NBA Dress Code

[cdt]

Proposed dress code doesn't suit some NBA players
ESPN.com news services

The idea of an off-the-court dress code isn't sitting well with some NBA players.

Though it hasn't been finalized yet, players have been warned a dress code likely will be instituted this season for team functions. Players will have to wear business casual clothes -- such as a sport coat and slacks -- for all team affairs. Commissioner David Stern told The Boston Globe that the dress code would exclude jeans.

Team functions would include team flights, traveling to and from games and at public appearances. The Atlanta-Journal Constitution reported the dress code would be backed up by NBA fines.

"The dress code is, to me, a continuation of things," Stern told The Globe. "It's a small thing that contributes to a sense of professionalism. It's what the job entails. We've always moved to the fashion of our players. Years ago, the fashion was a jacket and tie. Now, it's a much more casual approach. But our referees are always attired a certain way based upon their job description when they come into the building. Our coaches are attired a certain way when they come on the court. We decided that it was time [for the players]."

The Hawks' Josh Childress is one of the players who thinks the NBA is "taking this thing too far."

"I understand where they're coming from. We all need to be neat and professional. But to ask us to wear suits everywhere, even at a hotel at 2 a.m. I think that's a bit much," Childress told the Journal-Constitution.

Allen Iverson told The Philadelphia Daily News he will fight any new dress code.

"I dress to make myself comfortable," Iverson told the Philadelphia Daily News. "I really do have a problem with it. ... It's just not right. It's something I'll fight for."

Childress told the Journal-Constitution that a dress code is something that should be phased in gradually.

"Listen, if they wanted to do this thing gradually I could understand that," Childress told the newspaper. "Say you want us to wear slacks and a shirt this year, and then next year add jackets and whatever. But to do it all at once is just more than I think is necessary, to just jump up and say wear suits or you get fined is nuts."

Players union president Antonio Davis told USA Today the union wouldn't be opposed to a dress code, but even he was only willing to go so far.

"I don't think it's fair for them to tell you exactly how to dress," Davis told the newspaper. "You can't say no jeans. I've seen businessmen in jeans, a sports coat and nice shirt, and you say that's classy."

This isn't going to go over well, this means no more giant headphones no more baseball caps, throwback jerseys sneakers and stuff, they are going overboard with this garbage I'd boycott it, what is it gonna be a 1k fine? LeBron could play 20 years and hardly feel a dent.

 

[Karma]

I disagree CDT. I believe with all the off court dramas the players continue to get themselves into, the NBA is trying its best to get a professional look to this sport. The players are damaging the games reputation daily, so they should not complain. For the dollars they are earning, this is a small sacrifice. Who really cares if it ain't got the street cred.

 

[PIP]

I find it funny that players like David Robinson, Joe Dumars, Clyde Drexler and all the older greats that carried themselves in a proffesional manner never had a problem with it (or voice an opinion on it).. They were all class...

The nba has gone to complete trash these days, it will be nice to see a more proffesional look like the old days..

It's time to grow up little High School Ballers....

 

[West Remy]

Being brutally and I mean totally honest, this dress code is nothing more than "coded" fears. The league is more urban and when people speak of professionalism in this setting, it's a rebellion against the dominant style players wear in the NBA. I've heard supporters of this code say "It's all about appealing to the larger demographic and making the league look more sanitary." That's sort of coded language to say it's about changing the image of the league from a predominantly inner-city hip-hop style to one more mainstream and less threatening. Ridiculous.

 

[Karma]

Not at all West Remy. Its about the NBA catching up with any professional sport. I don't find their dress threatening, I find it lacks class.

 

[PIP]

Then they should just say it.. It's time to get the game back to the look and feel before this inner city style took place.. These KIDS playing in the nba don't own the league.

The NBA doesn't need this, many of these guys like IVERSON forget it's a PRIVILEGE to play in the NBA and not a god given right.. They don't need him to succeed.

If your employer tells you, you need to dress this way in order to be here, then you do it... Otherwise, go thru the door that says EXIT if you don't want too..

Ever since 96-97 when IVERSON and MARBURY came into the league, (along with the influx of these high school kids) the nba has gone down the drain with the exception of the first year when there was a buzz about it.

It's not cute anymore...

Either you do what your boss says, or you find another place to work.. IT'S THAT SIMPLE.

 

[West Remy]

Not at all West Remy. Its about the NBA catching up with any professional sport. I don't find their dress threatening, I find it lacks class.

I find it completely unnecessary. This isn't life or death. It's tinkering with something just to give the image of being more wholesome, politically correct and sanitized. Looking professional while on the sidelines of a game? I didn't know that was necessary or even really something of importance (for good or bad).

 

[West Remy]

Then they should just say it.. It's time to get the game back to the look and feel before this inner city style took place.. These KIDS playing in the nba don't own the league.

I don't think it's a matter of taking the game back. The game is what it is. Life goes in cycles and things change. In time, the current image of the league now is going to change as well into to something new and different. I'm more more in favor of letting nature take its course and people being themselves. People always talk about the "good old days" and tend to oversensationalize the past. Each generation swears their way of doing things was the best.

Either you do what your boss says, or you find another place to work.. IT'S THAT SIMPLE.

Yes, you do have to do what your boss tells you. But you can always question his reasoning. If the rule is set, most players will follow the rule. But like I said, this seems awfully "coded" to me and is the politically correct way for saying "I don't like you inner city kids dressing like this, giving this image and what not. Be more middle class and everything will be alright." In certain places of work like a hospital or court room, I can understand. But a basketball court? Not really. For community service or what not? Absolutely. But to watch a basketball game? I don't see that.

 

[Rimage]

I only care about people being professional when they affect me personally. I want my insurance agent to look professional. I want my lawyer to look professional. I want my finacial advisor to look professional because those are serious things.

I don't care how professional my favorite player looks. It is an entertainment business. Guys dressing the way they want is part of that entertainment to me. Darius Miles being thugged, Reggie Miller wearing a V-neck sweater vest and Karl Malone sporting a cowboy hat is part of the FUN of the NBA. I like those guys being those characters.

I don't want the NBA to be like an office area which is about as mundane as it gets. Stern doesn't seem to understand his own business.

 

[PIP]

I'm just all for it.. Because at least IMO it is starting to look bad.

This wouldn't even be a problem if the NBA said, you follow our DRESS CODE or you're GONE . PERIOD!!!! You give them those options, and everyone will keep their mouths shut..

How the NBA wants their product to look is up to them, and that is the way it should be..Those guys work for the NBA.

I'm pretty sure those who are not in the NBA would accept it in a second.. These guys seem to want to run this league and don't understand their place in it.

Perhaps they should look around and take notice to their 7 cars and mansion that the NBA provided for them, take a look into their bank account and realize what the nba provided for them.

For them to bitch about this is stupid, the JOB that pays them millions upon millions doesn't ask that much of em'...

If they want to Play in the NBA and be paid Millions ? Follow the rules and accept them.

If they want to Dress like A Street Ball reject, Go play street Ball.

 

[E-Light]

It's a sound business decision by stern.

It's not about how you think you dress, it's about how your percieved in business. There's a lot of money out there to be had, and you want to be perceived through rosey colored glasses, in every part of your business, and every person who's associated with your business.

This is a small step in upper classing the nba.

The nba has an image right now of a league of thugs. The nba can stay a league of thugs, all that needs to change is peoples perceptions of the league, and a dress code is a small beginning step.

 

[Karma]

LeBronsPip is correct. The NBA are the bosses and I don't understand how this effects anyone. This is not a class or racial debate. The players are looked after, and should have no problem following a few guidelines. I'm sure the NBA players have better ways of expressing themselves then through dress. If that is their statement, well they are lacking something.

 

[West Remy]

I'm with Rimage in that basketball players are entertainers. If you see a doctor or a lawyer, then you expect to see suits. Everything in life has its time and place. There are some places and situations where a suit is appropriate and other times when it is not. You have to respect your superiors because they have power over you. But unless this rule is really coming from a pure and good place, it's simply flexing muscles as far as I'm concerned. This situation is like many others in life. You have a major problem and instead of addressing the issue, you pass lower laws or customs to create a smoke screen. The problem itself is still standing but the illusion of grand change is about because you made new rules. You changed the perception but failed to change reality. If people want to overly concern themselves with images (my concern lies more with people), so be it. If I were a player, I'd honestly fight that. This rule seems much like a parent telling their child "Because I said so." Yeah, you're in charge and you're the boss and people have to follow your rules. But if you go about things like that, expect people to obey you but not have a shred of respect for you.

 

[PIP]

I know what you're saying WR

But the NBA is trying to make things a little neater, as they were getting out of control.. (I seen Kwame Brown in a ribbed tank top on the bench last year)

The nba is doing this to everyone and it is not a true race issue it the Principle. This would have applied to a guy like Luke Jackson and his baby blue Polo's and Jeans from last year.. Just like it would for a guy like Qyntel Woods and his sagging jeans and large white t-shirt.

Regardless of the job, they are doing the same thing like McDonald's you don't see everyone wearing different apperal there. Or like you said a doctor's office..

IMO there is nothing wrong with trying to improve the apperance of your business.. These players are the business and the NBA is taking contol of their business.

 

[Rimage]

Just doesn't need to happen. I don't care if players decided to go shirtless post game interviews. That is funny to me. That is fairly entertaining...that is part of the characters of the NBA. You don't have that sort of individuality in baseball, and as a result, I find the players in baseball fairly boring. NBA is all about personalization, style and flash. The sport for the most part is attractive to a younger audience...and it is doing very well finacially. Stern just wants his league to be more "respectable", but he and people like him are the only ones that seem to care or want this to happen. I say like Allen Iverson look street and let Scot Pollard look a like a fashionista. What is making the players dress up going to do to make anything better for the league. I personally like it better without it.

There is nothing wrong with it, just seems like Stern wants it to happen so the league is more to his liking (straight laced businessman) and not to the paying demographics (younger who like and relate to pop culture).