DETROIT - Leave the bling at home.

Take off those headphones.

And, for the last time, take off that cap.

That was the message the NBA sent to its players Monday when it officially adopted a minimum dress code that will go into effect Nov. 1, the start of the regular season.

NBA commissioner David Stern briefly stepped into the role of Mr. Mom in an attempt to introduce a cleaner, more presentable image to the league's fans and sponsors.

Players no longer can arrive at or leave games wearing headphones, sunglasses while indoors, T-shirts, shorts, sleeveless shirts or chains, medallions or pendants. They're also forbidden to wear replica or throwback jerseys and baseball caps to postgame news conferences. And if a player doesn't suit up for a game, he must wear a sports coat on the bench.

Most Pistons disagree with the new rule.

"Most people dress according to their culture and their ethnic background," said Dale Davis, a 14-year veteran. "You almost embrace the culture, and now it's taken away. That's tough."

Guard Richard Hamilton said the NBA has marketed throwback jerseys for many years, and only in recent years has it become a fad. Rasheed Wallace is a big fan of them. So is former Pistons coach Larry Brown. Now they can't wear them.

One reporter told Hamilton the NBA stands for No Bling Allowed. Hamilton smirked.

"It's crazy though, every young guy that comes through the NBA, that's the first thing they get is a chain," Hamilton said. "That's going to be kind of different. But you can't control what people wear around their neck."

Sitting at his locker stall, Hamilton was wearing a shiny silver necklace. Will he tuck it in, or leave it at home?

"Are you going to ask players who are married if they're going to tuck in their wedding bands?" he said.

Hamilton also has his own clothing line, RIP City, which sells jerseys, sweatshirts and dress shirts.

Pistons coach Flip Saunders said he hasn't reviewed the entire policy, but he did agree with wearing a suit on the bench, just as coaches do.

"I think the biggest thing is, what the league is trying to do," Saunders said, "is understand that the image_that when we come to the arenas and are at events_there's a lot of people who look at the athletes, young kids, and look at us like we're going to the office. Who knows?"

Guard Carlos Arroyo feels the league went overboard. He said it really doesn't mess with his style - he doesn't wear any jewelry and dresses casual - but he said it does take away from self-expression. Plus, NBA teams are on the road for 41 games, jumping from flight to flight, a time when Arroyo wants to feel comfortable.

"I don't agree with it," Arroyo said. "We are who we are, on and off the court, and people should accept us for who we are."

But the days of strutting down the proverbial catwalk before and after games are coming to an end.

"So you buy nice things and just leave it at home and look at it while you're brushing your teeth and stuff like that?" Hamilton said. "We're here 10 months of the year."