Nuggets center Mark Pope has been fielding more questions from his teammates than the media at training camp. The reason? The proposed NBA dress code.
Pope, the team’s players union representative, said every teammate has asked about the dress code likely to be instituted. It could make it mandatory for players to wear “business casual” clothes for team-related activities, such as flights, public appearances and postgame interviews, as well as sitting on the bench when not suited up. No date has been set to announce the mandate, but it has grabbed the players’ attention.
Commissioner David Stern has said he views the move as a step toward improving the league’s image.
“I know that they’re concerned about the NBA’s image and there needs to be some work done,” Pope said. “What they’ve said about your appearance during interviews is important. How you present yourself on the bench is important. But I think it could be extreme, too.”
Guard Earl Watson said he will take a wait-and-see attitude.
“(The players) have no choice if they implement it. Until there is a final word, it’s tough to speculate exactly how it’s going to affect people,” Watson said. “It could be no T-shirts, no hats or whatever. You never know, it could be really tough or really light.”
Several NBA players have taken offense to the proposed rule, including Philadelphia’s Allen Iverson, who has said he won’t adhere to it.
The Nuggets have a business casual dress code in which players who are not suited up to play cannot wear jeans or throwback jerseys, which is commonplace around the league. Former Nugget Chris Andersen was once told to return to the locker room after he arrived at the bench wearing long shorts and sunglasses. In recent seasons, there also have been cases where injured Nuggets players who were on a road trip stayed in the locker room during games because they didn’t have the proper attire. Not all teams have such a code, however.
From players to coaches, the Nuggets haven’t been known as one of the NBA’s better-dressed teams in the past. The running joke during the 1980s was that the only code was to dress better than then-head coach Doug Moe, now an assistant, who built a reputation for not having any fashion sense. General manager Kiki Vandeweghe was often teased about wearing the same sweater as a Nuggets player in the 1980s.
Denver also was fined by the NBA last season after coach George Karl wore a throwback jersey over a turtleneck, sweats and tennis shoes at a game.
“I’m a Doug Moe guy, my dress code is you can’t dress worse than I do,” Karl said, who added he has no problem with the proposed code. “There’s an image there. I respect it. It’s like a dress code at work. Offices have dress codes. Our office, unfortunately, goes a lot of places.”
Footnotes
Left knee patella tendinitis limited forward Kenyon Martin at practice Thursday. … For precautionary reasons, forward-center Nene also was limited due to right hamstring tightness. While Karl said players sitting out practice “is always a concern,” he noted the team must be cautious with Martin and Nene. Both are expected to participate today. … After three practices, Karl is praising guard Voshon Lenard. “I’d say Vo is the best player on the court,” he said. … Mary Anthony, mother of forward Carmelo Anthony, won the Award for Excellence in Raising Boys 2 Exceptional Men given by the nonprofit It Takes A Village at the fourth annual Harvest of Hope dinner in Denver. … Rookie center Luke Schenscher, cut by Denver on Tuesday, was claimed off waivers by Sacramento.
Staff writer Marc J. Spears can be reached at 303-820-5449 or mspears@denverpost.com.
