What's with all the tights lately?
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http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2390599
After instituting a "business casual" dress code and cracking down on the length of uniform shorts, the NBA has identified its next fashion crusade.
Dwyane Wade
David Sherman/Getty Images
D-Wade still has substance.
League and team sources have told ESPN.com that the NBA, starting next season, intends to ban the tights sported at various points this season by several players, including three MVP candidates: Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.
Although NBA officials are not publicly commenting on the issue, sources say that the league simply does not like the look of players wearing visible hose. It's believed that the league office, which already has regulations in place to curtail short lengths, can unilaterally outlaw tights by simply amending its uniform code before the 2006-07 season.
Sources say that the NBA informed its 30 teams at last month's competition committee meeting in Houston that tights would be banned immediately after All-Star Weekend. But the league wound up holding off on that ban, perhaps to avoid a new controversy after the initial furor sparked by the off-court dress code faded quickly and quietly.
Players who wish to wear tights are required to send the league a written request from a team doctor detailing a "medical need" for the leggings. That's because the league, according to sources, believes that some players are merely wearing them because they like the look.
Tight wearers
The following NBA players have been spotted wearing tights this season:
• Ray Allen, Seattle
• Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee
• Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers
• Vince Carter, New Jersey
• Eddy Curry, New York
• Samuel Dalembert, Philadelphia
• Allen Iverson, Philadelphia
• LeBron James, Cleveland
• Toni Kukoc, Milwaukee
• Rashad McCants, Minnesota
• Michael Redd, Milwaukee
• Joe Smith, Milwaukee
• Jerry Stackhouse, Dallas
• Nick Van Exel, San Antonio
• Dwyane Wade, Miami
• Chris Webber, Philadelphia
• Bonzi Wells, Sacramento
• Jason Williams, Miami
• Mo Williams, Milwaukee
-- Paul Lukas, ESPN.com
Yet there are numerous players who insist that wearing full-length spandex under their uniform shorts keeps limbs warmer and looser than anything seen previously in the NBA. Dallas Mavericks swingman Jerry Stackhouse is widely seen as the pioneer of this practice, relying on a pair of runners' tights throughout last season's playoffs to combat a longstanding groin injury.
"I'm a 100-percent advocate," Stackhouse said.
That's why the 11-year veteran felt compelled to call NBA vice president Stu Jackson directly after learning of the forthcoming ban upon returning from the All-Star break. Stackhouse bristles at the notion that he's merely trying to be fashionable, pointing out that he wears tights to every behind-closed-doors practice and shootaround.
"They've really become important to me," Stackhouse said. "I've had a couple groin injuries and they help me get comfortable. I wear thigh sleeves, too, and the tights also help keep them from sliding down my legs. They just hold everything together.
"When I talked to Stu, he was sympathetic. They don't want to be the ones causing guys to get hurt. But I don't know what the end result is going to be. I get the feeling they think it's some fashion statement or culture statement. It's really not. I'm just trying to take every preventative measure that I can."
Said Mavericks team physician T.O Souryal: "The tights provide compression. Compressed muscles fire efficiently, especially if injured. Players with muscle strains benefit from the improved circulation and support."
The sight of tights on an NBA player has inevitably been mocked by some -- Denver's Marcus Camby chastised peers for wearing "pantyhose" -- but became more commonplace this season after Bryant unveiled his leggings in November. James wore them briefly as well in January after injuring his knee, but the Cleveland star hasn't been seen in spandex for more than 25 games ... in part because he grew weary of answering so many questions about them. Bryant has since decided to play tights-free in the Los Angeles Lakers' past five games.
But Wade still wears them in Miami and so does New Jersey's Vince Carter. The team most devoted to the concept is Milwaukee, with five everyday tights-wearers after Joe Smith tried them first: Andrew Bogut, Toni Kukoc, Michael Redd and Maurice Williams in addition to Smith.
Bogut recently told the Associated Press: "I don't like how it looks, but I don't play basketball for looks."
Smith told the AP: "It's something to keep you warm. It keeps my knee from swelling up, keeps some tightness around it so it won't blow up on me when I'm out there. It's meant a lot to me."
More than five percent of the league's players have worn tights at some stage during the season, including five of its top 10 leading scorers. At least eight players that have worn tights this year -- including Bryant, James, Redd and Carter -- are Nike-sponsored athletes, and the shoe giant now sells a "pro basic" pair of tights for $35 and a "pro thermal" pair for $50.
Stackhouse, though, supplies his own tights and has been since he came up with the idea almost a year ago.
"If they ban 'em," Stackhouse said, "I'll find something else."
After instituting a "business casual" dress code and cracking down on the length of uniform shorts, the NBA has identified its next fashion crusade.
Dwyane Wade
David Sherman/Getty Images
D-Wade still has substance.
League and team sources have told ESPN.com that the NBA, starting next season, intends to ban the tights sported at various points this season by several players, including three MVP candidates: Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.
Although NBA officials are not publicly commenting on the issue, sources say that the league simply does not like the look of players wearing visible hose. It's believed that the league office, which already has regulations in place to curtail short lengths, can unilaterally outlaw tights by simply amending its uniform code before the 2006-07 season.
Sources say that the NBA informed its 30 teams at last month's competition committee meeting in Houston that tights would be banned immediately after All-Star Weekend. But the league wound up holding off on that ban, perhaps to avoid a new controversy after the initial furor sparked by the off-court dress code faded quickly and quietly.
Players who wish to wear tights are required to send the league a written request from a team doctor detailing a "medical need" for the leggings. That's because the league, according to sources, believes that some players are merely wearing them because they like the look.
Tight wearers
The following NBA players have been spotted wearing tights this season:
• Ray Allen, Seattle
• Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee
• Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers
• Vince Carter, New Jersey
• Eddy Curry, New York
• Samuel Dalembert, Philadelphia
• Allen Iverson, Philadelphia
• LeBron James, Cleveland
• Toni Kukoc, Milwaukee
• Rashad McCants, Minnesota
• Michael Redd, Milwaukee
• Joe Smith, Milwaukee
• Jerry Stackhouse, Dallas
• Nick Van Exel, San Antonio
• Dwyane Wade, Miami
• Chris Webber, Philadelphia
• Bonzi Wells, Sacramento
• Jason Williams, Miami
• Mo Williams, Milwaukee
-- Paul Lukas, ESPN.com
Yet there are numerous players who insist that wearing full-length spandex under their uniform shorts keeps limbs warmer and looser than anything seen previously in the NBA. Dallas Mavericks swingman Jerry Stackhouse is widely seen as the pioneer of this practice, relying on a pair of runners' tights throughout last season's playoffs to combat a longstanding groin injury.
"I'm a 100-percent advocate," Stackhouse said.
That's why the 11-year veteran felt compelled to call NBA vice president Stu Jackson directly after learning of the forthcoming ban upon returning from the All-Star break. Stackhouse bristles at the notion that he's merely trying to be fashionable, pointing out that he wears tights to every behind-closed-doors practice and shootaround.
"They've really become important to me," Stackhouse said. "I've had a couple groin injuries and they help me get comfortable. I wear thigh sleeves, too, and the tights also help keep them from sliding down my legs. They just hold everything together.
"When I talked to Stu, he was sympathetic. They don't want to be the ones causing guys to get hurt. But I don't know what the end result is going to be. I get the feeling they think it's some fashion statement or culture statement. It's really not. I'm just trying to take every preventative measure that I can."
Said Mavericks team physician T.O Souryal: "The tights provide compression. Compressed muscles fire efficiently, especially if injured. Players with muscle strains benefit from the improved circulation and support."
The sight of tights on an NBA player has inevitably been mocked by some -- Denver's Marcus Camby chastised peers for wearing "pantyhose" -- but became more commonplace this season after Bryant unveiled his leggings in November. James wore them briefly as well in January after injuring his knee, but the Cleveland star hasn't been seen in spandex for more than 25 games ... in part because he grew weary of answering so many questions about them. Bryant has since decided to play tights-free in the Los Angeles Lakers' past five games.
But Wade still wears them in Miami and so does New Jersey's Vince Carter. The team most devoted to the concept is Milwaukee, with five everyday tights-wearers after Joe Smith tried them first: Andrew Bogut, Toni Kukoc, Michael Redd and Maurice Williams in addition to Smith.
Bogut recently told the Associated Press: "I don't like how it looks, but I don't play basketball for looks."
Smith told the AP: "It's something to keep you warm. It keeps my knee from swelling up, keeps some tightness around it so it won't blow up on me when I'm out there. It's meant a lot to me."
More than five percent of the league's players have worn tights at some stage during the season, including five of its top 10 leading scorers. At least eight players that have worn tights this year -- including Bryant, James, Redd and Carter -- are Nike-sponsored athletes, and the shoe giant now sells a "pro basic" pair of tights for $35 and a "pro thermal" pair for $50.
Stackhouse, though, supplies his own tights and has been since he came up with the idea almost a year ago.
"If they ban 'em," Stackhouse said, "I'll find something else."
Once again, people seem to be forgetting that the league is a giant corporation. The players are contracted employees. The league can dictate what the players wear on the court.
This need for individuality on the court just seems to be what's misplaced IMHO. They're supposed to be part of a team. It's not about the individual...or it shouldn't be.
This need for individuality on the court just seems to be what's misplaced IMHO. They're supposed to be part of a team. It's not about the individual...or it shouldn't be.
T
Yes, they are contracted employees, but............this seems a little overboard.
The dress code was fine, I feel this crosses the line.
Most of the players wearing them are using them for healing/helping purposes. Some players may wear the "tights" for a "look"
, but I pity them. What are they thinking?
If this rule is in place to strip "individuality" on the court, why not enforce a rule that bans tattoos?
The dress code was fine, I feel this crosses the line.
Most of the players wearing them are using them for healing/helping purposes. Some players may wear the "tights" for a "look"
, but I pity them. What are they thinking? If this rule is in place to strip "individuality" on the court, why not enforce a rule that bans tattoos?
Eh...doesn't bother me. No different than various assortments of head/wrist bands, elbow sleeves, etc. One could argue that those are equally pointless. Also no different than the cyclical nature of style preferences when it comes to socks and shorts length. Why doesn't the league make a specific shorts length? Why not have league issued socks and shoes? How about some regulations for headbands...over the top of the ears or under? Why not dictate the ENTIRE UNIFORM??? Just seems picky and meaningless to me...this too shall pass...
I wore black "tights" when I played football in high school 15 years ago...I liked the way they felt, and darn it, I liked the way they looked, too.
I wore black "tights" when I played football in high school 15 years ago...I liked the way they felt, and darn it, I liked the way they looked, too.
T
I knew the medical reasons would be allowed with doctor's note, I didn't know it had anything to do with a specific company. Interesting. Why don't they just sign some sort of contract with them? Why not allow the tights like they allow jersey's and shoes to advertise?
I'm not for the tights personally, I find them very ballerina'ish.
Will they now outlaw long socks, like the old school days?
Soon they will regulate haircuts, and facial hair, and then.................
I'm not for the tights personally, I find them very ballerina'ish.
Will they now outlaw long socks, like the old school days?
Soon they will regulate haircuts, and facial hair, and then.................
Etan Thomas better watch it or his hair will be a casualty of this all!!!
In seriousness, I reiterate, there's nothing bothering me...These tights serve a purpose by keeping muscles warm/etc./etc.
If you want no purpose...
Go look at Ben Wallace...The guy wears bicept bands and a sweatband that goes halfway up his arm...He used to wear two of those forearm bands, and they were personally embroidered with NFZ, for "No Fly Zone."
AI and Melo's arm sleeves.
Every player that wears an embriodered elbow/bicpt band...Look for those, as a lot of players sport them...What can those be other than a fashion statement? You can't tell me a sweatband halfway up your bicept embroidered with a nackname and number helps your mechanics...
More close to home, Bonzi's bicept bands...Kenny Thomas' bicept band embroidered K9.
I mean if you ban the tights, you gotta ban any other apparel that can be deemed as a fashion.
In seriousness, I reiterate, there's nothing bothering me...These tights serve a purpose by keeping muscles warm/etc./etc.
If you want no purpose...
Go look at Ben Wallace...The guy wears bicept bands and a sweatband that goes halfway up his arm...He used to wear two of those forearm bands, and they were personally embroidered with NFZ, for "No Fly Zone."
AI and Melo's arm sleeves.
Every player that wears an embriodered elbow/bicpt band...Look for those, as a lot of players sport them...What can those be other than a fashion statement? You can't tell me a sweatband halfway up your bicept embroidered with a nackname and number helps your mechanics...
More close to home, Bonzi's bicept bands...Kenny Thomas' bicept band embroidered K9.
I mean if you ban the tights, you gotta ban any other apparel that can be deemed as a fashion.
As I think it was suggested above, why not just issue tights the way the league issues headbands to players who want them. I don't think players are allowed to wear headbands with non-league logos on them so just make the same rule about tights, but for goodness sakes don't ban something of legitimate value. I'd much rather see headbands go - they are much more useless.
Wow. Mind-bogglingly silly exercise by the NBA. Hey, how about actually thinking and doing something about the real important things to the game like the ambiguous officiating or the like? Nah, that would mean real work. Better to make up some lame *** rules to show that you are "managing" and deflect attention from the real issues. Reminds me of what happens in badly managed companies.
I wasn't the one who made the decision. I was simply trying to find some kind of logic where none seemed to be jumping out.
I still think they look stupid, however.
And AGAIN - the guys with medical reasons for wearing the tights are not going to be banned from wearing them. The fashion-statement crowd, however, is going to have to find something else..
I was simply trying to find some kind of logic where none seemed to be jumping out.I still think they look stupid, however.
And AGAIN - the guys with medical reasons for wearing the tights are not going to be banned from wearing them. The fashion-statement crowd, however, is going to have to find something else..
