You’re Gonna Want to Steal This Promotional Hats Idea From the NBA’s 2018 Draft Caps

Joseph Myers

While we are enjoying the riveting action of the NBA Finals, we know the playoffs will soon conclude, ushering in what promises to be a riveting offseason. June 21’s draft will likely serve as the first major occasion for fans to see how their squads will look come the fall, and while those supporters are far more concerned with how the athletes will perform when donning their uniforms, many will also beam when each selection puts on his respective destination’s cap that night. While pundits are pondering where this year’s hopefuls will land, New Era removed any mystery over what they will wear when commissioner Adam Silver shakes their hands, issuing promotional hats that could serve as inspirations for the promotional products industry at large.

The Buffalo-based headwear company’s release has already led USA Today to address the goods’ aesthetics, as each cap features side patches and front-facing pins. Much like the clubs that comprise the 30-team league, these promotional hats consist of a mix of surefire winners, contenders for kudos and pitiful also-rans. But regardless of one’s estimation of their looks and homages to their locations, the items reinforce a truism that should remain so for as long as you and your peers ply your trade—add-on sales, when carefully considered, are possible goldmines.

Yes, it will likely remain in vogue to buy a hat honoring say the Golden State Warriors, especially if they are able to down the Cleveland Cavaliers for their third league crown in four seasons, but who would not want to market and who could resist purchasing promotional hats that bear more than a standard logo? If emblems and patches, however, are not your thing, the pins surely should be, as they scream “Additional brand awareness!” if end-users decide to remove them from the hats and place them on other apparel items.

If we look only at New Era, one can bet that these caps will have a significant shelf life, as the side symbols, including each team’s initial year in the league, convey pride not only in the franchises but also in affiliated elements of their overall existence, including state flags. Since the Warriors and Cavaliers are meeting in their fourth-straight Finals tilt and have therefore made themselves the athletic version of a broken record, we, too, are going to repeat ourselves by saying the pins are the true standouts of these promotional caps.

Since we are impressionable, we could not help refrain from letting USA Today influence our take on the hats, choosing our three favorites. While the Warriors and Cavaliers are certainly the cream of the crop on the floor, they could not emerge among our winners. Sorry to crush your dynasties, gents.

1. Utah Jazz

As one of the league’s up-and-coming squads, the Jazz, winners of 99 regular-season games over the last two seasons, have definitely caused their opponents to take note. We have a penchant for puns, so the Jazz’s pin strikes a solid chord with us.

 

2. Los Angeles Lakers

We find ourselves in agreement with USA Today, which regarded the Los Angeles Lakers’ cap very highly, owing to its inclusion of sunglasses. The publication made a nice touch by including an image of legendary shades wearer Jack Nicholson, too. We can totally handle the truth that this hat is a must-have.

3. Milwaukee Bucks

USA Today gave the Eastern Conference club its top spot, dubbing its “Fear the Deer” catchphrase as one of the best in all of sports. We will definitely not take the Bucks lightly as long as Giannis Antetokounmpo is hammering dunks over mismatched foes.

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