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The 2022-23 NBA season might still be a ways off, but that doesn’t mean we can’t start mentally preparing by feasting our eyes upon some swoon-worthy new threads.
First introduced in 2016, the City Edition jerseys are updated each year. While some teams have stuck with the same design for multiple seasons, others continually switch it up. Or, if you’re the Utah Jazz, you do a little bit of both. At least one team (s/o Washington Wizards) coordinated with its MLB counterpart on the aesthetic.
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In addition to the much-ballyhooed City Edition looks, some teams, such as the San Antonio Spurs, are throwing it back next season. Cue the Classic Edition jerseys, which pay homage to the franchise’s origins.
Here is a look at the latest uniform updates as they’re released by the teams.
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Purple power
The Charlotte Hornets stay in purple with their Statement Edition uniforms. The design on the shorts is made to look like a stinger.
It’s all in the details
The Los Angeles Lakers have joined the Statement Edition uniform party. The Lake Show might be making a statement, but they’re still staying on brand with their aesthetic, as their new jerseys are purple and, you guessed it, gold.
Not your traditional Timberwolves
On Thursday, the Minnesota Timberwolves revealed their 2022-23 Statement Edition look. According to the team, the uniform, which features a green and grey colorway, was “inspired by a wolfpack’s nighttime journey under the eye and vibrancy of the Northern Lights.”
We can dig it.
Fans will get a first look at the uniform in action on Oct. 21 when the team hosts the Utah Jazz. Minnesota will don the Statement Edition uniform at home 18 times throughout the upcoming season.
Back in black
The Brooklyn Nets understood the Statement Edition assignment. The franchise revealed a new 2022-23 black-on-black look that is entirely on brand with the fashion aesthetic of Brooklynites.
New-look Pistons
The Pistons are making a statement with a new design inspired by a fan’s voicemail to the organization.
35 years in the 305
The Miami Heat entered the NBA in 1988. Now, 35 years and three NBA titles later, the Heat are bringing back their original uniforms.
From San Diego to Houston
Marking 55 years since the team was founded, the Houston Rockets are bringing back their green, gold and white uniforms from their time as the San Diego Rockets.
Future legend Pat Riley was the franchise’s first-ever draft pick. The team played in Southern California until moving to Houston in 1971.
Sunbursts, stars and stripes
The Phoenix Suns dipped into the Charles Barkley era with the return of the purple sunburst uniforms.
Read more about them.
The Brooklyn Nets are also bringing back a classic look. One from across the state lines when they played in New Jersey.
Vintage-look Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are celebrating their 75th season by revisiting their Minneapolis roots. The MPLS uniforms were worn from 1948 to 1958 and used as throwbacks in the 2001-02 and 2017-18 seasons.
The powder blue will make its return this upcoming season.
Welcome back, Run TMC
Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin only played two seasons together on the Golden State Warriors, but their 1990-91 campaign as the highest-scoring trio in the league earned them the “Run TMC” nickname.
Now, the uniform from their era is set to return and even received a stamp of approval from Stephen Curry.
Statement made
San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio released its fifth uniform for the 2022-23 season with its Statement Edition combination.
The jersey features a new “SATX” wordmark and a Texas outline containing the Spurs’ logo is displayed on the shorts. Modern patterns inspired by traditional Mexican serapes and saddle blankets run down the sides of the uniform.
“Our new Statement Edition uniform embodies the evolution of our team’s roots while celebrating fans across the entire region,” said Becky Kimbro, VP of brand engagement for Spurs Sports & Entertainment. “Through the intricate serape pattern, we’re blending our 50-year legacy with our vibrant culture that we celebrate on and off the court.”
Revival of a classic
Detroit Pistons
The Pistons are bringing back the teal era in the 2022-23 season with their “Classic Edition” uniforms. Detroit wore a seemingly identical combination from 1996 to 2001.
The uniform’s primary color is teal, and a horse with a multicolored flame as a mane is prominently displayed on the jersey. Detroit announced the news with a video featuring several tweets from fans who called for the design’s return.
The clean design in Cleveland
The Cleveland Cavaliers might have an advantage in the uniform game. In 2020, the team hired artist Daniel Arsham as creative director. Arsham is a contemporary artist who works as a sculptor and designer. He helped redesign the team’s uniforms and lettering.
“It’s a very clean, reductive, modern design that pays homage to all of the players and fans that have been a part of our team’s remarkable journey in becoming who we are today,” Arsham told the team’s website.
They put on for their city
Washington Wizards
For the Wiz Kids, it’s all about the cherry blossoms. The Wizards unveiled their tribute to the iconic flowers of the nation’s capital back in March but won’t debut their pink alternate uniforms until the 2022-23 season.
The team’s MLB counterpart, the Washington Nationals, revealed a similar City Edition uniform set, as the franchises collaborated to create a unified alternative look across sports. The Nike collaboration marks the first uniform campaign between MLB and NBA teams from the same market.
Hopefully the cherry blossom look bodes better for the Wizards — as of Monday, the Nationals were in last place in the NL East (30-58).
Keeping it classic
San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs are going back to the beginning. In recent years, the Spurs’ City Edition jerseys had featured a camouflage pattern and, most recently, a white canvas with the iconic “fiesta stripe” on the sides based on the team’s popular warm-ups from the 1990s.
Now, in honor of San Antonio’s 50th season, the team is rolling out Classic Edition uniforms that pay homage to the team’s storied legacy. The look, made popular by Spurs legend George Gervin, features “San Antonio” across a black-on-black jersey chest.
“The Spurs Classic Edition uniform is a symbolic way for us to honor our legacy, players and loyalty to the city of San Antonio while giving our fans what they’ve been asking for — we hear you,” said Becky Kimbro, VP of brand engagement for Spurs Sports & Entertainment.
Old school meets new school
Utah Jazz
New uniforms but make it ’90s. The Jazz are switching things up while simultaneously throwing things back. Utah revealed its primary colors for next season will be black, yellow and white. But the team also announced three purple jerseys, two of which won’t be worn until 2023-24.
The Jazz enlisted the help of a video to tease its new purple mountain uniform set coming back for the 2022-23 season. Utah also teased a new purple mountain uniform for the following year, along with a classic jersey reminiscent of the original Jazz jersey design from when the team first moved to Utah from New Orleans.
If it seems like the Jazz are rolling out a lot of ensembles, it’s because they are.
