The league has been talking about adopting the soccer approach and adding company ads to NBA jerseys for some years now and it looks like it is happening sooner than you may think.
Owners are meeting this week to talk about the proposal, which is set to be approved, and officially bring ads to player jerseys in the form of a patch on the left shoulder. The ads were actually part of the deal for the recently signed national TV and apparel deals that will see Nike takeover for Adidas as the league’s official uniform provider starting in 2017.
From the proposal, teams will keep 50 percent of the sponsorship money, while the other 50 percent will go to the revenue-sharing pool for all teams in the league.
Adam Silver had to this to say about the new jersey plan moving forward.
“It’s manifest destiny. So let’s begin by saying this isn’t going to affect the competition. What we’re talking about is a patch on the jersey. And one of the reasons we want to do it is that it creates an additional investment in those companies in the league … the amplification we get from those sponsors, those marketing partners of the league, who want to attach to our teams and our players. But once they put their name on the jerseys, they’ll then use their media to promote the NBA extensively. That’s probably the greatest reason for us to do it.”
Basically, it’s all about the paper.
UPDATE: Owners have approved the plan, which will bring the 2.5-by-2.5-inch patch to NBA jerseys starting on the 2017-18 season when Nike starts making the uniforms. Teams can now begin to pitch companies to be featured and organizations can ultimately make $4-6 million per year from the new partnerships. Jerseys at retail will not include the sponsored logos, though teams will have the option to sell those as well.