The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the NBA has made a deal with fashion designer Joseph Abbound to clothe a majority of the league's thirty coaches.  Now, when your favorite coach is red faced and screaming at a ref over a phantom traveling call, you'll be secure in the knowledge that he is wearing suits, sport coats, dress slacks and ties made by the Joseph Abboud label.

To compensate, the clothier will receive on screen credit as the official suit provider of the NBA.

The company, which in August signed an agreement to provide off-the-field attire for National Football League coaches, is building its brand on dressing high-profile sports figures. Instead of dressing celebrities for award shows,  the Joseph Abboud line prefers to provide clothes for athletes and coaches with whom its customers identify.

NBA rules now require coaches to wear dress shoes, tailored jackets and dress shirts, sport shirts or turtlenecks. (Ties are optional.)  Speaking as a devoted Dockers wearer, I don't know why coaches can't just wear Dockers and a team shirt like in International competition.  But I guess if someone is willing to pay the league for the privilege of wearing their clothes, the league is happy to take their money.

I'm sure TV ratings will go through the roof because of people's interest in George Karl's suit.