LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Lakers have one of the richest histories in the NBA with Hall of Famers and championships galore, but even historic franchises can be fashion forward.
The Lakers will wear short-sleeve jerseys next season in "several" games, according to a team source.
The jerseys will be white, the same color as the alternative uniforms the Lakers introduced for the 2002-03 season and traditionally wear on Sundays.
The Lakers will wear the white short-sleeve uniforms on Christmas Day and also when the league celebrates "Noche Latina" when the jerseys will be modified to say "Los Lakers," a source said.
The Golden State Warriors were the first team to wear the adizero short-sleeve jerseys designed by adidas last season. The jerseys, according to adidas, are 26 percent lighter than the traditional NBA jersey. The Phoenix Suns, who recently redesigned their jersey, also will have a short-sleeve alternate in their uniform set next season.
According to a league source, adidas has mocked up short-sleeve alternative jerseys for all 10 teams playing on Christmas Day.
The Lakers will also be adding a black jersey to their uniform rotation next season, according to a league source. The alternative uniform will be part of the league's city pride series, joining the Detroit Pistons' upcoming "Motor City" uniforms and the Portland Trail Blazers' "Rip City" set, but unlike the others, it will still say "Lakers" across the chest. The lettering and numerals will appear in purple with gold outlines and the rest of the jersey material will be primarily black, with some gold accents, the source said. It will not have sleeves, the source added.
The Lakers were one of 17 teams to experiment wearing the short-sleeve jerseys during summer league this offseason. ESPN's Darren Rovell reported in June that as many as five teams will wear the short-sleeve jerseys as an alternate jersey for as many as 12 games during the 2013-14 season.
Lakers point guard Steve Nash suggested last season that each player should be able to choose his own uniform preference.
"I don't see why we all need the same tailor, as long as it's pretty uniform," Nash said. "I'm sure within reason."
Nash, who said he used to wear a T-shirt under his jersey in high school and college, did not have a problem with the NBA harming the sanctity of the league by changing the cut of the jerseys.
"It's not one of those things I'm going to lose any sleep over," Nash said. "Basically, we're an entertainment industry. So, you know, you got to make products that people can wear. Things are going to continually change."