The NBA's new Nike jerseys seem to have a major flaw — they rip easily

As the 2017-18 NBA season tips off this week, many players will make their debut with new teams after one of the wildest offseasons in the history of the league.

But one of the biggest changes in the league has not just one player switching jerseys, but every player, as the NBA ended their partnership with Adidas and made Nike their official outfitter. According to ESPN's Darren Rovell, the eight-year deal was worth approximately $1 billion.

The new jerseys came out to much fanfare, with every team releasing a new look with a Nike swoosh (or Jordan Jumpman logo in the cast of the Hornets), and many teams featuring corporate sponsorship for the first time. Nike was also quick to do away with the much-maligned sleeved jerseys that fans and players alike largely disliked.

But while there were many things to like about Nike's new jerseys, they have already showed that they have a major flaw — they rip a little too easily.

On opening night, LeBron James' jersey tore straight down the back, right between the numbers. The tear came after Jaylen Brown defended James and grabbed at his back.

Lebron's jersey gets ripped... @ Tas Melas

In other circumstances, the tear could've been chalked up to an unfortunate accident, but between the massive investment Nike recently made in getting the jersey rights, and the fact that the tear happened on the back of Nike's most high-profile spokesman LeBron James, the whole event played out as something of a nightmare for Nike PR.

Nike did not comment publicly, Rovell also reports that executives within the company were as he put it, "LeBron James

While this tear was a particular nightmare because happened in primetime on national television to a high-profile player, it was not the first time the new jerseys have come apart during their brief stint of in-game action — during the preseason, Lakers' guard Tyler Ennis' jersey tore around the numbers.

The back of LeBron#emo#s jersey... @ Basketball Society

Basketball fans on Twitter were quick to notice the tear, and make their jokes accordingly.

LeBron#emo#s jersey looking lik... @ Raza (3-2) (1-0)

A Lebron jersey tore? That#emo#... @ Lakers Pulse

If Lebron had an @UnderArmo... @ Justin Forsett

Kevin Harlan: "LeBron James... @ Tyler Brooke

It is still early, but if problems like this persist, Nike may have to make adjustments to the way they construct their jerseys. At the very least, it's not the type of publicity the brand was hoping for this early into their NBA debut.

That said, LeBron's torn jersey will still be put to good use — the league announced before the start of the season that some game-worn jerseys would be auctioned off in order to raise money for hurricane relief, and the tear in the back of James' jersey makes it quite a unique souvenir.

As of Thursday afternoon, the bidding for James' jersey had already cleared $10,000.