NBA Continue to Push Short Sleeve Jersey, Jay Z Licensed to Represent NBA Players

In a bid to increase shirt sales, the National Basketball Association is to continue to push their short sleeve shirt idea to teams. 

According to ESPN as many as five teams will wear the short-sleeve jerseys as an alternate jersey for as much as 12 games during next season.

“We are interested in doing more short-sleeve jerseys when it makes sense,” said Patrik Nilsson, president of adidas North America.

Nilsson said Wednesday that adidas is motivated to get more fans wearing jerseys while also innovating the game jersey for the players. The company pays roughly $35 million a year to be the official apparel provider of the league through the 2016-17 season.

Sal LaRocca, the league’s executive vice president of global merchandising, revealed all teams were offered the option to wear short sleeve jerseys but Golden State Warrios were the only ones to trial it last season.

The shirt provides a different option at retail according to LaRocca who suggests this its appeal but added it was unlikely to bypass the sales of the current design of the league’s jersey any time soon.

“The life cycle of our jersey continues to be really strong,” LaRocca said. “Over the last few years, sales of our traditional tank-top basketball jersey has been growing worldwide. But we know that more men are comfortable wearing T-shirts than tank tops, so the idea that part of our consumer base would be interested in wearing a jersey with sleeves makes sense.”

Jay Z Gets Hands On with the NBA

According to ESPN Jay-Z is now licensed to work as an NBA agent for his agency Roc Nation Sports.

Ron Berkowitz, a spokesman for Roc Nation Sports, confirmed the news while also announcing Juan Perez, president of Roc Nation Sports is now certified as well to work as an agent.

Reports have suggested Jay Z has still not sold his less than 1% shares in Brooklyn Nets which would stop him from signing players as owners of NBA teams cannot represent players. 

The first NBA player Jay-Z is expected to sign is Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant, who told his agent, Rob Pelinka, in recent days that he would sign with Jay-Z.

Since announcing his intention to start a sports agency a few months ago, Jay-Z’s firm has signed New York Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano, New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith and former Notre Dame guard Skylar Diggins, who recently was selected third by the Tulsa Shock in the WNBA draft.