Higher, faster: NBA debuts lighter new uniforms it says could improve performance

New NBA jerseys meant to absorb less sweat

NEW YORK — Dwight Howard proudly recalls making a 3-pointer during the last All-Star game.

It must have been the shirt.

The NBA is rolling out new uniforms, a lighter model tested during the All-Star game, and Howard says they’ll improve his performance.

“It’s just like the shoes,” the Orlando Magic center said. “The lighter the shoes, the faster you are, the higher you may jump.”

The new uniforms, called the NBA Revolution 30, were introduced Wednesday by the league and Adidas at the NBA Store. The company says the uniforms are 30 percent lighter and will dry twice as fast as previous uniforms.

The old uniforms became so heavy once wet that some players changed uniforms at halftime. In the new model, Adidas changed the numbers from a dense material to a breathable mesh.

“I actually thought when I first got them on that the jerseys had a cooling system on the inside to keep your body cool, something like an air conditioner in your jersey,” said Howard, who has an endorsement contract with Adidas. “That’s what it feels like.”

The Revolution 30, made from 60 percent recycled materials, was tested over four years and will debut this season.

“Our goal at Adidas is to help make athletes stronger, lighter, and faster, whether you’re playing in the finals or a pickup game with your friends,” Adidas vice president of global basketball Lawrence Norman said in a statement. “The new NBA Revolution 30 uniforms incorporate the best in design and technology to create the most advanced basketball uniform system.”

Howard is one of the NBA’s strongest players and among the most athletic centers. Superman could be even better now with the equivalent of a new cape.

“One small thing can be the difference,” he said.