PHOTO: Warriors, Rockets unveil Chinese New Year uniforms
As the 2014-15 NBA season turns the corner into its stretch run following the trade deadline on Feb. 19, the Chinese calendar will be flipping to a new year. Two NBA teams with deep ties in China will be celebrating along with them.
The Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets both revealed special Chinese New Year uniforms on Monday, and, save for the sleeves, they're a pretty good look.
The Warriors, who wore Chinese New Year shooting shirts last season, play in an area of California with a large Asian population. They've also been a key part of the NBA's Global Games initiative, spreading their brand and perhaps helping Steph Curry lead all players in All-Star votes.
Their special alternate will be worn at home on Feb. 20, on the road on Feb. 24 and March 2, and then again at home for their official Chinese New Year Celebration on March 4.
(Photo Courtesy: Warriors.com)
The Rockets will also wear a special alternate for games on Feb. 21, 23 and 25, a three-game home-stand that the team is calling a week-long Lunar New Year Celebration.
The Rockets have long had ties in China thanks to face-of-the-franchise Yao Ming, China's most prominent basketball export and a Rocket from 2002 to 2011.
(Photo Courtesy: Rockets.com)
There are currently no Chinese-born players in the NBA, with Yi Jianlian in 2012 standing as the most recent of five in history.