MILWAUKEE - If NBA are dressed to the nines'' this season, there will be a good reason for it. Commissioner David Stern has given solid backing to a league-wide dress code that is expected to be issued before the start of the season next month. The dress code will require players to wear business casual clothes - such as a suit or sport coat and slacks - and jeans no longer will be allowed. Players would be expected to dress this way when sitting on the bench while out of uniform and while traveling to and from NBA arenas, as well as on team flights. The code is expected to be supported by stiff fines levied by the league. Milwaukee Bucks forward Joe Smith said Thursday he was not in favor of a strict dress code, and other NBA players have offered some strong opinions. One of those came from Philadelphia 76ers guard Allen Iverson, who told the Philadelphia Daily News: I dress to make myself comfortable. I really do have a problem with it. . . . It’s just not right. It’s something I’ll fight for.’’
Smith, entering his 11th season in the league, said he understood the idea of a dress code inside the arena. But he questioned the wisdom of having players wear suits and sport coats on every team flight or each time they drive to a home game or take a bus to a road game.
I don't think people really care how we look coming to and from the game, as long as we're not ridiculously dressed,'' Smith said. It’s not like we have a bunch of fans waiting for us to come out.
If we have a back-to-back, and we have to fly from here to Miami, we still have to be on the flight with our dress clothes. I'm not really fond of it right now, that's all I can say.'' Players union president Antonio Davis has said he could support some type of dress code, but he indicated he was against a total ban on wearing jeans. And would team owners be subject to the code? How about Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who often sits directly behind his team's bench while wearing a T-shirt and jeans? The dress code is, to me, a continuation of things,’’ Stern told the Boston Globe. It's a small thing that contributes to a sense of professionalism. It's what the job entails.'' In past years, each NBA club developed its own dress code, leading to varying types of attire. Tim Duncan often chose a casual look when he sat in street clothes on the San Antonio Spurs bench. When Bucks star Michael Redd was injured at the end of last season, he showed up in a brilliant light-colored suit. That was his own call,’’ Bucks general manager Larry Harris said. He has learned that from Ervin (Johnson) and the other players that have been here. Our policy was only that players be 'neatly attired.'''' Harris said he supports the league initiative, which was talked about in a rules and competition meeting in June and again at the league coaches meeting in September. You’ll notice when they play the national anthem this season, everyone will be on a line,’’ Harris said. It's all part of the appearance and presentation we're trying to do in a first-class manner.'' Asked if the dress code was too wide-ranging, Harris disagreed. They want to make it uniform across the board,’’ Harris said. When you start separating, you can do it here and not do it there, there's going to be some slippage. They don't want that to occur.'' Smith said the way players look on the basketball court should be the real concern for an image-conscious league. That’s what they should be more concerned about, rather than how we look coming to and from the games,’’ Smith said. ``Having the jerseys tucked in the shorts, that kind of thing.’’