What the Hawks’ iconic MLK jerseys mean to them and Atlanta

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There are jerseys, and then there are statements.

NBA City jerseys have ranked among the most popular jerseys in sports history, in part because of the care taken in linking them to their host cities. Some have been iconic (Miami Heat’s Miami Vice collection), some inspired (the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Prince version), and some…well, they’re distinctive, that’s for sure. (The less said about the Dallas Mavericks’ Fresh Prince united last year, the better.)

This year, however, the Atlanta Hawks have taken the City jersey game to a new level. At a time when NBA players have embarked on an all-out embrace of progressive causes, the Hawks have released jerseys honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., one of the patron saints of America’s social justice movement current and originally from Atlanta.

Trae Young in the Hawks’ MLK jersey. (Courtesy of the Atlanta Hawks)

From the moment MLK jerseys debuted online, the response has ranged from ecstatic to triumphant. Athletes, celebrities and fans have demanded replica jerseys. The symbolic resonance of the jerseys is so strong that Pope Francis blessed one earlier this month:

The fact that the MLK jersey feels so tailor-made for the moment is even more impressive when you realize it’s been in the works for over two years. But it’s not the first connection the Hawks have made with King’s legacy.

Ebenezer Baptist Church, where King pastored in the last years of his life, is less than two miles from Hawks’ State Farm Arena, straight down Auburn Avenue. The king’s tomb is nearby and his presence is felt throughout the city. So the connection was always there, especially when the team started playing special afternoon games on MLK Day.

“Whether it’s raising fan awareness or using a full gospel choir for player intros,” said Melissa Proctor, Hawks’ marketing director, “we’ve always been keen to pay tribute to Dr. King in a special way. important.”

Honoring King is one thing, however; putting your name on a shirt is something else. The team and Nike had to work closely with the King estate to ensure that all proper respect was given to the King name.

“We wanted to be in alignment with how they viewed Dr. King’s legacy and name,” Proctor said. “It couldn’t be free. We really wanted it high, not just slamming ‘MLK’ on everything.

Details of the Atlanta Hawks MLK inspired uniforms.  (Courtesy of the Atlanta Hawks)

Details of the Atlanta Hawks MLK inspired uniforms. (Courtesy of the Atlanta Hawks)

“The Hawks and Nike teams wanted to tell Dr. King’s story and how integral he was to the city of Atlanta,” Nike Basketball uniform designer Cyrus Coleman said in a statement. E-mail. “As the Nike team, we asked ourselves, ‘How do you take this story and make it something that you can wear and feel good, play good and respect Dr. King’s legacy?’”

The result is a design that incorporates vast, disparate elements from King’s personal history. The colors – black and gold – are nowhere close to the Hawks’ usual colors; instead, they are the colors of King’s beloved Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

“The bold black, gold and white colorway showcases black excellence,” Coleman said, “to always strive for greatness and help give players the mental edge in the game.”

The subtle stripes on the jerseys are a nod to the pattern of many King suits. The 22 stars along the shorts refer to the many times King was arrested during his non-violent protests, while the stars themselves refer to the Freedom Riders who bussed across the South during the most heartbreaking times. and the most dangerous of civil rights. time.

Also, the initials “MLK” on the jersey itself have a meaning. This is the first time an individual has been honored on the front of an NBA jersey. To help honor the moment, the Hawks have launched a social media campaign – #earntheseletters – designed to show that, as important as a team’s logo is, the initials of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. are at an all other level.

The Atlanta Hawks' MLK-inspired court design features a special stained-glass version of the Hawks logo, reminiscent of the Ebenezer Baptist Church, on center court.  (Courtesy of the Atlanta Hawks)

The Atlanta Hawks’ MLK-inspired court design features a special stained-glass version of the Hawks logo, reminiscent of the Ebenezer Baptist Church, on center court. (Courtesy of the Atlanta Hawks)

The jerseys will be the centerpiece of 10 “Unity Nights”, starting with Monday’s game against the Timberwolves. The arena itself will pay homage to King – a special stained glass version of the Hawks logo, reminiscent of the Ebenezer Baptist Church, will adorn Center Court – and each game will include efforts to educate fans about the works and l King’s legacy.

“One of the first conversations we had [with the estate] was about how a lot of people read about Dr. King, but very few read King himself,” Proctor said. “So over the course of the season we will be looking to incorporate his books into a reading list for fans.”

The MLK jerseys have been among the most successful initiatives the Hawks have ever launched. Players, fans and celebrities have been praising the jerseys on Twitter, and stores around Atlanta are selling out to the walls.

“It’s more than just a jersey,” Coleman said. “It’s a truth that people hold dear and inspires the world to change for the better – so that we can be better.”

As successful as the MLK lineup is, the Hawks are already wearing their City jerseys for 2022, 2023 and beyond. No clues yet, although this year will be hard to top.

“If it’s coming from the Hawks,” Proctor said, “you know it’s going to be fire.”

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Jay Busbee is a staff writer for Yahoo Sports. Follow him on Twitter at @jaybusbee or contact him at [email protected].

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