Bridges extended from Oakland’s Golden Gate to the Far East this Friday gone as the hot Steph Curry led Golden State Warriors debuted some special, traditional, new jerseys to help celebrate Chinese New Year.
The jerseys worn against the San Antonio Spurs last week also made an appearance last night against Washington and will also feature on the road against Brooklyn, March 2nd. Before coming to a special event, celebratory close, New Year party on the fourth, back home at the Oracle against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Representing the huge fan base in the Asian community the Warriors have reached new records in their Golden State merch sales. These cool sleeved numbers, based on their cool, charcoal, Golden ‘Slate’ alternative jerseys, feature hallmark yellow and red trim and Chinese characters next to the infamous, cult classic club logo of the bridge that joins these two powerhouses. This is one for the jersey collectors like this years awesome All-Star duds. Lets hope this new honouring homage trend continues like those political statement correct ‘Los’ jerseys.
NBA jerseys have been more than game garments for play since this leagues inception. Especially with the team logo of your favourite franchise being proudly placed front and centre to pop with passion. Add this with the individual players name and number, meaning you can be a fan of another team and still represent your favourite player (maybe unless living in the greater Los Angeles area) and basketball tops become more than just another sweat vest.
The only thing that could spoil this is those dreaded soccer like sponsorships fronting new jerseys, just like they’ve ruined the WNBA. We much prefer this look sharing something of cultural importance, instead of commercial one for gratuitous gain. The soaring Houston Rockets also got in the act with a sweet, sleeved red number featuring the Rockets name in Chinese characters (lets hope it doesn’t actually say something offensive) and a gold patch on the side arm.
This celebration for Lunar New Year comes from a team that changed their identity to red and white and Asian styled typography the year they drafted the great Chinese legend Yao Ming. These jerseys that will be in play for a week certainly hyped more than the Asian community, as James Harden continued his bid for MVP with a terrific triple-double of 31 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists also leaving the skillful Ricky Rubio on his behind, after a sick crossover that put the Garnett recharged Minnesota Timberwolves down 113-102.
Look closer however and you can see that this idea was first coined over a decade back in 2003 from the R. in R&B R. Kelly who featured jerseys like this in the video for his hit ‘Thoia Thoing’. Check the Harlem Globetrotters, Sweet Georgia Brown remix and you can see that this ‘Space Jam’ man who believed he could fly knows how to ball!
Still now with the West representing the Far East and showing basketball has no borders, the whole world knows just how much the NBA cares for its off court culture on the floor.
From all of us at BasketballBuzz, Canada, we wish you a Happy Lunar New Year!
