HOOPSWORLD | Basketball News & NBA Rumors

by Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY Sports

Nearly 30 years ago – in the midst of Patrick Ewing wearing a t-shirt under his Georgetown jersey – Rick Welts envisioned a short-sleeve NBA game jersey.

But it didn’t work out for the NBA or Welts, who at the time was a marketing executive with the league office.

“(NBA Deputy Commissioner) Russ Granik and I spent quite a bit of time trying to figure out a way at that point if there was a way to create the short-sleeve jersey,” Welts said. “Frankly, from a technology and performance standpoint, we really couldn’t get to a point where we thought we had a jersey that worked. It was a big disappointment. We thought the timing was perfect.”

The timing is perfect for the NBA today.

With technological advances in material and construction, Welts’ idea will reach fruition on Feb. 22 when the Golden State Warriors debut a short-sleeve jersey against the San Antonio Spurs.

Adidas and the Warriors, where Welts is now president and chief operating officer, unveiled the short-sleeve jersey Monday. It is lighter than the regular tank-top style jersey, according to adidas.

“For me and for the organization, we’re trying to set a really different path for the Warriors,” said Welts, who always has been on the cutting edge of NBA progress. “Going forward, we see ourselves at the edge of innovation and hopefully performance. We’re really excited about it.”

Golden State will also wear the short-sleeve jersey on March 8 against the Houston Rockets and March 15 against the Chicago Bulls and possibly other games.

“It’s the newest in line of innovations we’ve brought to the table by adidas Basketball that unites performance with bold, unique styles for players and fans, from the court to street,” Lawrence Norman, vice president of adidas global basketball, said.

“The importance of this is this is the beginning of a change with regards to the way players look on court and the way fans support their teams.”

This new uniform, shorts included, is made with 60% recycled material and adidas’ ClimaCool ventilation system and is more comfortable and 26% lighter than Golden State’s regular uniforms. Even with short sleeves, the … [For more on Adidas unveils short sleeve jersey for Warriors, click here.]