Dwight Howard "Loyalty" t-shirts. (NBA.com)
Maybe this is hipster irony at its finest. But probably this is just really stupid.

The NBA store is selling a t-shirt with an image of All-Star center Dwight Howard in his Orlando Magic jersey with the word "loyalty" and the team's logo superimposed across the chest. 

The shirt is priced at $21.99 and sold with the following pitch: "Show your undying loyalty to your hoops fave when you wear the adidas Orlando Magic Dwight Howard t-shirt. This short-sleeve tee displays screenprinted NBA team and player graphics on the front."

Howard used the word when he decided to opt in to the 2012-2013 season of his contract with the Magic back in March. 

"I'm loyal," Howard said at a press conference announcing his decision, according to WFTV.com. "It's been very hard. We're talking a career-changing event. Most people don't see that. I'm very loyal and I've always put loyalty above anything." 

Those statements were received with much derision, including from Miami Heat All-Star guard Dwyane Wade.

Of course, Howard's pledge of "loyalty" came after Howard refused to sign a long-term extension, publicly requested a trade in December and then put the franchise through a wild week of indecision, in which he couldn't decide whether or not to opt in while the Magic explored trade options right up until the deadline.

Then, in April, Howard denied reports that he wanted his former coach, Stan Van Gundy, to be fired just minutes after Van Gundy himself told media members that the reports were accurate. In May, after the Magic were bounced out of the first round of the playoffs after Howard underwent back surgery, the team elected to fire Van Gundy and part ways with GM Otis Smith after rumors indicated that Howard wanted both gone. Another recent report indicated that Howard planned to request a trade again this summer.

Loyalty can be a complicated concept with many definitions but this shirt is pretty incomprehensible.

Hat tip: Crossover Chronicles