Utah Jazz lead assistant Scott Morrison started the initiative as part of World Autism Day.
(Photo provided by Utah Jazz)
Utah Jazz lead assistant coach Scott Morrison never thought he'd become a fashion trend leader. In April, that's exactly what happened to him.
It's a rainbow infinity symbol that head coaches across the NBA (“basically every coach,” according to Morrison) will use to promote autism awareness and acceptance during the first week of April. In order to wear the customized Nike Air Force 1 07 that came with it. The initiative kicks off on World Autism Day on Tuesday, when the league's coaches, including Jazz head coach Will Hardy, will wear the shoes for the first time.
Customized Nike Air Force 1 07 worn by Jazz coach Will Hardy during the first week of April. Each NBA coach has a shoe featuring the team's colors and the To the Max Foundation's rainbow Infinity logo. (Photo courtesy of Utah Jazz).
For Mr Morrison, the cause is important. His four-year-old son Max was diagnosed with autism in 2022, when Mr Morrison was head coach of Australia's Perth Wildcats. Mr. Morrison resigned his position there to return to North America to seek better care for Max.
“It was a gamble to come back from Australia because there were no jobs,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison said. “But it would be more of a gamble to remain for him.”
A jazz organization proposed a solution. Utah, known as one of the states with the strongest autism care in the United States, had been attracting attention as a potential candidate for Morrison. Former Jazz forward Joe Ingles also reached out. His young son Jacob was diagnosed with autism in his 2019 year, so the Ingles have gotten a lot of tips on coaching their young son, especially one diagnosed with autism in Utah.
In 2022, Hardy offered him the head coaching position with the Salt Lake City Stars, which Morrison happily accepted. This season, he was promoted to the front of the bench for his parent team, the Jazz.
Now in a good position, Morrison wanted to make sure Max's success spread to others. So he founded the To the Max Foundation. Its logo is a rainbow infinity design painted on the shoe by Jonathan Miller of Salt Lake City-based JSM 801 Customs.
Jazz assistant coach Scott Morrison poses with shoe designer Jonathan Miller for 801 JSM Custom. (Photo provided by Utah Jazz)
Initially, only a few head coaches, including Celtics manager Joe Mazzula, knew personally that Morrison would be wearing the shoes. (Mr. Morrison, a former Celtics assistant, chose Mazula to be Max's godfather.) But soon Mr. Morrison's acquaintances encouraged him to take the campaign further. Morrison pitched the idea to the NBA Coaches Association, and soon almost everyone was on board.
“Suddenly, there was a whirlwind,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison said. “And the more everyone did it here, the bigger it got.”
At the end of the week, Coach's shoes will be auctioned off with proceeds going to the To the Max Foundation. Morrison hopes the foundation and this week's efforts will be the beginning of a community within the NBA for those in need.
“From our own experience, it's nice to have people who have been through it before,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison said. “They're there to help point you in the right direction, but also to know that we're not the only ones going through this.”
