CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte Hornets unveiled their first-ever Black Excellence Jersey on Wednesday afternoon as part of their Black History Month initiatives. It is also the first-of-its-kind in the NBA.
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The jersey, named “Home Is Where The Harte Is,” was designed by Hornets digital designer Mike Jones and aims to honor the lasting impact of individuals who have shaped the community.
At first glance, it looks like the original Hornets jersey from 1988, but the pinstripes have been replaced with the names of prominent Black neighborhoods in Charlotte.
The names are written in gold complementing gold accents in the uniform that pay homage to the precious metal that is significant to the Black community. Dogwood petals, which is the state flower for North Carolina, highlight the word Harte in Charlotte across the chest.
Jones said he hasn’t really thought about how he’ll feel seeing fans, especially kids, wearing the jersey around the arena on Friday.
Jones said he takes great pride in knowing the jersey can be a point of pride to the Charlotte community.
“If you know me, you know that I love investing in the community,” Jones said. “Investing in the youth so being that pillar … of excellence for them. They inspire someone. They create jerseys for the league or do something life-changing or even to their measure of what success is. That’s my takeaway from this.”
The jersey, which is exclusively for fans, will be available for purchase in the Hornets Fan Shop starting Friday. It will not be available online to make it accessible for fans in Charlotte.
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