“Look good play good is a scientific fact.”
No that’s not Bill Nye, or even John Brenkus. It’s David Cho who has the awesome but also daunting task of working on the NBA All-Star uniforms for adidas.
This year in Toronto though, it’s really not about science, it’s about history. While from our home court seats in America, T-Dot might seem more like a satellite for global growth of the game rather than a hoops haven, the truth is The 6’s hardwood heritage goes way deeper than Vince Carter’s arm in the rim. As a country, Canada claims fame to the creator of the game of basketball, the great Dr. James Naismith, and is the home to the most international players in the league. As for Toronto, the city set to host their first ever All-Star Game actually played host to the first ever NBA game nearly seven decades ago.
Worth the wait, this season’s All-Star uniforms show nods to the host city and home team with an appreciation for history and an eye for detail. The overall palette pays homage to the iconic All-Star uniforms worn throughout the influential ’80s, while the white/blue blend on the home East kits show shades of the original Toronto Huskies team. Carrying on the All-Star color story, a classic red/white combo outfits the visiting West.
The most obvious ode to The North — the maple leaf — appears in the subtlest of fashions on the jersey front, taking up the negative space beneath the perforations. The outline appears again on the shorts in sharper styling, paving the way for a clawed star, shouting out the home team Raptors.
A city skyline caps off the jersey’s back neckline in two-tone fashion, with the maple leaf appearing once more in star studded fashion. On the inside of the neckline and the short strings, the simple palette takes a vacation in favor of a vivid print that pays homage to the international influence of the game, created by blending the colors of the flags that represent the home countries of recent and future All-Stars.
Toronto’s rich NBA history will be further solidified this February as they host the first NBA All-Star Game played outside of the US. With the jerseys set to go on sale next month, check out detailed images of the 2016 NBA All-Star uniforms below and tune into Nice Kicks later on today for a look at the special edition warm-up jackets also set to outfit this year’s All-Stars.
