NBA Season Ahead Reflects Fashion Forward Trends
Minnesota Timberwolves to Revive Iconic Black Christmas Tree Uniforms
In an exciting move that is sure to delight NBA fans, the Minnesota Timberwolves have announced they will be bringing back their black Christmas tree uniforms from the glory days of the Kevin Garnett era. This decision is one of several by various teams in the league to reintroduce old, fan-favorite jerseys for the 2025-26 season.
The Timberwolves' black Christmas tree uniforms, with their distinctive tree-like design, are likely to be well-received by fans, offering a modern take on a classic design. The retro jerseys signal a shift towards more traditional jersey designs for the Timberwolves, marking a departure from the frequent changes in jersey designs that have characterized the league in recent years.
The return of these iconic uniforms may indicate a return to the Timberwolves' successful past. During Kevin Garnett's time with the team, the Timberwolves made eight straight playoff runs from 1997 to 2004. The black Christmas tree uniforms were worn by Garnett during his heyday with the team and are closely associated with the Timberwolves' glory years.
The Timberwolves are not alone in this move. The Golden State Warriors will bring back a cream-colored version of their 2019-20 Oakland tribute design featuring the oak tree logo. The Dallas Mavericks are reviving a black, blue, and silver version of their 2020-21 Pegasus-inspired uniforms with wing-like designs down the sides. The Utah Jazz will recolor or bring back their "Dark Mode" version of the Red Rock-themed gradient uniforms from 2020-22. The Philadelphia 76ers will also participate in the NBA’s Classic Jersey campaign by bringing back one of their classic jerseys for the 2025-26 season.
Most teams are revisiting past City Edition uniform designs as recolors or remixes rather than entirely new designs, so several fan-favorite looks are making a return in some form across the league. This shift towards tradition and fan favorites may signal a change in the NBA's approach to jersey design.
The Timberwolves' recent City Edition jerseys have not been well-received. However, with a new, exciting core, the Timberwolves are poised for a similar spree of success. The announcement of retro jerseys suggests that the league is taking a step back from the frequent changes in jersey designs and focusing on what fans love.
The last few years have seen an overabundance of City Edition jerseys that either hurt the eyes or made no impression. The return of retro jerseys is expected to be a soothing balm for NBA fans. Internet browsing has become popular for watching videos of players working out or modeling new uniforms, and the return of these classic designs is sure to generate a lot of interest.
As the NBA enters a quiet period, with free agency, trade season, draft, and Summer League concluded, the return of these iconic jerseys serves as a reminder of the league's rich history and the enduring love fans have for their teams' classic looks.
GQ recommends checking out videos of NBA players modeling the upcoming retro jerseys, such as the Minnesota Timberwolves' black Christmas tree uniforms, which were worn by Kevin Garnett during the team's glory years. Style-conscious fans might appreciate the throwback designs of these uniforms, like the NBA champion Golden State Warriors' cream-colored Oakland tribute design or the Dallas Mavericks' black, blue, and silver Pegasus-inspired uniforms. Even basketball enthusiasts will find these throwback style choices intriguing, especially since the NBA is putting a focus on fan favorites for the 2025-26 season, as seen with teams like the Philadelphia 76ers and Utah Jazz.
