Brooklyn Nets Pay Homage To The Notorious B.I.G.

DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN — The Brooklyn Nets were “Coogi down to the socks” during their 127 – 119 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday at the Barclay Center.

The franchise is honoring late Brooklyn rapper Notorious B.I.G (Christopher Wallace) with a uniform change for the rest of the season. The new black suits feature “Brooklyn camo” trim along the neck, arm and down the sides of the jersey. The iconic print is a take on the Australian brand, Coogi, the Brooklyn rapper once wore.

Graphic artist Eric Haze chipped in on the design with a custom “Bed-Stuy” marking to commemorate the neighborhood near Wallace’s Brooklyn home.

Players topped off the back suits with printed socks, arm and leg bands. Brooklyn Nets point guard Spencer Dinwiddie’s sneakers got the print treatment, too.

Team members launched the Biggie-inspired duds just days after Community Board 2 voted to approve co-naming a street “Christopher Wallace Way.” The street, St. James between Fulton St. and Atlantic Ave., in Clinton Hill, is where Wallace grew up.

There are several murals dedicated to the rapper in Brooklyn, including one outside of the Fulton St. Key Food where Wallace “packed bags” as a teen. Last summer, the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation renovated the Crispus Attucks Playground and renamed the basketball courts for the icon.

Wallace was shot and killed in Los Angeles, California in 1997. He was 24.  The Nets are scheduled to wear the suits for 15 more dates, including March 9, the 21st anniversary of Wallace’s death.