All Net for Mother Earth

This week, it's not just the NBA rookies who are green.

When people talk "green" in the NBA, it's usually about the Boston Celtics or the size of Josh Howard's pupils. Not anymore. Last Friday, the league launched what will now be an annual event, NBA Green Week. Here's a rundown of some Green Week highlights.

Adidas outfitted all players with 100 percent organic cotton shirts featuring the new NBA Green logo. The Denver Nuggets, Charlotte Bobcats and the Chicago Bulls are wearing green-colored uniforms and organic cotton socks during home games this week. The NBA launched a new site, www.nba.com/green, featuring player interviews and suggestions for helping the environment. The Golden State Warriors kicked off the week by planting trees at a major intersection in Oakland. In partnership with Chesapeake Energy, the Thunder are giving away a Honda Civic NGV (Natural Gas Vehicle) at their game tonight in Oklahoma.

Other NBA efforts include auctioning autographed basketballs and other memorabilia with proceeds going to environmental causes and having players speak at local schools. Philadelphia 76ers star Elton Brand, for example, spoke at the School of the Future and commended the students for their many green efforts.

"Your efforts to help the environment should be commended," said Brand at a student body assembly. "You go to the School of the Future and are now making choices that will impact your own future. On behalf of the Sixers and the NBA, keep up the great work!"

The Phoenix Suns' Steve Nash, meanwhile, points to the new recycling bins installed in arenas across the country.

"At a typical NBA basketball game there are so many bottles and cans," said the two-time league MVP in a green week video. "We now have these very cool-looking recycling bins throughout the arena to get fans recycling and more up-to-date on how they can have a better impact on the environment."

The biggest Green Week highlight, though, will have an impact long after the week ends. Philips Arena, home to the playoff-bound Atlanta Hawks, announced yesterday that they've become the first NBA and/or NHL arena in America to earn LEED certification for green operating standards in an existing (a.k.a. "older") building. LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is awarded by an independent third party with guidelines set by the United States Green Building Council.

As hoped, NBA Green Week wasn't just another marketing ploy that coaches and players sleepwalked their way through. Everyone embraced the idea and took part in the effort.

"I'm a big go-green guy," Denver Nuggets coach George Karl remarks on the Green Week site. "I'm a big believer that it's the one policy, or social and economic situation, that both Democrats and Republicans can come together on. I think it's energizing and I think it's a necessity."

Official green gear is now available at www.nbastore.com.

 

Photo of Richard Hamilton sporting the NBA's new Green logo by Allen Einstein/NBAE via Getty Images.