The NBA has unveiled a new line of apparel for Pride Month, the likes of which hasn't been done before in men's professional sports, to our knowledge.
The League, in conjunction with Teespring, has created T-shirts of every one of the NBA's 30 teams that feature each team's logo in rainbows. The shirts will be available exclusively on Teespring, and proceeds from the sales of the shirts will benefit GLSEN, which has had a multiyear partnership with the NBA dating back to PSAs the league cut with GLSEN in 2011.
"Professional sports showing up for LGBT people is one of the biggest cultural developments of the last decade, and really the last five years," GLSEN executive director Eliza Byard told Outsports. "The NBA has been showing up for LGBT youth and for GLSEN for a number of years. Having this be a league-wide initiative, knowing any LGBT fan in the country can choose to celebrate their team and themselves with one of those shirts, that's a whole new thing."
Major League Baseball and the NHL saw some of their teams get the rainbow-logo treatment last year when 47 Brand created a limited Pride line. The NBA’s new Pride series with Teespring is the first time one of the Big Four sports leagues has painted each of its teams logos in rainbow.
For Teespring, a social-commerce platform, this is their second partnership with the NBA, the first being with a handful of musicians.
"Our first collaboration with the NBA was a success, so we truly are excited to partner with the League again, this time for a great cause," said Morrie Eisenberg, Teespring VP of Business Development & Partnerships. "We're thrilled to work with the NBA and GLSEN to bring life this collection to life and help fans around the country celebrate PRIDE month in a unique and creative way."
You can get your favorite team's Pride T-shirt by clicking here.
