Thursday, January 22nd, 2009 at 11:00 am  |  64 responses

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The All-Star Uniforms Can Give You Wings … Allegedly

by Marcel Mutoni

Each year, for its mid-season extravaganza, the NBA and its various business partners get together and unleash a hideous set of uniforms on an unsuspecting public. After the initial shock, we grudgingly accept the garments and agree to suffer through them for an evening.

This season, the uniforms are once again sharply displeasing to the eye, but they’re technologically advanced! Supposedly.

USA Today explains:

The specially made uniforms for the Feb. 15 All-Star Game in Phoenix (the starters will be announced at 7 p.m. Thursday on TNT) are the lightest and most technologically advanced to wear. They are 30% lighter than traditional uniforms. Previously, layers of twill were sewn together, making the uniforms heavier. The new ones also allow less friction because of the reduction of seams.

The Techfit PowerWeb compression-base layer, worn underneath the uniform, can improve a player’s vertical jump by 4%, said Lawrence Norman, vice president of global basketball for Adidas: “This is more revolutionary than evolutionary. These products can help you play better.”

A 4% increase in vertical leaping ability might not sound like a lot to you, but it’s pretty considerable if said player already possesses a 40-inch vert. They might just have to raise the rims in Phoenix come February 15th.