Jimmy Butler. Montrezl Harrell. Jrue Holiday. Maurice Harkless. Mike Scott.
That’s just a handful of the NBA players who wore ninja-style headbands last season — but will not next season. Because Nike hasn’t had the chance to properly market these yet there were concerns from teams and the headbands were not reviewed by the competition committee, the league has banned them for next season while they are reviewed, NBA spokesman Mike Bass confirmed to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
The NBA notified teams that it won't allow players to wear "ninja-style headwear" this season, NBA spokesman Mike Bass tells ESPN. The headwear "...hasn't been through the league approval process. Teams have raised concerns regarding safety and consistency of size, length ..."
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 9, 2019
Bass: "When some players began wearing them last season, we didn't want to cause a disruption by intervening midseason..." NBA notified teams in May that the headwear "would not be a part of this seasons uniforms." https://t.co/23IjTaoT8v
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 9, 2019
Competition Committee is discussing issue in meetings today. As Bass said, teams raised concern about size, length "how they are tied which requires a thorough review before consideration of any rule change." Among players who wore them: Jimmy Butler, Jrue Holiday, Jarrett Allen. https://t.co/Agak7SLS9V
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 9, 2019
This still strikes me has more marketing and making sure their apparel partner gets in on the act more than concerns about the length of the headband tail off the back or anything else. I can’t recall or find video of a foul from a player pulling on the back of a headband or anything of that ilk.
If the NBA wants to make the headbands uniform, that’s the business. And I expect in a year — after the competition committee review — they will be available for players to wear, just with a Nike swoosh (they already sell those) or a team logo on them.
And you’ll be able to buy them online. This is the NBA, everything must be monetized.
