Nike will soon take over as the official uniform and apparel provider of the NBA, WNBA, and G-League — but not yet.
As draft hopefuls went through workouts for NBA teams, they were outfitted in Adidas gear. The same was true for rookie/free-agent camp leading into summer league play. Multiple sources briefed on the NBA’s uniform plans tell VigilantSports.com that teams will continue to wear Adidas uniforms and other gear through summer league.
On June 10, 2015, Nike agreed to an eight-year deal with the NBA, WNBA, and G-League to be their official supplier of uniforms and apparel. Adidas’ contract is still in place, but that changes in the fall prior to the 2017-18 NBA season.
An email to a Nike spokesman was not immediately returned.
Nike will supply all 30 teams with uniforms and socks, in addition to other team apparel. It is a much-anticipated change for the players in the locker room — that is for certain.
There’s a reason the Pacers’ gift shop held a 50-percent off sale, and nearly all of the Adidas gear, including jerseys, are sold out. And team equipment managers are cleaning out their closets in preparation of the mass shipments to arrive. Orders were placed well in advance.
Nike will also become the first apparel company to have its logo on the NBA uniform. It will appear on the right side of the player jersey, just below the shoulder (and opposite a sponsor logo.)
“This partnership with NIKE represents a new paradigm in the structure of our global merchandising business,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said back in 2015. “As our exclusive oncourt apparel provider, NIKE will be instrumental in our collective efforts to grow the game globally while applying the latest in technology to the design of our uniforms and oncourt products.”