National Basketball Association

Memphis Grizzlies jersey honor Martin Luther King (Photo)

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Memphis Grizzlies will be honoring Dr. Martin Luther King by wearing a pretty fantastic jersey on MLK Day.

2017 will mark the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King. To this day, King is arguably the most important civil rights figure in American history. He fought for the equality of African Americans and all human beings, refusing to give up until his death. To honor the 50th anniversary of his death, the Memphis Grizzlies will wear a jersey that subtly honors him.

#MLK50Pride @memgrizz uniform will tip-off @NCRMuseum remembrance of 50th Anniversary of Dr. King’s assassination. pic.twitter.com/xLPKEeJ52N

— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) September 14, 2016

There’s a lot more to this jersey than meets the eye. The jersey is black, which honors the movement that King led for most of his life. “Memphis” is scripted across the jersey, which subtly showcases the historic Lorraine Motel (home of the National Civil Rights Museum). There is a unique piping design all around the uniform, which is a tribute to the railing that surrounds the walkways and balconies of the Lorraine Motel.

The jersey’s sea-foam color is pulled directly from the doors of the rooms that Dr. King spent his last days in. There is a wreath on the neckline and center of the uniform, which represents the wreath that hangs where Dr. King was assassinated.

The Grizzlies worked with the National Civil Rights Museum to create the jersey.

“I think it has come out as a wonderful product,” said president Terri Lee Freeman, via the Grizzlies official website. “It will be great for the Grizzlies and the National Civil Rights Museum, but also messaging that we need to always remember what happened and not forget about the work that has yet to be done.”

This is a terrific way for the city of Memphis to honor the late Dr. King, for whom the city carried significant meaning throughout his life. The Grizzlies will wear the jerseys on Jan. 15, 2017.