Lakers News: Excitement Brimming Over Debut Of Purple Nike Jersey
Game Recap: Lakers Fall To The Timberwolves In Minnesota
Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Conspicuously absent through the first few weeks of the season has been the Los Angeles Lakers purple uniforms, traditionally worn for all road games. Of course, with Nike taking over the NBA apparel contract this season, previously set customs and traditions have been thrown out the window.

Rather than be tied to home or road games, Nike designed “Icon,” “Association,” “Classic” and “Statement” editions. For the Lakers, that’s amounted to primarily wearing their yellow uniforms (Icon), with the previously Sunday-only whites (Association) mixed in.

They donned throwback Minneapolis powder blue jerseys (Classic) for a home contest with the Philadelphia 76ers earlier this month. With a slew of road games on the horizon for the Lakers, they soon will begin making a Statement.

Lakers equipment manager Carlos Maples said the anticipation of wearing purple uniforms has the team excited, via Bill Oram of the Southern California News Group:

“Everybody’s dying to wear the purple ones,” Maples said. “They’re probably our prettiest uniform.”

“It’s going to blow everybody’s mind,” Maples said. “Purple on purple, with guys matching shoes and all the accessories. Purple headbands, purple sleeves. It’s going to be very purple.”

The Lakers are first expected to wear their Statement uniforms Monday night when they are the designated road team in a matchup with the Clippers. Their first true road game after that point is Saturday, Dec. 2, against the Denver Nuggets.

While Nike required the Lakers to delay their wearing of the Statement uniforms until after Thanksgiving, it’s not believed that will be the case in years ahead. This season is the first of an eight-year apparel deal that’s believed to be worth nearly $1 billion.

Apparel rights previously lied with Adidas, who began an 11-year deal with NBA in 2006.

WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DISCUSSION? CHECK OUT THE NEW FORUM CLUB

You May Also Like

Lakers News: Larry Nance Jr. Questionable For Thursday Game Vs. Kings

In Sunday night’s game against the Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers power forward Larry Nance Jr. suffered a scary fall when chasing after a loose ball…

2014 NBA Draft: Kansas’ Joel Embiid Reportedly Declares For The Draft

[new_royalslider id=”161″] With the majority of the big-name players in college basketball…

Can Luke Walton Hold Lakers Together As Losses Mount And Concerns Loom Over Free Agency?

The Los Angeles Lakers are mired in a nine-game losing streak, complete with back-to-back blowout losses at the…

Lakers News: Lonzo Ball ‘Happy To Be Back’ After Missing 15 Games With MCL Injury

Rookie point guard Lonzo Ball made his long-awaited return on Friday night as the Los Angeles Lakers snapped their…