When Nike took over the NBA’s jersey design, they decided to go big or go home. Not content with the traditional home and road swag, they made four new "Editions"—Association, Icon, Statement, and now City, which Nike created to “honor the fans…whose passions define each team’s identity.” The results range from awesome (see our picks), to basic (OKC’s grey mess) to straight-up pandering to overseas markets (Chinese characters show up on both Houston’s and Golden State’s). We’ve picked our favorites and unpacked the hometown references that make them legit.
Welcome to Jersey City
A guide To the Nba's new City edition uniforms
When Nike took over the NBA’s jersey business, they decided to go big or go home. They subbed in four alternative styles known as “Editions,” the last of which are the new City versions, which Nike says were created to “honor the fans… whose passions help define each respective team’s identity.” The results range from awesome (see our top ten), to basic (Cleveland’s drab grey) to straight-up pandering to overseas fans (Chinese characters show up on Houston’s and Golden State’s). We’ve gathered the coolest City Editions, and uncovered the hometown references that make them legit.
Old Toronto
CN Tower, Old Toronto
East York
The Weather Network
E.T. Seton Park, East York
Scarborough
Scarborough Bluffs Park, Scarborough
York
Magwood Park, York
Etobicoke
Humber Bridge, Etobicoke
North York
York Cemetery, North York
Drake in OVO x Toronto Raptors
Widely known as the "OVO" edition, these unis rep the Big Smoke and its official ambassador, Drake. OVO (October’s Very Own) is the rapper’s record label and clothing line, whose black and gold colors the Raptors adopted. The uni's chevron print has six cardinal points, one for each of Toronto’s six boroughs. As Drizzy would say, "Welcome to the six…"
"OVO"
TORONTO RAPTORS
Indy's Checkered Flag
Lotus 25 Formula One Car
These are starkly different from most city editions, thanks in large part to the bold, track-worthy design. In honor of the Indy 500, there's a checkered pattern inside a wide racing stripe and encircled numbers that evoke Indy car decals. Just as the pace car sets the speed for all other drivers the motto emblazoned above the tag is a reminder of the Pacer's obligation—to always lead.
"ALWAYS LEAD"
Indiana Pacers
Bicentennial Logo
Detail
Join or Die Political Cartoon
Declaration of Independence
"UNITE OR DIE"
Philadelphia is nothing if not patriotic, as made evident by this Declaration of Independence-inspired kit, complete with Hancockian script and an off-white color to match the parchment signed by our forefathers. The "Unite or Die" stitched over the tag echoes Benjamin Franklin's "Join, or Die" political cartoon, imploring the colonies to rebel together. The shorts feature a '70s throwback '76ers label, with a Bicentennial-era circle of stars repping each of the original thirteen colonies.
Philadelphia 76ers
Jersey Detail
Subway Lines
5
4
3
D
R
Q
N
B
2
Brooklyn Bridge
"BROOKLYN UNITE"
Brooklyn Nets
Hova would be proud. It’s not flashy, but Brooklyn’s uni features some pitch-perfect nods to the Borough of Kings. The Nets are in stripes for the first time—not pinstripes, like that other New York team—but ones that mimic the suspension cables on the Brooklyn Bridge. The colored dots on the shorts rep each subway line you can ride to get to the Barclays Center. Who said Brooklyn can't be subtle?
Prosperity
Chinese Dragon Lantern
Golden State Warriors
"PROSPERITY"
The team’s 1962 move from Philadelphia to Oakland happened during the growth of San Francisco’s Chinatown. So there’s a clear, historical reason for featuring dragons on the shirt and the Chinese character for prosperity on the waistband. That China is a booming market for NBA merch is strictly a coincidence. These are a bright, colorful marriage of Chinese symbolism and Bay Area bravado.
Miami Vice, 1984 - 1990
Miami Arena, 1988 - 2008
"VICE"
An ostentatious throwback to the visual excesses of 1980s Miami. The colors ("fuschia" and "blue gale") are a nod to the coke-fueled TV crime drama Miami Vice, and the script references the logo of the old Miami Arena, which was demolished in 2008. There's no catchphrase on these, but they've been referred to as the "Vice" city editions in most of the (very cool) marketing materials.
Miami Heat
Dr. Jack Ramsay
Portland City Flag
Shorts Detail
"EST. 1970"
The plaid pattern isn't just a nod to loggers and grunge kids, but to the benchside flair of legendary Trail Blazers coach Dr. Jack Ramsay, who led the team to a championship in '77. The "Rip City" nickname is also from the ‘70s: play-by-play commentator Bill Schonely screamed it after a haphazard, long-distance jumper found net. And front and center on the waistband of the shorts: the Portland city flag.
Portland trail blazers
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Charlotte Hornets
Wisconsin Buck
The Basilica of St. Josaphat
"CREAM CITY"
As of 2016, there were over 1.4 million deer in Wisconsin, so the buck is front and center. The base is a distinct cream color as seen on many of Milwaukee’s pale brick buildings, the inspiration for the city's nickname and jersey embroidery. The stripes represent Milwaukee's marriage of lush woodlands, waterways, and urban landscapes.
Milwaukee Bucks
Mardi Gras Beads
A New Orleans Second Line
"LAISSEZ LES BONS TEMPS ROULER"
"Let the good times roll," the slogan proclaims in NOLA's second native language. The design obeys with a trio of Carnival colors—purple (justice), green (power), and gold (faith). The neckline nods to the infamous beaded necklaces, though there's no flashing required. Nike says the staggered numbers are meant to be "dancing," an evocation of the city's spirit, but we think staggering is just as appropriate.
NEW ORLEANS PELICANS
Artis Gilmore
Chicago Flag
"SWEET HOME"
This crisp, elegant jersey feels simultaneously old and new, and contains multiple nods to the Chicago flag. The column of stars coupled with the new colors—white, baby blue, and red—are pure flag fashion. The script is a throwback to '70s era Bulls jerseys, which have never been done in white.
Chicago bulls
