If you’re going to honor one of the coldest musicians to ever live with a basketball jersey, that jersey needs to be as vibrant as the life that musician lived. These jerseys symbolized a team that kept old traditions alive, with bruising big men Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol epitomizing the “Grit-N-Grind” Grizzlies. Notable Wearers: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant. For my money, though, the star of the set are the red alternates. Inspired by the racing culture in Indiana, the uniquely angular “Flo-Jo” jerseys are truly iconic. Bill Russell's white jersey, with the green "CELTICS" and the "6" nestled inside its arc, is one of the most memorable jerseys of all time. They never won a championship in New Jersey, but the sheer patriotism and style of their kits have maintained for generations. The Houston Rockets won back-to-back championships in these jerseys, owing to some legendary players. ... No portion of NBA.com may be duplicated, redistributed or manipulated in any form. Purple, orange, and black can be a tough combination to pull off, but with MVP Charles Barkley in the kits, it turned out to be an easy sell. It’s a spin on their classic look, features bold splashes of color and a clean stripe, and should stand the test of time just fine. — Michael Shapiro, The Lakers are known for their purple and gold color scheme but after moving from Minneapolis to Los Angeles, the team donned these beautiful blue uniforms for six years. The cursive logo looks great and the team enjoyed plenty of success during their first years in L.A. behind Hall of Famers Elgin Baylor and Jerry West, appearing in the NBA Finals every year from 1961–1966. When Garnett, Pierce and Ray Allen brought home the Larry O'Brien in ’08, Boston was still donning virtually the exact same legendary uni. Former Houston Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich famously said, “Never underestimate the heart of a champion!” Great words from a great coach from a great team. The New Jersey Nets may have moved to Brooklyn after almost 40 years, but their jerseys are still some of the most iconic in the history of the league. — Woo. We’re ranking the best NBA players of all time. The Portland Trail Blazers only found championship success in the 1970s led by Bill Walton. Ranking the 30 Best NBA Jerseys of All Time 2. Notable Wearers: Jack Sikma, Gary Payton, Shawn Kemp. Notable Wearers: Alonzo Mourning, Larry Johnson, Muggsy Bogues. But where the team did get it right was with its jersey selection. The Miami Heat has always been a “destination” franchise. The stars and stripes combo down the side of the uni is something that would be considered a major risk in 2018; instead, it was a standard for the Nets. Erving dazzled audiences in the 70s with his high-flying antics, superstar presence, and iconic afro haircut. The “Cream City Rainbow” striping on the three main uniforms is a neat touch, a small, blink-and-you-miss-it addition that keeps the jerseys from looking too buttoned up. Holding the record for scoring the second most career points in NBA history, Malone is considered one of the best … The only thing these jerseys are missing are a Bacardi sponsorship and a wristband for VIP entry at LIV hanging off the shoulder. Their jerseys, their away jerseys, in particular, were uniquely bright. After defeating some of the NBA’s greatest, the Rockets made these jerseys forever associated with championship success. Milwaukee’s success starts with a great color scheme. Commonly known as the “Flo-Jo's,” after Olympic sprinter and clothing designer Florence Griffith Joyner, these beauties may have the most complex backstory of any NBA jersey ever. It’s a special type of art that can only be appreciated when it’s moving at full tilt. All Rights Reserved. Tap to unmute. Best Selling NBA Jerseys of All-Time 1. The Vice unis also fly in the face of the Heat’s image. Advertising disclosure: WSN contains links to online retailers on its website. And Milwaukee’s first City Edition threads, featuring a cream base and striping across the chest, were exquisite. — Shapiro. On those merits, the Nuggets’ rainbow skyline threads are as good as it gets. Notable Wearers: Allen Iverson, Dikembe Mutombo, Andre Iguodala. But if you ever add the Blazers to the conversation, the arguments will usually stop for a minute. The only thing that has been more consistent during the reign of Gregg Popovich—the longest tenured active coach in all U.S. major sports—is the team's jerseys. These are the jerseys that come to mind when someone mentions the Bad Boys. There’s so much to love about this jersey. The All-American theme along with their home in the country’s capital certainly adds to the prestige. — Jarrel Harris, D. Lippitt/Einstein//NBAE via Getty Images. And all you can make out as this storm swallows you are the numbers and the "Pistons" name staring into your soul. Charles Barkley, who started his career with another jersey All-Star in Philly, joined the Suns in the season when this design was introduced, pairing an amazing silhouette with some of the best sneakers Nike has ever produced. That shadow is everything. We will never get to see the legend himself snatch rebounds down like Charles Barkley and cross cats up like Iverson while wearing one of these, but maybe Karl-Anthony Towns will throw down a reverse slam and hang from the rim with one hand and yell, “Game, Blouses!” just one time for all of us. It was time to establish a new tradition after the Bad Boys era ended. With incredible players like Alex English and Michael Adams flying up and down the court, it was a dazzling showcase of talent and colours. With the incredible play of Allen Iverson, who inspired a number of players to this day, this jersey turned what was a design risk into one of the most memorable in the history of the league. Good on the Pistons for deviating from tradition. — Harris. But when it comes to fame, prestige, and longevity, the prize goes to the Los Angeles Lakers. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, grape cough syrup and black stripe TJ Maxx monstrosities, Nike revealed L.A.’s new threads for the season. Much like longtime head coach Gregg Popovich, the Spurs jerseys are functional and representative of a conservative and pragmatic approach to style and basketball. But those are secondary features to the beautiful rainbow stripes, cutting an eye-popping horizontal streak at the chest. He took the Suns to the 1993 NBA Finals and following a path that pitted his team against some of the best looks in league history. Notable Wearers: Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, Mike Conley. Let’s start with the design. Notable Wearers: Alex English, Michael Adams, Danny Schayes, Fat Lever. Let's get to the list! Another day passes and yet, I’m still wearing the same shirt. … Whatever you may think of Kobe Bryant ‘s playing style, there’s no arguing that he’s one the league’s... #3 LeBron James. Considering the franchise is now defunct, these jerseys can only live on in our memories. Photo courtesy of interbasket.net. Notable Wearers: Wes Unseld, Elvin Hayes, Bob Dandridge. And before you know it, No. 9. Let's take a look at the top 10 most stylish NBA All-Star Game uniforms. The white and black versions work equally well. Maybe it’s the image of A.I. You could think of the New York Yankees, the Oakland Raiders, even the Boston Celtics. The cartoonish and fun designs made the NBA a cultural hotbed and a place where basketball and hip-hop intersected. The Brooklyn Nets had a massive task ahead of them when they took on the legacy of their predecessor the New Jersey Nets. We don’t have hard numbers because Jordan’s playing days occurred before the NBA began tracking... #2 Kobe Bryant. For Boston to experience so much success—wearing the same threads as Bill Russell and Bob Cousy—is unparalleled. And even as Danny Ainge sent Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to Brooklyn that following summer, the franchise's legacy still emanated throughout TD Garden. With the jersey era back in style, The Crossover staff debated and ranked the 30 best uniforms in NBA history. Those disagreements are reasonable. Nah, the look is too smooth and too aggressive for catchy jingles. Despite its early mockery, its Hardwood Classics edition, particularly Vince Carter’s, has been one of the leagues top-sellers since 2010. Notable Wearers: Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, Kyle Lowry, Demar Derozan, Pascal Siakam. The hallmarks remained—the red, white and blue color scheme, the stars and stripes on one side of the jersey—while the wordmarks were changed to reflect the team’s new home. — Fischer. Sticking with the white and blue colorway, the Nuggets decided to relocate their front number to the chest in order to make room for a vibrant city skyline and rainbow. 33 Alonzo Mourning stitched on the side. The black road jersey was one of the most distinct jerseys in 76ers’ history and a perfect fit for the Allen Iverson era. Jerseys have their own history, from tight tank tops and three-inch inseam shorts of the 1970s to the oversized everything of the 2000s, the NBA has acknowledged its impact on athletic fashion and continually aimed to grow their look. Nevertheless, this won’t stop me from talking NBA fashion on here. — Nadkarni. Just like the jerseys the Knicks wore during their 1999 run to the NBA Finals, these uniforms are forever engrained into the memory of Knicks fans after being worn by (Knicks) greats like Patrick Ewing, Allan Houston and Larry Johnson. There are 30 teams in today’s NBA, so let’s start counting down the top 30 NBA jerseys of all-time! I never grew up rocking with the Lakers, but you can’t tell me watching Kobe eviscerate people in one of the cleanest jerseys ever assembled doesn’t make you contemplate going out to a vintage store and trying to cop one. South Beach is not just speed boats and mojitos, it’s a vibe. With a unique teal colour scheme, a balloon font, and an artistic homage to Haida culture, the NBA world was glad to see their legacy the Memphis Grizzlies bring them back for their 25th anniversary. A new, bold change was exactly what the Knicks needed, and these jerseys helped to usher in this change. In 1989, Champion became the official uniform supplier and helped kickstart the NBA’s brash era in the ’90s. 40 and you swear someone stuck a steel beam in the middle of this sea. They brought these uniforms back for one night during the Kobe era, but it’s a shame they haven’t been used more. The band fits cleanly with the look and doesn't distract anyone. The Toronto Raptors’ debut jerseys during the 1995 season were incredibly polarizing. Simple stripes adorn the edges with the only visual interest coming from its silver outlines. Ask basketball fans to choose a favorite jersey and some will mention the Lakers, others the Celtics, and maybe a few will mention the Sixers or Bulls. The Crossover staff considered aesthetic, creativity, nostalgia and more when ranking the 30 best uniforms in league history, © 2021 ABG-SI LLC.