a law firm are off slightly....it is in all aspect to the players still a game. The players might be employed by the league but their only job is the game they are not going to meetings and making decisons about the league....like the guys in suits. David Stern is not racist....but to say that this doesnt have ANY racial impact is flawed...this isnt the first time the NBA has discirmante on freedom of expression (ex: speak bad about the ref fine your ass fined, speak bad bout the comish your ass fined) thats what I have a problem with....this rule is just to keep the older, majority white heads in the league happy....and to keep the "field 'iggas" in check.


Originally Posted by stephen jackson
I have no problem dressing up ... because I know I'm a nice-looking guy. But as far as chains, I definitely feel that's a racial statement. Almost 100 percent of the guys in the league who are young and black wear big chains. So I definitely don't agree with that at all.


this statement is true to me. What is the reason to have them dress in suits? I see nothing professional about a game that a damn child can play, sure the skill level is diffrent but it's core is a child's game.Thats the main diffrence between the NBA and other main corps....In the end it's changing the image for the kids and their parents because the one's with the money, able to go to the games and what not are not of the "hip-hop/black" crowd....these are the ones with the money to buy the hip-hop shit in bulk in the first place.This way the league doesnt send a bad message to them....yet another sterotype influnceing decisions. Once again, David Stren or whoever is not racisit (cuz I know someone will try and get at me bout that) but like Stephen Jackosn said to discirmnate against a certain style that is known to be created by blacks is on that plain'...I figure I add my 2pennies on the sitution given the obvious reason.......











I'm a fan of sunglasses in doors :) (y)

[g-mile7]

Jason Richardson wants to keep wearing his gold chains, and the Golden State Warriors guard believes the NBA's new dress code takes aim at black players in the league.

He's calling for the players' association to fight the new wardrobe rules announced this week that will go into effect when the season kicks off next month.


"They want to sway away from the hip-hop generation," Richardson said Wednesday night, before the Warriors beat the Phoenix Suns in a preseason game. "You think of hip-hop right now and think of things that happen like gangs having shootouts in front of radio stations."
Richardson, who describes his style as "different" and says he won't be caught as a "copy cat," left the Oakland Arena wearing a camouflage zip-up sweatshirt, a long necklace with a diamond-encrusted triangle at the end, and a beige cap slightly tilted to one side.


"One thing to me that was kind of racist was you can't wear chains outside your clothing," he said. "I don't understand what that has to do with being business approachable. ... You wear a suit you still could be a crook. You see all that happened with Enron and Martha Stewart. Just because you dress a certain way doesn't mean you're that way. Hey, a guy could come in with baggy jeans, a do-rag and have a Ph.D. and a person who comes in with a suit could be a three-time felon."

Players will be required to wear business-casual attire when involved in team or league business. They can't wear visible chains, pendants or medallions over their clothes.

Some players already acknowledge they probably will face fines for breaking the rules on occasion.

"I feel like if they want us to dress a certain way, they should pay for our clothes," said Philadelphia's Allen Iverson. "It's just tough, man, knowing that all of a sudden you have to have a dress code out of nowhere. I don't think that's going to help the image of the league at all. ... It kind of makes it fake. The whole thing is fake."


The NBA announced Monday in a memo to teams that a dress code will go into effect at the start of the season. Saying players must dress in "business casual" attire, the league banned items such as sleeveless shirts, shorts, sunglasses while indoors, and headphones during team or league business.

The edict also requires players on the bench not in uniform to wear sport jackets, shoes and socks. Richardson doesn't object to that part of the rule.

Warriors coach Mike Montgomery believes players should look "like a member of a basketball team" while on the bench.

"The other area is certainly an area for debate," Montgomery said. "We'll just have to see it plays out. I understand both sides of the argument."

Indiana guard Stephen Jackson, who like Richardson is black, agrees that the policy is trying to keep players from expressing their hip-hop style. Celtics guard Paul Pierce also shares that sentiment.
"I dress how I feel anyway," Pierce said Wednesday night in Boston. "I think I'm just going to continue to dress how I feel. I think there's some days I may take a fine."

In protest of the policy, Jackson wore four chains to the Pacers' exhibition game against San Antonio on Tuesday night. Jackson defended his actions Wednesday, but said he won't allow his feelings to cause a distraction once the regular season starts.

"They don't want your chains to be out, all gaudy and shiny. But that's the point of them," he said. "I love wearing my jewelry. But I love my job. I love playing basketball more than I love getting fined and getting suspended."

Richardson has always liked to express himself with his funky attire. Now, he knows he will be wearing his suits much more often _ noting "I've got a nice collection of suits."

He doesn't mind the league mandate for "cleaning up" the bench, but believes a large number of players make their way to and from their cars out of the public view, so they should be able to wear what they want in those cases.

"You're expressing yourself, expressing your identity. It's taking away our self expression. I like to dress and change it up," Richardson said. "Some of them have religious meanings behind their chains, others have personal messages behind their chains. Some guys just like to wear them. I think that was an indirectly racial."


Source: Associated Press

[ms.peachy]

I don't agree that their job is 'only the game'. Part of their job is also representing the organisation. Whether they like it or not, whether it's what they think they signed up for or not, they are part of the corporate machine. They can do what they like on their own time, but when they are entering/exiting the stadium, attending games, making public appearances etc, they're on the clock and on company time.

[g-mile7]

I don't agree that their job is 'only the game'. Part of their job is also representing the organisation. Whether they like it or not, whether it's what they think they signed up for or not, they are part of the corporate machine. They can do what they like on their own time, but when they are entering/exiting the stadium, attending games, making public appearances etc, they're on the clock and on company time.



I do see your point. As players there image must represent that which the league wants...and being a thug is certainley not what they want, let alone any buisness. I still dont like it though, but the way their paid they really shoudlnt be that angry about it either...still I really dont think too many ghetto kids (cuz ghetto kids are the suppoosed lost souls they trying to influence) are going see Ron Artest in a suit and think "WOW! I WANT TO DRESS JUST LIKE HIM" a suit is not going change a person...I think we put way too much emphaisis on image anyway....to say that this is alright to do in our society is flawed. Too much emphasis is being thrown on clothes and not the individual his/herself.

[Documad]

I understand that dress codes are legitimate (we have a strict one where I work). What troubles me is the reason behind this--to make basketball players more palatable to white america and to compete with nascar. I'd also like to know who set the dress code--was it a bunch of old white men trying to get young black men to be less black?

[yeahwho]

I understand that dress codes are legitimate (we have a strict one where I work). What troubles me is the reason behind this--to make basketball players more palatable to white america and to compete with nascar. I'd also like to know who set the dress code--was it a bunch of old white men trying to get young black men to be less black?

Bill Cosby

[TurdBerglar]

if the nba was full of a bunch of white dudes dressing like the assholes from the eighties hairbands, they would of done the same thing. but since it's black people dressing like current day hip hop artists, the dress code is considered racist? dressing like an asshole is dressing like an asshole no matter what race you are. i think the people behind the dress code want their organization to be more professional. i can respect that. these guys are being payed millions upon millions to play a silly little game. not dressing like an asshole while on the job is the least they can do. they and the rest of the population have absolutely nothing to bitch about.

[Documad]

If I were a player, I'd follow the code in the most loud and obnoxious manner possible. Tight 70s polyester suits in vibrant colors. Like the old school Knicks. They would be begging me to wear sneakers and track suits again.

[yeahwho]

If I were a player, I'd follow the code in the most loud and obnoxious manner possible. Tight 70s polyester suits in vibrant colors. Like the old school Knicks. They would be begging me to wear sneakers and track suits again.

The NBA is sort of a freak show already. But it's funny how the peak years were when Dennis Rodman was playing.

[Documad]

Yeah, the Dennis Rodman era was worth watching.

My old boss justified our dress code because the early Green Bay Packers had one. We told him he was not Lombardi.