Stern Lecture
Posted October 23, 2005, 1:11 PM ET

NBA Commissioner David Stern unleashed a ruling last week that caused quite a debate, and it had nothing to do with basketball…or did it?

Last week, the NBA announced that players would have to adhere to a new dress code. The bling-bling had been replaced by Brooks Brothers.

As I mentioned on my TV commentary, it was the biggest wardrobe malfunction since Janet Jackson’s last appearance at the Super Bowl.

NBA players were not pleased with the news that their throwback jerseys, excessive jewelry, headbands and hip-hop look had been eliminated from the NBA dress code handbook. David Stern wants the players to clean up their act and become more acceptable to mainstream America…or at least that’s the way I interpreted the ruling.

Is it asking too much of multi-millionaires to dress the part? It was a hot topic last week on my radio show, and it was interesting to listen to the masses.

The Indiana Pacers’ Stephen Jackson said it was a racist decision.

The San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan said it was a load of crap and the decision was retarded.

But some folks liked the call by David Stern.

Charles Barkley thinks the ruling will have a positive effect since many of the players have an influence on the younger generation. Barkley believes that kids will see the NBA players dressed to the nines in suits and will try to do the same in their respective lives.

LA Lakers coach, Phil Jackson, said that the players have been wearing prison garb for the past 5 or 6 years and it was time to do something about it.

My favorite item of the issue involved the Charlotte Bobcats' Brevin Knight. Knight was quoted in the USA Today as stating that if the players were forced to wear suits, then he would like to receive a voucher of some kind for his clothing expenses.

That’s hilarious…and pathetic. Knight will receive a base salary of roughly 4.6 million bucks for the 2005-06 season. Trust me on this one, BK can afford a decent suit and wardrobe.

The Dallas Mavericks' owner Mark Cuban had the best idea of the entire lot. Cuban (who might be the worst dresser of any owner in pro sports) believes that each NBA team should determine the dress code and standard for their respective team…not Stern or a bunch of “suits” in New York City. Cuban claims that the teams have the best handle on what is acceptable and not acceptable in their own markets…..and he’s right.

Regardless of how you feel about Stern’s decision, one thing is obvious…the NBA should be about basketball, not fashion. Unless the game improves, and soon…nobody is going to care what the players wear away from the court. And if you disagree with my statement and you believe that fashion is vitally important to the league, then the NBA is in deep, deep trouble.

I can see it now, the Bobcats lose their tenth straight game…but doesn’t Emeka Okafor look sharp in his new customized suit from Taylor, Richards and Conger? Don’t worry about Raymond Felton’s assist to turnover ratio, because he’s looking great after the game in his new Armani blazer and slacks….I think you understand my point.

It would seem to me that guys who are making millions of dollars would have the common sense to present themselves in the right light when it comes to public appearances and representing the team that they play for in a positive manner…..If they can’t do that, perhaps owners can hire babysitters to dress them every day….of course, that might not be a bad idea. Somebody might mention that to David Stern.

After all the news last week, I’m shocked that Reebok and Nike haven’t unveiled their new "business casual" line. I think it is only a matter of time.