words // Brandon Richard
With the World Basketball Festival and FIBA World Cup around the corner, Nike officially unveils the new USA Basketball uniform, the brand’s lightest uniform in history.
An infusion of design innovation, the Hyper Elite uniform draws inspiration from USA and Nike heritage, providing the team with a kit that tells a story.
The angled USA graphic that adorns the front of the jersey was inspired by the chevron of the classic Nike Windrunner track jacket from 1978. Both uniforms feature red, white and blue hues meshed together in the 26-degree speed graphic, crossing the front of the game jersey, fading into a representation of the USA flag and extending across the side of the short from front to back. The speed graphic represents a distinctive point of view, based on the roughly 1,000 directional changes, or “cuts,” that a player makes during the course of a game.
via Press Release
NIKE HYPER ELITE JERSEY
A flocked lining at the inside of the neck allows the athlete to comfortably wipe excess moisture from the face. Ultra-lightweight stretch mesh in the back of the jersey serves to regulate the temperature of the player along the spine, where athletes tend to heat up the most. Redeveloped, lightweight sphere fabric in the front of the jersey helps to maintain a comfortable body temperature by wicking moisture, while eliminating cling from excess sweat.
NIKE HYPER ELITE SHORTS
A perforated, vented waistband in the Nike Hyper Elite shorts provides a level of cooling, while maintaining the comfort and security that athletes require. A new, performance flex vent placed by the knee allows the game short to flex when the player moves. The addition of a flocked "wipe zone" at either hip allows a comfortable spot to dry hands as sweat builds up.
The continuation of performance perforated zones at the side of the short allows the moisture management properties of the Nike Pro Combat Hypercool shorts or Nike Pro Combat Hyperstrong shorts worn underneath to work as a complete system.
The new uniform will be available beginning August 7 on nike.com, in Nike stores and selected shops, and will debut on-court when the USA Basketball Men’s National Team takes on the Brazil Men’s National team in an exhibition game at Chicago's United Center at 9:00 p.m. EST.
