Miami Heat post-coronavirus uniforms could usher in compression gear and masks

Miami Heat players could sport slightly new looks for post coronavirus games. Bruises, cuts and scrapes come with the territory during the course of a game. How will NBA medical staffs handle those points of entry for viruses? PPG might take on another meaning, i.e. from Points Per Game to Personal Protection Gear.

The compression leggings commonly seen in the NBA would serve the necessary medical purpose on the court, per an ESPN article from 2006, “Players who wish to wear tights are required to send the league a written request from a team doctor detailing a ‘medical need’ for the leggings. That’s because the league, according to sources, believes that some players are merely wearing them because they like the look.”

The NBA is fairly strict in what it normally allows players to wear during games, “As you may have heard, the NBA has banned the “Ninja-style” headbands that became popular with several players last year. Whatever you may think of this move, it’s hardly the first time the league has banished an accessory from the hardcourt. Here’s a selective timeline of NBA gear that has sent to the showers.”

These are not normal times, so we’ll how the league handles the situation. If tights and other protective gear become generally permissible, can non-transparent face masks be allowed by the NBA?

Since Nike supplies the uniforms, an agreement between them and the NBA would need to be done quickly before permitting in-game modifications. If changes are even possible at this stage of the season.

Discussions on scheduling changes have reached serious proportions. NBA uniform adjustments might not be far behind as new versions of Miami Vice gear roll out. The LeBron James version of “The Dark Knight” became infamous. Time to rethink its utility in today’s times?