The terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001 shocked the world and tragically ended the lives of thousands of Americans. As consuming as NBA fandom can be, it was a moment when sports rightly took a backseat and the focus was placed on something far more important.
Professional sports leagues across the country discussed how to proceed in light of the tragedy. The NBA decided to wear a memorial patch on all jerseys throughout the 2001-2002 season to honor those who had lost their lives.
The small patch was placed on the right shoulder on the front of the jersey (where the Nike logo sits today), consisting of a red, white, and blue ribbon sitting behind the American flag.