There has been much controversy this season over the NBA and its sleeved jerseys. Some players such as LeBron James have complained about it affecting their shooting and what not, but it looks the league could listen in on this and maybe even get rid of the sleeved jerseys.
The league has been using the sleeved jerseys since the Golden State Warriors brought it in last season. Teams like the Phoenix Suns joined and then, boom, it became the official uniform for the Christmas Day 2013 games and now for the upcoming 2014 NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans.
However, the league is looking to make a few extra bucks by releasing these new jerseys and so far it appears to be working. But if the players all ultimately decide they are not a fan of it, we may finally se the sleeved jerseys disappear for good, according to Bleacher Report's Ric Bucher:
“We don’t have any intention to do anything that is going to compromise the play on the court or that the players are against doing,” Sal LaRocca, the NBA’s executive vice president of global merchandising said. …
In any case, LaRocca said plans for next year’s Christmas Day uniforms and the 2015 All-Star Game already are being discussed. If the All-Stars make it clear they don’t like the look or feel of this year’s uniforms, the league will respond accordingly.
“If the feedback is that the players don’t want to wear them, we won’t,” LaRocca said. “We are 50-50 partners with the players in everything we do.”
Player's responses have worked in the past, such as when the league introduced a new basketball a few years ago. However, it was done with quickly as they went back to the leather basketball.
This could happen again with the sleeved jerseys, but don't bank on it yet.
Consumers are buying these jerseys actually and the sales have been way better than expected, according to Pro Basketball Talk. Adding in that the players receive a 50-50 revenue split with this, the money factor could be enough to keep the sleeved jerseys.
