Only the gold jerseys are currently commercially available despite high demandLAKERS
The Lakers unveiled their new uniforms for the '18-19 season, featuring a "throwback look" to the '80s Showtime era, according to Dan Loumena of the L.A. TIMES. The numbers feature a "drop shadow" like the uniforms from the '80s. The Lakers’ purple “statement” jerseys have the "biggest design change, with black piping down each side" (LATIMES.com, 7/31). ESPN.com's Paul Lukas noted the flat white numbers that the Lakers had used since '99 have been "replaced by purple block-shadowed numbers that evoke the team's old design." But the new block-shadowing "isn't as strong or as distinctive as the older version -- it's sort of a halfway version that doesn't feel as satisfying." The Lakers have "eliminated the panels on the jersey" -- except for the "statement" jerseys. Ditching the panels on the gold and white jerseys is a "classic case of addition by subtraction, but the black panel on the purple jersey is a misstep." Overall, it is an "upgrade, although not as good as it could have been" (ESPN.com, 7/31).
FLYING OFF THE SHELVES: In California, Kyle Goon notes the Lakers team store in El Segundo had 300 "authentic gold jerseys ready for sale" yesterday morning. By 2:00pm PT, the store had "nearly run out of stock." The jerseys come in gold, white and purple, but "only the gold was commercially available in El Segundo." More jerseys are "expected soon to meet burgeoning demand" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 8/1).
