A few thoughts on the new NBA City Edition jerseys

A few thoughts on the NBA’s new NBA City Edition jerseys

Ever since Nike got the NBA contract, NBA fans have been treated to new, mostly creative takes on the cities that these teams call home.

Here’s a look at the 2019-2020 City Edition jersey lineup.

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

The Oakland tree is cool, black jerseys are cool, this jersey is therefore cool. Well, the trim looks a bit weird, but overall, it’s a good look. Also smart to keep ties with Oakland, because San Francisco has apparently been cursed for stealing away the Warriors.

LOS ANGELES LAKERS

Wow! Shaq really can do it all! Bringing back the worst jerseys the Lakers ever wore (sorry to the 2000s, but it was not a fashion-friendly decade) and throwing some Hollywood stars on some fractal pattern trim looks great on his resume. Ok, The Big Aristotle usually is knocking it out of the park with his non-basketball projects.

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS

These jersey’s certainly beat out the Laker’s jerseys that were mercilessly Shaq-Fu’d. I’m into it. I mean… I loved GTA: San Andreas, it makes me biased, I don’t care, 10/10.

SACRAMENTO KINGS

First, you pass on Luka, and now this?! “Sactown” was funny and charming when it came out, and it’s red now, why? These already looked like fake uniforms you make on 2K when you want your small town to have an NBA team with LeBron on it, let’s spice it up. Sacramento’s throwback jersey, however, is amazing.

PHOENIX SUNS

I’m still mad that Phoenix dumped their sun themed, slick-looking 2016/2017 uniforms for Nike’s weird bulbous lettering, but this new city edition helps ease the mourning process. Always a fan of the “Los Suns” look, make it black, throw on the Arizona state flag, and we’ve got a winner.

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

We’ve seen Rip City uniforms before, and these ones are better. Nothing really new, but the look is cleaner and instantly recognizable. As an aside, for those of you who didn’t know why Portland’s nickname is Rip City, this is why.

UTAH JAZZ

The Jazz is running back the red rock jerseys of last season. I go back and forth on these, but I won’t complain about the continuity of a popular jersey. This uniform is at least representative of Utah, and anything is better than the Deron Williams era baby blues.

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES

The best thing the Timberwolves have done since drafting KAT, was to give us the Prince-inspired Purple Rain unis last year, they were at the top of the list. The Minneapolis Saint-Paul jerseys are…it’s like turning down a chef’s masterpiece for some mashed potatoes, the potatoes are fine, but what are you doing?

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER

I’ll let the video do the talking this time.

DENVER NUGGETS

THEY DID IT! THEY FINALLY MADE A GOOD NUGGETS JERSEY! And yes, I also had bad taste in the 2000s, I liked the Melo and AI jerseys, and I was wrong. Good for Denver, teams are bound to have a good uniform when given enough time. The Nuggets give hope to Mavericks fans everywhere. Speaking of…

DALLAS MAVERICKS

Ok. Wow. I think to have goofy ol’ Porzingis be the first one showing off this new, and very unexpected look for the Mavericks was a silly idea. That’s why I chose this tweet with Luka repping the new threads to maybe…. well no, these are just kind of ridiculous. These jerseys and Dallas go together like jazz music and Utah. Oh.

HOUSTON ROCKETS

When I hear “Space Jerseys” I am hooked. However, I was expecting a lot more effort than some white and silver trim because, duh, space suits, everyone knows these two common colors are synonymous with space travel. The Rockets really like to drive the hype train and then fall short when it’s time to shine. That aside, the numbering is pretty cool, and I’m pro “H-Town”, it would just be cooler as its own thing, not as a fake space jersey.

SAN ANTONIO SPURS

It’s just camo again. Moving on…

NEW ORLEANS PELICANS

Another team running it back, Nola has never had the most fire jerseys, but the Mardi Gras themed unis are passable, maybe after the luck, the Pelicans had in the draft lottery, they will be emboldened to take a risk, and make a change next season.

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

When it came time to make a City Edition jersey, the Grizzlies said “nah.”

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

There was so much room for Cleveland’s jerseys to improve, and congratulations to the Cavs, they used that room. One small thing, “Cle” is almost as bad as “The Land” just have “Cleveland” across the chest and call it. When the city name is abbreviated on jerseys, the jerseys have a zero percent success rate at being a great jersey (LA and NYC excluded, I don’t make the rules.)

CHICAGO BULLS

Chicago wins the “I have so many conflicting feelings about this jersey that I don’t want to think about it anymore” award. It’s cool, maybe, I don’t know.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS

These are amazing. I need a Giannis one ASAP. Good color scheme, classic feel, and the worst city nickname since Sactown. God speed Milwaukee.

INDIANA PACERS

These are great, I have no complaints, a jersey to fit the team name, and in one fell swoop, Indiana has the best, automotive-based jerseys ever. Sorry, Detroit.

DETROIT PISTONS

Better than last year, but these look like Blake Griffin is wearing the paint job of a mid-life crisis Corvette. Points for trying harder than Memphis though, maybe a throwback next year? The Pistons have had some of the best jerseys ever, it’s been long enough.

CHARLOTTE HORNETS

Like I said, zero percent success rate. It’s almost like Michael Jordan wants the Hornets to stay the most boring franchise in the NBA.

WASHINGTON WIZARDS

Until Washington puts a no joke, completely recognizable, Gandalf-esque wizard on their uniforms I will silently protest every edition that comes out. Tim Duncan, Derrick Rose, and Andrei Kirilenko know the importance of wizard representation in the NBA.

ATLANTA HAWKS

A City Edition for and by the city. Awesome.

ORLANDO MAGIC

For the love of- ZERO PERCENT SUCCESS RATE PEOPLE. I guess it’s smart that the abbreviation is there, or else I would’ve guessed Oregon State or Oklahoma State. The Magic’s explanation boils down to “because of oranges, they’re in Florida.”

MIAMI HEAT

Miami did what Minnesota should have done, bring back one of the best jerseys in the league. These are just so good.

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

These make me think of the “Cream City” Milwaukee threads, but not as fun. I suggest having Ben Franklin, hundred dollar bill themed jerseys next year, or just Sam Hinkie’s face. Nice lettering and the Liberty Bell’s crack being used a stripe is a great touch.

NEW YORK KNICKS

Same as last year, decent jersey, still waiting on a JD and the Straight Shot themed uniform.

BROOKLYN NETS

Question for Brooklynites: Would you swap jerseys with Dallas to have D-Lo instead of Kyrie?

BOSTON CELTICS

Gordon Hayward looks like a giant leprechaun. The numbering and color scheme is solid. Did you all know Boston is very proud of having Irish heritage?

TORONTO RAPTORS

Last, but certainly not least, some very fresh looking threads for the defending champs. When it comes to making a name for yourself in the league, the Raptors have come a long way from being just a franchise named after a movie. Put a title, and a fire jersey down in the history books.

That wraps up the review on the new city edition uniforms! And before anyone is too upset, yes I am legitimately colorblind.