NBA to begin selling jersey sponsorships in 2017-18
NBA commissioner Adam Silver announces that the 2018 NBA All-Star Game will be in Los Angeles at a news conference at Staples Center on March 22, 2016 in Los Angeles. Credit: Getty Images / Sean M. Haffey
The NBA will begin selling jersey sponsorships in 2017-18, becoming the first major North American sport to put partners’ logos on players’ uniforms.
The three-year trial was approved Friday by NBA owners and will take effect when the league’s contract with Nike begins. The patches will appear on the front left of the jersey, opposite Nike’s logo, and measure about 2 1/2 by 2 1/2 inches.
Logos appear on international soccer jerseys and many athletes in individual sports wear their sponsors’ attire in competition.
Commissioner Adam Silver had said this step was inevitable as an additional revenue generator. WNBA teams already have logos, and NBA clubs were wearing them on practice jerseys.
The sponsor patch will not appear in retail versions of the jerseys, but clubs can sell jerseys with sponsor patches in their team stores.
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