NBA to add more sleeved jerseys next season.

Everyone knows about newest Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard’s love of sleeves. Hoping in part to push along sales of NBA jerseys, more teams will wear uniforms with sleeves next season. Howard could possibly be the first NBA player with his entire upper body covered in apparel.

The NBA will increase the presence of the adidas short-sleeve jerseys in the 2013-14 season. HoopsWorld’s Steve Kyler confirmed ESPN’s report from June that five teams will add sleeved jerseys as alternate dress options. Kyler also added that 20 NBA squads will wear a short-sleeve uniform at least once.(Hoping the Rockets are one of the 20.)

The majority of the one-time showings will occur on either Christmas Day or St. Patrick’s Day, according to Kyler.

Sleeved jersey will make appearances during marquee games on Christmas Day and St. Patrick’s day… At least 20 teams next season.

— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) August 4, 2013

“We are interested in doing more short-sleeve jerseys when it makes sense,” said Patrik Nilsson, president of adidas North America.

Nilsson said that adidas is motivated to get more fans wearing jerseys while also innovating the game jersey for the players. The company pays roughly $35 million a year to be the official apparel provider of the league through the 2016-17 season.

The jerseys, which adidas calls the adizero NBA short sleeve uniform system, are 26 percent lighter than the traditional NBA jersey, according to the company. While it might appear to be tight, adidas also says the uniform provides a full range of motion so as not to compromise a player’s shot.