Patty Talahongva
ICT
Troy Lomavaya, Hopi, drove more than four hours one-way to be at the Nov. 16 game when the Phoenix Suns debuted the City Edition uniform honoring the 22 tribes in Arizona. The team was hosting the defending NBA champions, the Golden State Warriors.
Lomavaya bought the jersey the first day it went on sale. Like many Native Americans, he appreciates the effort the Suns’ organization put into making this jersey to honor the tribes.
“It means everything,” he said. “I think it’s the best looking City Jersey within the NBA, there’s no other, there’s nothing like it.” He was especially thrilled with the word “sun” printed on the jerseys in the 22 different languages. He also liked the 22 feathers in the shape of the medicine wheel that’s on the basketball court. “I think it’s great. It’s awesome.”
He bumped his way out of the team shop as people looked at the bright turquoise jerseys, t-shirts and other items that featured the 22 feather design. Sales were brisk.
(Related: Phoenix Suns honor Arizona tribes with new jersey)
Native and non-Native fans seemed to agree, the jerseys are a slam dunk.
Doug Koch used to own Denny’s restaurants across the state. “Half my employees were Native American,” he said. He bought a jersey at the game and promptly put it on. “I think it’s beautiful. It represents the Southwest. It’s for the tribes.”
“I think it’s good. It teaches people where each tribe is and informs people,” said Frederique Michael. She added the jersey is a positive message for Native children. “I think that it means they’re included in the NBA and that they can probably make it to the NBA too if they want to.”
Cody Phillips says before the jersey’s tribute to the 22 tribes in Arizona he didn’t even know there were that many tribes in the state. “I did not know exactly how many tribes there were, so this is educating me,” he said.
The education even extends to a wall in the team shop. It looks like an old school blackboard with a map of Arizona outlined and showing each tribe’s location. Another section shows the jersey and points out the designs and what they mean to tribes.
Near the box office hanging on the wall are the 22 tribal nation flags, another reminder of the diversity of tribes in the state. This display was supported by the Gila River Resorts and Casino and the Native American Basketball Invitational.
“I’ve lived in the Valley for 35 years and I’m honored to finally support the Native American culture here. I think it’s great and I’m super excited about that,” said Robin Leonesio. She was sitting in her seat and exchanging good natured jabs with a Warriors fan sitting behind her. Leonesio said her favorite part of the jersey is seeing the word “sun” in each tribal language.
Even the dance coach who goes by the name Weezy said he’s a fan of the turquoise jersey. “You know, going into my 18th year with the Phoenix Suns, it is amazing to see the diversity and the inclusion that we’re having with this jersey and what it means to this state. And just many of the tribes that are here in Arizona, it’s awesome.”
He says before the jersey he knew a little bit about Native American heritage, “But never to the extent that we do now know. I’m grateful for Shawn (Martinez) bringing this in and just really making it more inclusive and educating us on what the heritage is for Native Americans here in Arizona.”
Martinez, Diné, is the senior director of live entertainment for the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury. When he joined the Suns more than two years ago he started working on the design for this jersey. Martinez helped the Suns reach out to Cahokia, an Indigenous-led women-owned art space in Phoenix, the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, which represents most of the tribes in the state, along with a number of other Native organizations to get input on the design for the jersey and the court.
“It’s just really great to see the word sun all around the court,” said Sherry Cordova. She’s the chairwoman of the Cocopah Tribe. She was at the game and was among the tribal leaders honored at halftime. She said the tribal leaders were asking one another if they ever thought they would see something like this from the Suns.
“We’re just (asking) ‘Did you ever think this would happen?’ It was just surreal. So tonight makes it reality.”
She along with the other 21 tribal leaders were surprised as well when Suns President Jason Rowley announced a gift of $10,000 for each tribe’s youth programs.
“It’s really great that they’re doing this. And we have some youth that are really gonna benefit from this. It’s a really special night for all of us,” said the chairwoman.
This game was specifically selected to debut the new uniforms because the game was broadcast on ESPN. Suns management provided the announcers with a fact sheet explaining the jersey’s color, the designs, and the names of each tribal nation.
“It helped,” said Mark Jackson, an NBA Analyst for ESPN. “Very helpful, (it) tells the history and tells the story behind what’s taking place tonight.
It’s just a great cause and a great great night for the Phoenix Suns and the tribe(s) in general.”
ESPN Tencent was also at the game. Kevin Wong is a producer for the ESPN broadcast that airs in China. “The reason we’re here for this game, not just to cover this high stake match up between the Warriors and the Suns, another reason we’re here is because the Suns introduced their City Edition jersey.”
“China has 56 ethnicities and cultures. People of deep cultural diversity.” He said most people in China probably do not have a deep understanding of what Arizona is like, especially culturally.
“Representation matters,” said Weezy, “It really does.”
After the game that seemed to be the sentiment from the Suns coach and Devin Booker, the shooting guard for the team.
“It was unbelievable. You know, getting the backstory allows us to wear it with great pride. We’re very honored,” said Booker.
“It was fire,” he said of seeing the fans wearing the turquoise jersey. “I love the color.”
For Suns coach Monty Williams, the jersey’s design seemed personal to him.
“There’s so much meaning behind it. We have an understanding that our fans and our fan base extends outside of these city lines. And for us to be able to recognize that and recognize the contributions of Native Americans in the city and throughout the state is a huge deal.”
He went on to say he’s studied Native history including the Trail of Tears and the Indian Wars. “I’m blown away at the resiliency of your people. It’s great for us to be able to recognize the contributions of Native Americans in this state and throughout the country, but also I think we need to recognize the resiliency and the grace that you all have shown our nation. ‘cuz there’s a lot of wrongs that have been done to the Native American people in this country. And I don’t see a lot of ill will or hate or bad motives, and I don’t think that’s said enough. And sometimes when you’re an African American, we tend to only look at racism and inequality from my perspective as an African American. And I don’t think we take enough time to look at it from the Native American perspective. So for us to be able to have the jerseys on tonight, it says a lot about you, all your strength, your resiliency, and your ability to show a ton of grace to a nation that was really, really tough on you all.”
“Well, for me, it was lit,” said Suns guard Cameron Payne. “I love these jerseys. They’re awesome. When we opened them it was tough. Like seeing the jerseys, like blue jerseys, like that’s different. And then they showed us the court like, I was, like, man, that’s really cool.”
Suns forward, Mikal Bridges, agreed. “I was excited too. I think, um, it’s kind of dope learning like the history of it.
“I think it’ll bring the Suns lots of luck, said Koch
PayPal is the official jersey patch partner of the Phoenix Suns and has created the “Support Our City,” campaign that will run all season. It will feature Native-owned small businesses in Arizona with specials like pop-up shops at the Footprint Center where the Suns play. They will also have a gift card toss during games. Native Ground Coffee, a Native-owned business from the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community was the first business to be featured.
The Suns will host ten ORIGINATIV game nights hosted by the Gila River Resorts and Casinos to honor the Indigenous communities in Arizona and to celebrate the team’s City Edition uniforms. Native performances will be featured at each of the games.
In addition, the Suns have created a website where fans can learn more about the tribes and this initiative including which games they will wear the turquoise jerseys. https://www.nba.com/suns/originativ
“I’m glad we got the win the first time wearing (the jerseys),” said Booker after they beat the Warriors 130-119.
A few days later when they wore the turquoise jerseys the second time they beat the New York Knicks 116-95, followed by another win against the Los Angeles Lakers 115-105.
The next time they wear the turquoise jerseys will be on Friday against the Houston Rockets.
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