Iman Shumpert was THIS close to getting in big trouble with NBA commissioner David Stern over, um, a haircut.
What is so bad about a haircut? Well, apparently the adidas logo Shump shaved into the back of his head is against the NBA’s rules.
According to the NBA rulebook, players are allowed to support a certain logo on their sneakers, but nowhere else. Iman had to hit up his barber and get the logo [that only lasted for one game,] erased.
In a quick Instagram post Iman wrote:
“#banned…sry @nba didn’t realize there were branding issues wit da logo #iPUToN.”
Luckily for Shump the issue got cleared up pretty quickly, but there have been quite a few things the NBA has banned in the past that weren’t as easily curable.
Let’s take a look…
The Air Jordan I:
On September 15th, 1985, Nike unleashed the first installment of the Air Jordan series in the form of the Air Jordan I.
On October 18th, 1985, NBA commissioner David Stern officially banned Michael Jordan’s Air Jordan I from the NBA courts for failure to meet the on-court dress code. Stern declared that MJ’s shoes did not properly match the Chicago Bulls jerseys. David Stern fined Michael Jordan $5,000 every time he stepped on the court in the Air Jordan I. Nike willingly paid MJ’s fine every game, as the shoe company discovered the potential of excessive notoriety. Obviously the ban has since been lifted.
The NBA Dress Code
On October 17, 2005, NBA commissioner David Stern announced the implementation of a mandatory dress code for all NBA and NBA Development League players. Stern’s dress code stated that all players must dress in business or conservative attire while arriving and departing during a scheduled game, on the bench while injured, and when conducting official NBA business (press interviews, charity events, etc.) The dress code banned fashions most often associated with hip-hop culture, specifically: Hardwood Classics jerseys (or any other jersey), jeans, hats, do-rags, t-shirts, large jewelry, sneakers and Timberlands.
Taunting
In 2011 the NBA banned the taunting of other players. According to the NBA’s rules, if a player blatantly taunts an opponent, a technical foul shall be assessed. The opponent will not, automatically, be assessed a technical foul. His behavior will be the determining factor. So basically, stare downs and excessively hanging on to the rim after dunking in someone’s face is not tolerated. Save that for the video games.
Athletic Propulsion Labs (APL)
In 2010, for the first time in its 64-year history, the NBA banned APL shoes based on the league’s rule against an “unfair competitive advantage” that increases a player’s vertical leap. The league’s ban on Athletic Propulsion Labs’ Concept 1 confirms the company’s claims that the shoe, with its Load ‘N LaunchTM Technology, performs as advertised.
Athletic Propulsion Labs (APL) was notified by a senior NBA official who stated, “League rules regulate the footwear that players may wear during an NBA game. Under league rules, players may not wear any shoe during a game ‘that creates an undue competitive advantage (e.g., to increase a player’s vertical leap).’ In light of that rule…players will not be permitted to wear the APL shoes during NBA games.”
Noise Makers
This may not be banned throughout the entire NBA, however the Staples Center in L.A. banned ALL noisemakers, “so if you bring a vuvuzela you would not be able to bring it in with you.” The players do have to concentrate, after all.
