NBA teams to approve ads on jerseys

Owners from around the league are set to vote this week on the future of NBA jerseys with rumours suggesting that the majority will approve ads being displayed on jerseys.

Commissioner Adam Silver spoke on ESPN with Rachel Nichols and argued that the move will ultimately benefit basketball and that detractors of the proposal have no ground on which to stand.

"So let's begin by saying this isn't going to affect the competition. What we're talking about is a patch on the jersey. And one of the reasons we want to do it is that it creates an additional investment in those companies in the league ... the amplification we get from those sponsors, those marketing partners of the league, who want to attach to our teams and our players."

Silver continued "but once they put their name on the jerseys, they'll then use their media to promote the NBA extensively. That's probably the greatest reason for us to do it."

This year marked the first time an ad was placed on an NBA jersey with a small KIA patch being stitched onto the All-Star jerseys in Toronto. Unsurprisingly the players were relatively apathetic to the idea.

Reigning MVP Steph Curry said "it's different and obviously I'm sure that nothing's going to stop that train from coming, but just like with the sleeve jerseys and all that, something that the league is going to do."

"It won't impact the game at all, but we'll see how it looks. I don't want it to be too gimmicky where we're walking ads for everything."

The patch is an incognito 2.5-by-2.5-inch patch on the left shoulder and will see a strong boost in revenue for the NBA.

Reports suggest that the income will be split in half, with 50% going to the team itself and 50% being allocated to the league revenue sharing pool.

We can only hope that the league doesn't turn into one big moving advertisement.