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Dream Jerseys: Memphis Grizzlies unveil MLK Day threads

By Alex Butler
Washington Wizards center DeJuan Blair gets a rebound against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. on March 12, 2015. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
Washington Wizards center DeJuan Blair gets a rebound against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. on March 12, 2015. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

MEMPHIS, Sept. 15 (UPI) -- Awesome alternate jerseys are one way that the Memphis Grizzlies plan to remember Martin Luther King Jr. on the 50th anniversary of his assassination.

The Grizzlies posted photos of its new alternate jerseys Wednesday on Twitter.

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Dr. King was assassinated in 1968 at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis. The jerseys feature lettering that mirrors the font on the Lorraine Motel's sign. The trim on the jerseys mimics the pattern of the railings at the motel. The sea foam green on the jerseys is similar to the color of the rooms where King spent his last few days on earth. The uniform's black color is intended to relate to the color of the dark suits worn by civil rights marchers. The wreath on the jersey's neckline was designed to represent the same wreath hanging where Dr. King was killed.

The Grizzlies will wear the uniforms on MLK Day on Jan 15. The 50th anniversary of his death is on April 4.

"The MLK50 Pride uniform will tip-off the National Civil Rights Museum's upcoming remembrance of the 50th Anniversary of Dr. King's assassination and is set to debut on the hardwood at the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration game on January 15 vs. Chicago in a primetime, nationally-televised game on ESPN," the Grizzlies said in a release.

"We're deeply honored to work with our longstanding partners at the National Civil Rights Museum to help them launch the commemorations building towards the 50th anniversary of Dr. King's assassination," Grizzlies President of Business Operations Jason Wexler said in the release.

"The MLK50 Pride uniform to be worn for the first time on January 15th during our annual weekend Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration is a means of both furthering our partnership with the National Civil Rights Museum and creating awareness of the Museum's vital message of social and economic justice in our city, our nation and the world."

The motel now hosts the National Civil Rights Museum.

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