http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/13694642p-14537417c.html
By Joe Davidson
Dress the part.
That's the theme about to be handed down in some form or fashion by the NBA to its players. Nothing is officially in writing just yet, but all indications are that such a move likely means out with baggy jeans, retro jerseys, hats and do-rags for some, Wranglers, hunting hats and belt buckles the size of a hub cap to others, and - hello! - a sudden surge in Big and Tall outlet sales.
Commissioner David Stern said he wants players to be more accessible to the public, with more appearances, and the boss wants the men who represent his league to clean it up a bit, from shirts to shoes.
Across the league, athletes are wearing a look of skepticism. Some marquee - and impressionable players of note such as Allen Iverson - have promised not to adhere to any code. Iverson doesn't wear his hats straight. He loves the throwback jerseys. And the first time the Philadelphia 76ers superstar wears a suit of any sort might be the first time.
"I really do have a problem with it," he told 76ers media. "It's just not right. Just because you put a guy in a tuxedo doesn't mean he's a good guy."
Others such as Tim Duncan have also spoken. The San Antonio Spurs leader, with as spotless an image as you'll find and one to wear an untucked button-down shirt with jeans, has said that he will contest any strict dress code.
Doug Christie of the Dallas Mavericks said by phone the other day that he can understand to a point what the NBA is trying to convey, how society views players and their image and that sometimes the perception is that players are "not dressing up to status quo."
"But the bottom line," Christie said, "is a suit has never done a thing for a basketball player. It's shorts and tank tops that we wear."
Stern told the Boston Globe that "the dress code is, to me, a continuation of things. It's a small thing that contributes to a sense of professionalism. It's what the job entails."
Pat Riley, president of the Miami Heat, said he supports a dress code.
Miami guard Gary Payton said Stern is trying to "get our image back." Kenny Thomas of the Kings said if the league implements a code of sportcoats, "that's a little much. I can understand if a guy is hurt and he's on the bench that he shouldn't be in sweats or jeans."
Utah Jazz center Greg Ostertag, he of the Wrangler jeans and the massive belt buckles, told Utah media, "I don't mind if they clean it up a little. But they can go without them ... sports coats ... They're going to get the worst-looking (sportcoat) on me they've ever seen. I'll go buy one off a guy on the street."
Brad Miller of the Kings likes to wear a camouflage hat and jeans or Chicago Cubs garb. Teammate Mike Bibby relishes his collection of throwback jerseys and sweats. Neither is too keen on a dress code. Neither is Bonzi Wells, a Kings newcomer who feels at home in sweats.
"I know guys got a little outrageous last year, but wearing suits would be tough for a lot of guys night in and night out because a lot of guys haven't worn suits their whole lives. I could wear slacks and a polo and feel just as comfortable as a suit.
"Hopefully, they can be a little more lenient and work with us instead of just going ahead and telling us when we should do something. (But) who am I? It's all about the higher-ups in this league."
Kings coach Rick Adelman, a member of the NBA as a player or coach for more than three decades, said there has never been an official league dress code.
"When I played we flew commercial all the time, and that's a lot different than (the NBA) on charters now," he said.
"Hopefully, (the NBA only) makes (a dress code mandatory) for when guys are sitting on the bench out of uniform, when they're being interviewed or for a public appearance.
"That's all understandable. If they take it to travel, I don't know if that's realistic. We got on the plane a lot of times after practice or a game and guys ice down or have treatment. Hopefully, they thought that through."
And who will police any of this? The coach, who already has plenty on his mind besides fashion critique.
"It's a league thing," Adelman said. "They're going to have cameras (when games are televised), people observing." Utah coach Jerry Sloan said players have little room to complain in general, saying, "If you don't like this business, you can always go work somewhere else."
By Joe Davidson
Dress the part.
That's the theme about to be handed down in some form or fashion by the NBA to its players. Nothing is officially in writing just yet, but all indications are that such a move likely means out with baggy jeans, retro jerseys, hats and do-rags for some, Wranglers, hunting hats and belt buckles the size of a hub cap to others, and - hello! - a sudden surge in Big and Tall outlet sales.
Commissioner David Stern said he wants players to be more accessible to the public, with more appearances, and the boss wants the men who represent his league to clean it up a bit, from shirts to shoes.
Across the league, athletes are wearing a look of skepticism. Some marquee - and impressionable players of note such as Allen Iverson - have promised not to adhere to any code. Iverson doesn't wear his hats straight. He loves the throwback jerseys. And the first time the Philadelphia 76ers superstar wears a suit of any sort might be the first time.
"I really do have a problem with it," he told 76ers media. "It's just not right. Just because you put a guy in a tuxedo doesn't mean he's a good guy."
Others such as Tim Duncan have also spoken. The San Antonio Spurs leader, with as spotless an image as you'll find and one to wear an untucked button-down shirt with jeans, has said that he will contest any strict dress code.
Doug Christie of the Dallas Mavericks said by phone the other day that he can understand to a point what the NBA is trying to convey, how society views players and their image and that sometimes the perception is that players are "not dressing up to status quo."
"But the bottom line," Christie said, "is a suit has never done a thing for a basketball player. It's shorts and tank tops that we wear."
Stern told the Boston Globe that "the dress code is, to me, a continuation of things. It's a small thing that contributes to a sense of professionalism. It's what the job entails."
Pat Riley, president of the Miami Heat, said he supports a dress code.
Miami guard Gary Payton said Stern is trying to "get our image back." Kenny Thomas of the Kings said if the league implements a code of sportcoats, "that's a little much. I can understand if a guy is hurt and he's on the bench that he shouldn't be in sweats or jeans."
Utah Jazz center Greg Ostertag, he of the Wrangler jeans and the massive belt buckles, told Utah media, "I don't mind if they clean it up a little. But they can go without them ... sports coats ... They're going to get the worst-looking (sportcoat) on me they've ever seen. I'll go buy one off a guy on the street."
Brad Miller of the Kings likes to wear a camouflage hat and jeans or Chicago Cubs garb. Teammate Mike Bibby relishes his collection of throwback jerseys and sweats. Neither is too keen on a dress code. Neither is Bonzi Wells, a Kings newcomer who feels at home in sweats.
"I know guys got a little outrageous last year, but wearing suits would be tough for a lot of guys night in and night out because a lot of guys haven't worn suits their whole lives. I could wear slacks and a polo and feel just as comfortable as a suit.
"Hopefully, they can be a little more lenient and work with us instead of just going ahead and telling us when we should do something. (But) who am I? It's all about the higher-ups in this league."
Kings coach Rick Adelman, a member of the NBA as a player or coach for more than three decades, said there has never been an official league dress code.
"When I played we flew commercial all the time, and that's a lot different than (the NBA) on charters now," he said.
"Hopefully, (the NBA only) makes (a dress code mandatory) for when guys are sitting on the bench out of uniform, when they're being interviewed or for a public appearance.
"That's all understandable. If they take it to travel, I don't know if that's realistic. We got on the plane a lot of times after practice or a game and guys ice down or have treatment. Hopefully, they thought that through."
And who will police any of this? The coach, who already has plenty on his mind besides fashion critique.
"It's a league thing," Adelman said. "They're going to have cameras (when games are televised), people observing." Utah coach Jerry Sloan said players have little room to complain in general, saying, "If you don't like this business, you can always go work somewhere else."
