Making a fashion statement
‘Miami Vice’ attire will be in team’s uniform rotation
MIAMI — Nothing will be impromptu this season when it comes to Miami Heat fashion statements.
That apparently includes another touch of Vice.
In order to make it easier for fans to dress like the players, the NBA has made public a style guide of sorts (https://lockervision. nba.com/) that lists every detail of each game’s ensemble.
The Heat’s Wednesday night season opener against the Orlando Magic at the Amway Center? “Statement” red jerseys.
Thursday night’s attire against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Center? Another round of “Statement” red.
From there, instead of traditional white for Saturday’s home opener against the Charlotte Hornets at AmericanAirlines Arena, it will be the team’s “Icon” black jerseys with the red trim.
The Heat, in fact, will not play in white until the Oct. 24 home game against the New York Knicks, when the choice is the “Association” traditional style.
Last season, for the first time, the NBA allowed home teams to select the uniform style of their choice, no longer designating home or road colors. The opposition then was required to wear a contrasting style on the approved television color palette. In recent years, the Heat had alternated between red and black road uniforms depending on if they had won in a specific color. Now the palette is decided well in advance, win or lose.
The Heat will stay with their traditional mix until the Nov. 9 home game against the Indiana Pacers, when they are listed in “City” jerseys that have yet to be unveiled. They are scheduled to wear that style into December.
That’s where it gets interesting, as well as with the only description of what the Heat will wear for their Dec. 28 home game against the Cleveland Cavaliers as “coming soon.”
Games with the “coming soon” designation continue into January.
It was last January when the Heat formally unveiled their “Vice” uniforms, a white jersey with pink and blue neon pastels accents marketed as reflecting “neon pink sunrises and electric blue nights.”
Based on early leaks of an internal, private presentation by Michael McCullough, the Heat’s chief marketing officer, the Heat will feature dark editions of such jerseys this season, as well as a “Vice”-themed court, a hardwood first for the franchise.
McCullough declined comment recently when asked of the leaked socialmedia posts of the presentation, offering only a smile when asked if it, indeed, was him photographed holding one of the jerseys. He also declined to discuss the timing of jersey-style releases.
Heat fans embraced the look last season to the degree that “Vice” jerseys went on extended back order once Dwyane Wade arrived and No. 3 editions were sought.
“I love it. I absolutely love it,” coach Erik Spoelstra said last season of going with the neon pastel hues. “It was one of my favorite TV shows growing up. I had a totally different view on Miami before I moved here and that was my perception of it.
“I think it’s awesome. If I had any guts, I would show up in a Miami Vice suit. I don’t. I don’t think I can grow a mustache in time. But I think it’s brilliant. It captures so much of the ‘80s culture of Miami and the players can have fun with it.”
The Heat won a Clio Grand award for last season’s “Vice” uniform. The Clio Awards recognize “innovation and creative excellence in advertising, design and communications.”
Of that accolade, McCullough said at the time, “We’re grateful to Heat Nation for embracing the Vice uniform and campaign as they did.”
As for something new being on the way for the Heat this season, in his 2018-19 NBA League Pass Rankings, ESPN’s Zach Lowe wrote earlier this month, “I am sworn to secrecy about the yet-to-beunveiled uniforms and, umm, accompanying art, but let’s just say they are perfect. I don’t even know how the players on either team will be able to perform basketball things when the Heat wear them.” Asts: A: 3-ptrs: 3-ptrs: Rebs: