Los Angeles Lakers: If you're going to win 16 Championships then you gotta look good doing so. Nothing quite measures up than the iconic purple and gold. Lakers greats: Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaq, Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant and now Lebron James continue sporting uni greatness that makes tinseltown as bright as the stars that inhabit it. Their new city uniforms are a personal favorite of mine.
Portland Trail Blazers: The “City of Roses,” has a rich history of basketball including a 1977 Championship banner to show for it. From Clyde Drexler to Damian Lilard to Lamarcus Alridge to Zach Randolph, “Rip City,” has had its share of iconic players and the one thing they’ve all had in common is killer cool uniforms from their home whites to their black aways, to their timeless city editions. The Blazers truly have some of the best uniforms in the league every season.
Miami Heat: Miami, truly has the hottest city edition uniforms in the NBA: that personify the cities rich Latin culture, iconic culinary flavors and fantastic music. South Beach legends like Dwayne Wade, Alonzo Mourning, Tim Hardaway Sr., Shaq, Udonis Haslem, Chris Bosh, Shaq and now Jimmy Butler all can sport their alternates which aren’t too bad either: as well as their classic editions.
Toronto Raptors: The city of Toronto was traditionally known as a hockey city with the Maple Leafs then a baseball town with the Blue Jays and now is a well-respected renowned basketball country. The Raptors clawed their way to a 2019 Championship sporting some sleek threads from their “Drake-inspired City unis,” to their timeless throwbacks, The Six’s uniform spread has improved (like their team) every season and is top-five worthy.
Chicago Bulls: Nothing was better in the 90’s than the Bulls. Six championships (two, three-peats) led by the greatest player ever in Michael Jordan that made Chicago’s worldwide brand unmatched. This is a great thing as the Bulls are now (presently/currently) terrible but at least they look flashy losing. From the iconic reds, black icon editions and home whites to these classics ushered in Chicago-Flag inspired city editions this season that round out my top five.
Utah Jazz: The mountains of Utah, aspen forests and national parks are some of the best views in the country but whenever Utahns need a changeup (from skiing, mountain-biking, camping or going to the Sundance Movie Festival), Jazz basketball is Quite the site to see especially in their city editions, throwback duos to their classic editions, Utah has had a rich history of great Jazz players (Deron Williams, Carlos Boozer, Kyle Korver, Andrei Kirilenko, Karl Malone, John Stockto and now Donovan Mitchell) rocking their threads.
Boston Celtics: 16 World Championships in Beantown, so many New England legends: (Larry Bird, Paul Pierce, Bill Russell, Robert Perish, Bob Cousy, Kevin McHale, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo), “the C’s” have arguably been the best professional basketball team in the East and the one thing that’s sustained the test of time is their iconic green and white. The Celtics’ city editions round out a top-ten uni collection.
Golden State Warriors: The dynasty by the Bay has been quite impressive with three world championships in the last decade in large part to, “The Splash Brothers,” in Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson and franchise legends that paved the way for “The Town,” including Rick Barry, Chris Mullin, Tim Hardaway Sr., Baron Davis, Monta Ellis, Jason Richardson, David Lee and Stephen Jackson. Nothing is quite as jaw-droppingly awesome as Curry and Thompson reigning three’s from halfcourt but their unis are a close second: take their “Chinese New Year,” unis for example or their icon slates or even their sunshine golds, the Warriors have some of the cleanest threads in the league.
Brooklyn Nets: Since moving from Newark, New Jersey in 2010, there’s been some dark days for the Nets. But the 2019 off-season changed everything for Brooklyn’s squad. Landing not only world champion, Kyrie Irving but then three-time champion, Kevin Durant to an already well-rounded squad provided the first legitimate glimmer of hope the franchise hasn’t seen since moving to this great city. Once Irving and Durant take the court together next season, Brooklyn will have a championship contender they haven’t had since 1976 and nothing exemplifies the toughness, grit and resilience of the millions that walk through the concrete streets of Bedford-Stuyvesant, than the Nets unis. From their black icons/city editions, to their alpine whites to their newest sleet threads the Nets unis are the ‘ish.
New York Knicks: The last time the Knicks won a world championship, gas cost .40 cents, a loaf of bread cost a quarter and Richard Nixon was the President during the Cold War. It’s been a long 47 years in the “Mecca of basketball,” that is Madison Square Garden and the only aspect the Knicks appear to be consistently winning is the uniform category because the classic blue to orange combo rounds out my top ten certainly. Also quick shout-out to the city-editions too.
Oklahoma City Thunder: “Loud City,” has been one of the toughest places to win paving the way for OKC greats: Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, Nick Collison, James Harden, Paul George and Co. to reach the playoffs nine of the last twelve years (includ. A finals appearance) since moving to Oklahoma in 2008. Regular season success has paired seamlessly with the unis the players have been wearing from their regular collection: Thunder blue, home white, icon editions, to their city editions, the Thunder have a top-notch thread collection.
San Antonio Spurs: The Spurs have quietly created a dynasty with “The Big Three,” of Manu Ginobli, Tony Parker and Tim Duncan winning five world championships. The one word always brought up when you think of San Antonio (besides the River Walk) is consistency and their uniform collection while simplistic is phenomenal from their black aways, to their icon slate edition, to the classic whites, the Spurs will consistently have some of the best unis in the league.
Houston Rockets: Like the Mcdonalds’ slogan says, “I’m loving it.” H-Town’s unis take liftoff giving the nods to legends of old: (Tracy McGrady, Yao Ming, Hakeem Olajuwon, Dikembe Mutombo, Kenny Smith) with this throwback: to legends of current (James Harden and Russell Westbrook) with these moderns, to their city editions, the Rockets unis are fantastic.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Notorious for having the most uniforms in the league consistently every year, The ‘Land is in good hands when it comes to the threads department. From their city editions, to their icon jerseys to their home collection: the Cavs uniforms are next level.
Denver Nuggets: Mile High combined elements of their old uniforms with elements of their new uniforms,to create a top collection of league threads that would make Nuggets of old (Carmello Anthony, Birdman, Kevin Martin, Chauncey Billups) and Nuggets of new (Jamaal Murray, Nikola Jokic) something to be proud of.
Memphis Grizzlies: Grind City recently revamped their uniforms and brought back their famous Vancouver days which are definitely a favorite of mine while their regular collection does a fine job well built from guys like Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, Mike Conley, Tony Allen and Now Ja Morant, Memphis is rebuilding a once-winning and at least, while doing so will look good.
Indiana Pacers: The state of Indiana is a basketball state, from the hoosiers, sycamores, boilermakers, bulldogs and of course, the Pacers. For all of that success, your team needs a uniform lineup that stands tall among the competitor and the Pacers did just that with their icon silver edition, to their city editions, to their court classics: (home gold and navy away), the Pacers have set their own race.
Philadelphia 76ers: After many years, the 6ers finally nailed their uniform collection. Especially their throwbacks exemplifying the rich history of Philadelphia (they have more than cheesesteaks there). Their icon edition reds are quite excellent too.
Sacramento Kings: Harkening back to the Chris Webber and Jason Williams’ days to now the De’Aaron Fox days there’s been few and far in-between success but loyal fandom, a great city and top-notch arena to pair with some slicks unis make Sac-Town a royal franchise: from their icon editions to their city editions to their classics, Sacramento has some nice threads.
Atlanta Hawks: The only thing better than Trae Young pulling up from the logo, hitting his seventh three in a game is the threads he’s wearing, especially the A-T-L’s new city edition unis. The rest of the collection you either love of hate but do enjoy the red icon edition.
Milwaukee Bucks: The Bucks, thanks to a resurgent team in “The Greek Freak,” Kris Middleton, Eric Bledsoe re-branded their uniforms for a slightly better version of their previous ones. Milwaukee long known for cheese curds and Miller Lite wants their basketball team to be the talk of the town and does so in these uniforms more than their others: their city editions and classic aways.
Washington Wizards: The Nation’s capital has long been known for politics, the Redskins, more politics, the Capitols, more politics, the Nationals, more politics then the Wizards. Washington’s basketball teams been wavy in terms of success but a consistent has been some interesting uniforms from their city editions to their classics the Wizards at the very least have a solid uni set.
Dallas Mavericks: While I dig the Mavs city edition unis: they haven’t changed their classics for at least a decade so while I like them I think a trip down flavortown would make a world of difference for up-and-comers Luka Doncic and Porzingis in “Big D.”
LA Clippers: Notoriously known as the other Los Angeles team to a contender built on the bricks of Baron Davis, Chris Kaaman, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and Chris Paul to the likes of Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Louis Williams, Trezz Harrell one thing that’s stayed consistent is some “meh,” unis. Their city editions are a step in the right direction for a team trying to appeal to the grit, resilience and tough areas of Los Angeles and surrounding areas.
Phoenix Suns: What once was a great basketball city with the days of Steve Nash, Shawn Marion, Amar’e Stoudemire and Grant Hill is now consistently one of the worst teams in the NBA but at least they look good losing particularly their icon editions and their city editions.
Minnesota T-Wolves: Does vibrant highlighter green look good on the Seahawks? Yes. Does it on the T-Wolves? For me, that’s a no.
New Orleans Pelicans: Yes I understand these uniforms represent the rich history of New Orleans and most specifically, “Mardi-Gras,” but vibrant purple and yellow aren’t at all my favorites on an NBA player.
Charlotte Hornets: While I am a fan of consuming wild-berry poptarts, I am not a fan of them on an NBA team.
Orlando Magic: I’m not sure if Orlando got the memo but pinstripes on a basketball uniform is not that magical..
Detroit Pistons: One word: yuck! I mean look at this.
Best NBA Uniforms: Chris’s Corner Edition
Chris's Corner
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