Ranking the Best NBA Jerseys: '90s Extravagance, Classic Icons, and City Editions Shine as Star Performers
In the world of professional basketball, the uniforms of the teams have become as iconic as the news of the players themselves. Over the years, various teams have donned unique and memorable designs that have left a lasting impression on fans. Here's a glance at some of the most preferred NBA uniforms throughout history.
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers' 1976-77 red, white, and blue uniform is a fan favourite, thanks to its thematic appropriateness for a team named the Philadelphia 76ers and the star detailing on the side.
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks' 1995-1999 Big Buck alternate uniform, with its forest green background, serves as an effective canvas for the art and feels naturally fitting for the team.
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs' modern standard black, white, and silver uniform is considered one of the best in the modern NBA due to its clean and simple design.
Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets' 1986-1991 standard rainbow uniform, featuring mountain-shaped negative space, is Denver's best uniform, according to many fans.
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers' 1992-2002 standard red, black, and white uniform is considered the peak of their uniform design. However, the addition of a smaller grey layer to the stripe in later versions is less helpful, some claim.
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings' 1998-2002 purple alternates are preferred for their royal design and minimal distractions. Interestingly, the team that had a single most beautiful uniform design in its history and did not use this design as its official uniform at any time during the 21st century is the Sacramento Kings with their classic purple and silver design from the late 1990s, which they discontinued early in the 2000s.
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers' 1997-2005 pinstripes uniform is preferred for its nostalgic value and the navy and yellow color scheme, which many believe makes the jersey tough.
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons' 2001-04 Horse shorts are a unique design, featuring a horse on the shorts, while the 1990s teal uniform with a fire horse mascot is a notable design that was later abandoned.
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat's 2018-19 City Edition Miami Vice uniform is preferred because it has a black base, sends a message without being too loud, and contrasts perfectly with the black and white of the standard Nets jersey.
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics' 1998-2014 standard green and white uniform is preferred over earlier versions because it includes a clover on the belt line and says "Celtics" instead of "Boston."
New York Knicks
The New York Knicks' 1997-2001 standard blue and orange uniform is preferred because it has a V-neck, sharper edges, and a slight slant in the side detailing.
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz's 1996-2004 standard mountain jerseys, with their unique geographic design, are a perfect fit for the team's new hometown.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers' 2005-2014 standard purple and gold uniform is considered the best Laker jersey due to its simplicity and sleek design.
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves' 1997-2008 black tree trim alternates are considered a "best jersey in NBA history" candidate.
New Orleans Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans' 2023-24 City Edition VooDoo uniforms are clean, local, and intimidating, making them staples.
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors' 2010-2014 standard blue and yellow uniform, with the California map logo on the belt, is considered clean, distinct, and iconic.
Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies' 1995-2000 standard teal and white uniform, with claw marks on the text, is considered the best Grizzlies jersey.
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic's 1996-97 blue pinstripes uniform is preferred because it ties all of the ideas together, has a lighter color scheme, and the star dotting the "i" in "Magic" on the white version plays better than the bigger one in the starry background jerseys.
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards' 2022-23 City Edition cherry blossoms uniform is preferred because it feels appropriate for both the team's name and its city, and the pink feels a bit more magical.
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks' 1995-1999 Big Hawk uniform is preferred because it maximizes every inch of space, has a giant hawk, and the number is tucked away on the upper chest.
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks' 1981-84 green, blue, and white uniform is praised for its western motif and unique font.
Brooklyn Nets
The Brooklyn Nets' 2018-19 Biggie City Edition uniform is preferred because it has Biggie-inspired trim and adds local flair for a team that relocated to Brooklyn.
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns' 1994-2000 black sunburst alternates are considered cool and tell a different story compared to their purple base uniform.
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets' 1995-2003 standard navy, red, and white uniform is controversial but is the only Rockets jersey that has tried something different and connects to their team name and city.
Charlotte Hornets
The Charlotte Hornets' standard modern teal and white uniform is preferred because the multi-colored stripes on the 90s version are too busy, and the sharper font on the contemporary edition feels more appropriate for a team called the "Hornets."
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls' 1986-2006 standard red, white, and black uniform is preferred because it is timeless and will never go out of style.
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder's 2018-19 City Edition Native American heritage uniform is the only legitimately good jersey the Thunder have ever worn.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers' mid-80s orange and white uniform, with a net-shaped "V" on the jersey, is one of the simplest and most memorable uniforms in the league.
While some teams have chosen to stick with classic designs, others have experimented with new and innovative looks. However, it seems that in the 21st century, the NBA has taken a significant step back in design, with modern uniforms often being just a single word against a monochromatic background with few noticeable design elements. Nonetheless, the history of each team in its uniforms matters, and teams no longer feel distinct in their uniforms. The NBA continues to release new jerseys every year to encourage fans to buy new jerseys, but it remains to be seen how the designs will evolve in the future.
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