Nike’s championship tee design process began with looking at athlete and consumer insights. Interestingly, the brand said this research was “specifically tuned to the 14-17-year-old athlete as the muse.” The company has “spent years studying” this teenage demographic, finding that “they gravitate toward [the] new, modern, different,” and that their “fearless, edgy attitude is what’s driving the design language now.” For this New York Knicks design, Nike also cited the viral, old-school-style warm-up suits worn by the NBA All-Star team in February as a “first proof point” of this bolder, younger graphic approach. Of course, what’s new is often based on what is now old, hence Gen Z and Alpha’s embrace of the aforementioned Ed Hardy, as well its ongoing obsession with the LA luxe-biker-ready brand Chrome Hearts (echoes of which can also be seen in the Knicks tee). There is an aesthetic daringness, or at least flashiness, in the crystals especially—some social-media pundits have discussed the return of rhinestones in men’s streetwear of late. Jalen Brunson, mid-celebration. Jesse D. Garrabrant/Getty Images With a layout …