The Heat unveiled their "Sunset Vice" collection yesterday as part of Nike's Earned Edition uniforms, marking the "first time an NBA team will wear an entire uniform that's laser fuchsia, a color that's close to pink," according to Anthony Chiang of the MIAMI HERALD. The Heat will wear the jerseys in "three home games" against the Raptors (Dec. 26), Cavaliers (Dec. 28) and T'Wolves (Dec. 30). Heat Exec VP & CMO Michael McCullough said that the team initially had "some trepidation" about creating the jerseys. McCullough: "But the excitement outweighed it. It ended up being such a unique look, and really a Miami-kind of look." Chiang notes the "Sunset Vice" jerseys "drew mixed reactions from Heat players." F Udonis Haslem said, "Pink is not my color." The jerseys are the third uniform of the Heat's Vice campaign, which "began last season." The first jersey, released last year, is "white with pink, black and powder blue accents." The other Vice Edition jerseys are black (MIAMIHERALD.com, 12/12). Heat C Bam Adebayo said of the jerseys, "I like them. We're going to go out there and look like some cheerleaders, though." F Josh Richardson: "We shouldn't have problems turning it over to the other team, we'll be bright." G Dwyane Wade said, "Wow ... they're colorful. It was a surprise to all of us, very different" (South Florida SUN SENTINEL, 12/13).
EARNED, NOT GIVEN: In Portland, Sean Meagher noted the Trail Blazers yesterday also "unveiled new 'Earned' uniforms," which "closely resemble the previously released 'City' edition unis, reading Rip City across the chest with the black sash over the all red jersey" (Portland OREGONIAN, 12/13). NBCSPORTSNORTHWEST.com wrote the Trail Blazers' jerseys are "absolute fire." While many teams have "selected to wear" their Earned Edition jerseys on Christmas Day, the Trail Blazers have "decided to dub their new wardrobe" against the Warriors on Dec. 29 (NBCSPORTSNORTHWEST.com, 12/12).
