Monday report
You might have missed the news this summer, but the WNBA for the first time allowed teams to have game jersey sponsors. The Phoenix Mercury wore jerseys featuring the logo for LifeLock, an identity theft prevention company, while the Los Angeles Sparks wore jerseys sponsored by Farmers Insurance.
The NBA hasn't gone as far yet, but this season teams can start selling practice jersey sponsorships. So far, two teams have taken advantage. The Nets will practice in jerseys sponsored by PNY Technologies and the Suns will do likewise in jerseys sponsored by The Annexus Group.
As for the Jazz, president Randy Rigby said at Friday's media day that the team is investigating the possibility. The sponsorships apparently extend to the shooting shirts that players wear on the court at the start of pregame warm-ups as well as the coaching staff practice attire.
Given the Jazz's luxury-tax situation, you have to figure the team is exploring any and all potential options to increase revenue. Having a practice jersey sponsor can be worth six to seven figures annually. The NBA hasn't yet made the leap, but it's probably inevitable that we're going to see game jersey sponsors soon.
The Jazz's most logical sponsor has to be Zions Bank, which already has a naming rights deal for the team's practice facility (the Zions Bank Basketball Center) in place. The Jazz also could follow the Nets' and Suns' lead in going with a technology company eager to make a name for itself.
Or the Jazz could decide to cross-promote another of the Larry H. Miller companies. One can imagine the Jazz taking the practice court each day in a jersey sponsored by Karl Malone Toyota.
* * *
Jazz coach Jerry Sloan made a comment Monday in response to a question about bringing Andrei Kirilenko off the bench again this season that suggested he's inclined to have Paul Millsap come off the bench at least to open the preseason.
"He's not a guy that has to take five possessions to warm up," Sloan said of Kirilenko. "That's the way Paul Millsap plays. He steps on the floor and he's energized right off the bat. That's one of the reasons why I did what I did with those guys.
"We'll have to see where we are this year. I don't know how it'll work out. That's why I don't make the decision until we get ready to start the season."
* * *
Although he's a Pittsburgh Steelers fan, Deron Williams was part of the record crowd of 105,121 at the Cowboys Stadium opener earlier this month. He admitted to thinking about the NBA's All-Star Game, which is set to be played in the stadium in February.
"It'll be crazy to see how that sets up," Williams said. "That's a big ass arena."
Having been passed over three times for the All-Star Game, Williams has all the motivation he needs with the game scheduled for his hometown.
"Every season, I want to make the All-Star Game - - everybody does," Williams said. "It'll be great to have my first one in Dallas. I feel like this should be my third one at least, but what can you do?"
As for the gigantic video board at Cowboys Stadium, Williams suggested it's even more impressive than advertised. "I watched the game on there pretty much and I had great seats," he said. "You see everything."
* * *
Even Williams has things he wants to work on this season. He listed cutting down on turnovers and improving his three-point percentage as top priorities. Williams also said he wants to be a better leader and push the Jazz into more consistent play, especially on the road.
* * *
Believe it or not, Sloan has a little sympathy for the replacement referees set to work Thursday's preseason opener. Asked about the circumstances, Sloan thought back to 1977, when the NBA also used replacement refs while he was in Chicago.
"They, I thought, did a terrific job," said Sloan, who will caution his players Thursday about not getting caught up in the officiating. "They have a tough job, so you give them a little bit of slack to do their job, I'm sure."
--Ross Siler
The NBA hasn't gone as far yet, but this season teams can start selling practice jersey sponsorships. So far, two teams have taken advantage. The Nets will practice in jerseys sponsored by PNY Technologies and the Suns will do likewise in jerseys sponsored by The Annexus Group.
As for the Jazz, president Randy Rigby said at Friday's media day that the team is investigating the possibility. The sponsorships apparently extend to the shooting shirts that players wear on the court at the start of pregame warm-ups as well as the coaching staff practice attire.
Given the Jazz's luxury-tax situation, you have to figure the team is exploring any and all potential options to increase revenue. Having a practice jersey sponsor can be worth six to seven figures annually. The NBA hasn't yet made the leap, but it's probably inevitable that we're going to see game jersey sponsors soon.
The Jazz's most logical sponsor has to be Zions Bank, which already has a naming rights deal for the team's practice facility (the Zions Bank Basketball Center) in place. The Jazz also could follow the Nets' and Suns' lead in going with a technology company eager to make a name for itself.
Or the Jazz could decide to cross-promote another of the Larry H. Miller companies. One can imagine the Jazz taking the practice court each day in a jersey sponsored by Karl Malone Toyota.
* * *
Jazz coach Jerry Sloan made a comment Monday in response to a question about bringing Andrei Kirilenko off the bench again this season that suggested he's inclined to have Paul Millsap come off the bench at least to open the preseason.
"He's not a guy that has to take five possessions to warm up," Sloan said of Kirilenko. "That's the way Paul Millsap plays. He steps on the floor and he's energized right off the bat. That's one of the reasons why I did what I did with those guys.
"We'll have to see where we are this year. I don't know how it'll work out. That's why I don't make the decision until we get ready to start the season."
* * *
Although he's a Pittsburgh Steelers fan, Deron Williams was part of the record crowd of 105,121 at the Cowboys Stadium opener earlier this month. He admitted to thinking about the NBA's All-Star Game, which is set to be played in the stadium in February.
"It'll be crazy to see how that sets up," Williams said. "That's a big ass arena."
Having been passed over three times for the All-Star Game, Williams has all the motivation he needs with the game scheduled for his hometown.
"Every season, I want to make the All-Star Game - - everybody does," Williams said. "It'll be great to have my first one in Dallas. I feel like this should be my third one at least, but what can you do?"
As for the gigantic video board at Cowboys Stadium, Williams suggested it's even more impressive than advertised. "I watched the game on there pretty much and I had great seats," he said. "You see everything."
* * *
Even Williams has things he wants to work on this season. He listed cutting down on turnovers and improving his three-point percentage as top priorities. Williams also said he wants to be a better leader and push the Jazz into more consistent play, especially on the road.
* * *
Believe it or not, Sloan has a little sympathy for the replacement referees set to work Thursday's preseason opener. Asked about the circumstances, Sloan thought back to 1977, when the NBA also used replacement refs while he was in Chicago.
"They, I thought, did a terrific job," said Sloan, who will caution his players Thursday about not getting caught up in the officiating. "They have a tough job, so you give them a little bit of slack to do their job, I'm sure."
--Ross Siler
3:58 PM
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