After a string of high-profile tears to their jerseys during the early part of the NBA season, Nike announced on Monday that it’s ‘working to implement a solution’ and correct the problem.
“Nike has always put the athlete at the center of everything we do and we have worked hard to create the most advanced uniforms in the history of the NBA,” the company said in the statement via ESPN. “They are lighter and deliver great mobility and sweat wicking characteristics, and the feedback from players has been overwhelmingly positive. However, during game play we have seen a small number of athletes experience significant jersey tears. We are very concerned to see any game day tear and are working to implement a solution that involves standardizing the embellishment process and enhancing the seam strength of game day jerseys. The quality and performance of our products are of utmost importance and we are working with the NBA and teams to avoid this happening in the future.”
Nike, who signed an eight-year, $1 billion deal with the NBA that started this season, did not reveal how many of its jerseys would be discarded as the result of these tears, nor did they give a guaranteed timeline on a fix.
Over the first few weeks of the season, more than a handful of NBA superstars have not only seen their jerseys torn, but in some cases, literally ripped to shreds.
A compilation video of some of the tears had recently been put together and it immediately went viral on social media.
The one saving grace for Nike has been a lack of complaints from consumers who have purchased the authentic jerseys, which range anywhere from $100 to $250.
