This is more than just a wardrobe change.
The new uniforms unveiled Thursday represent something bigger to the players. The pinstripes that came to be synonymous with the Reggie Miller-led teams are gone. This new, fresher, sleeker look symbolizes the next generation of Indiana teams.
"Now, (fans) not only get to see the Pacers without Reggie Miller, but with new uniforms," said Jermaine O'Neal. "Some of the old-school people will get a look at a new-school uniform and a new-school team."
O'Neal and Stephen Jackson served as the models for the unveiling, which took place in front of a curious crowd in the Entry Pavilion of Conseco Fieldhouse. The uniforms are the 11th in franchise history, and have a clean and classic look featuring the traditional blue and gold, with a new accent of gray on the uniform and added to the logo.
"Regardless of what the uniforms look like, we still have Pacers on our chest and we still have to go out and represent the Pacers the best we can, that's the main thing," said Jackson. "We've got to go out and win games regardless of what we have on. The uniforms are definitely great because we feel like it's a new beginning this year getting everybody back and we're trying to start our own new thing. Reggie's gone, and we're just trying to bring a championship back with these uniforms."
Reebok Senior Design Director Robert Lee said the company's goal was to tie together the team's past with its future.
"As a design group we always try to look at evolution to revolution," said Lee. "Knowing the franchise's tradition, and with Larry (Bird) and Mr. (Donnie) Walsh, it was important to really go from the beginning to the end and look at all their marks, all their uniforms and what worked. ...
"It was real important for us to make sure we looked at the past. We just tied their identity together."
The jerseys and shorts consist of a different fabric on the front and back. The front and inserts are made of Play Dry metallic stretch air. The back is made of Play Dry flatback mesh, an open hole mesh allowing for more breathability. This marks the first time a NBA team will wear a jersey consisting of different fabric on the front and back.
The addition of gray as a tertiary color gives the uniform and logo a classic and timeless look representing quality and refinement. The “Pacers” wordmark has been stylized to be cohesive with the font used on the uniforms. A secondary logo was created which was inspired by the center court logo of the playing floor. The secondary logo appears on the uniforms in the insert of the shorts.
"The one thing I've noticed about our new uniforms is the players aren't complaining too much," said Bird. "If they're happy, we're happy. Even Stephen Jackson looks good.
"I like 'em, my kids like 'em, and we just hope everybody likes 'em. It's a real clean look, a sleek look, something not only our fans will like but people around the country will take notice."
Details of the design of the uniforms, as well as alterations to the logo system, follow.
UNIFORMS
The uniforms have an updated identity including a refined primary logo, new secondary logo and new home and road uniforms.
The home white jersey has gold inserts and blue/white/gray braid. The inserts have an organic flow up into the arms and down into the leg. The curves are inspired by the moving and cutting of a basketball player and from the path a race car would take around a turn. The insert is tied together with a unique neckline that flows into the chest of the player.
The road blue jersey is similar to the home jersey, but with blue inserts and a gold/white/gray braid.
The fabric of the uniform will consist of a different fabric on the front and back. The front and inserts of the jersey are made with Play Dry metallic stretch air. The back of the jersey is a Play Dry flatback mesh, which is an open hole mesh allowing for slightly more breathability in a key area of perspiration. This marks the first time a NBA team will wear a jersey consisting of different fabric on the front and back. This concept was tested in the 2005 NBA All-Star Game.
“PACERS” is the featured wordmark on the home jersey in blue with a gold outline. “INDIANA” is the featured wordmark on the road jersey in white with a gold outline. The numbers on the front and back are consistent with the wordmarks. The opposite wordmark of each jersey is found directly embroidered on the center back of the shorts.
The secondary logo appears on both sides of the shorts in a classic spot inside the insert.
LOGO SYSTEM
Blue and gold colors remain with gray added as a tertiary accent color. Gray is a classic, timeless color that represents quality and refinement.
The “Pacers” wordmark has been stylized to be cohesive with the same font that appears on the home and road uniform. The font will be used on a more consistent basis through the identity.
The secondary “center court logo” is inspired from the center court found at Conseco Fiedlhouse. The font has been modified and gray has been added to link with the primary logo and complete a cohesive identity.