The official uniforms for professional National Basketball Association players could soon be made in Asia, a move drawing sharp criticism from a prominent lawmaker in Congress.
Sports apparel maker Adidas plans to end its contract with US suppliers and move production of NBA jerseys to a factory in Thailand. The move could cost about 100 jobs at a factory in upstate New York that makes more than half the uniforms worn by Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and other NBA players.
Senator Chuck Schumer, who represents New York, said the switch would blemish more than a century of history for the marquee US sport. He is calling on Adidas to reverse its decision and to keep making the uniforms in the US.
“To do anything else is an insult to the American worker and sports fans everywhere in America,” the Democrat said.
The longtime New York Knicks fan planned a news conference on Tuesday at American Classic Outfitters, the Perry, New York supplier that has been making NBA jerseys for 40 years.
Adidas is in the middle of an 11-year merchandising deal to be the official uniform and apparel provider for the NBA, WNBA and the NBA Development League.
In a statement, Adidas said it was consolidating its supply chain and moving production closer to the source of uniform materials.
“The Adidas Group continues to produce uniforms for professional, college and other amateur teams at more than 30 facilities in North America and will continue to do so moving forward,” Adidas said.
Representatives at Adidas and the NBA did not immediately respond to requests for comments.
NBA players’ jerseys have always been manufactured in the US.
Rob Knoll, senior vice president at American Classic Outfitters, said his company had a multiyear contract to make professional basketball uniforms for Adidas. But last month, he said, Adidas officials told him they were moving operations overseas. The New York plant had invested more than US$1 million in facility improvements and equipment to produce the jerseys.
“It’s a blow because the work that was in house and scheduled for production is gone now,” Knoll said. “If they want to change their mind, we’d love it.”
Adidas also had contracts with two other US companies to make the official NBA jerseys.
German-owned Adidas is the second largest athletic shoe and apparel company in the world. Its US subsidiary, Adidas America, has its US headquarters in Portland, Oregon.
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