On Nov. 10, the NBA and Nike unveiled the 2022-23 City Edition uniforms, which are now in their sixth season. These uniforms, according to Nike, continue to “represent the stories, history and heritage that make each NBA franchise unique — honoring the bonds between court, community and culture.”
But how do they look?
This year’s unveiling gave The Athletic an opportunity to have a little roundball roundtable fun. Jason Jones, Rhiannon Walker, James Edwards III and Hunter Patterson got together to discuss the 29 City Edition jerseys and come up with their own power rankings.
GO DEEPER
NBA's City Edition jerseys for 2022-23 are out. Here are some of their backstories
Our writers ranked each team using a scoring system where 29 points were given to their favorite jersey, all the way to one point given to their least favorite. (This explains the numbers in parentheses next to each writer’s name below.) Note that 29 of the 30 NBA teams are ranked, as Utah chose not to release a City Edition uniform this season. The Jazz launched alternate jerseys earlier this year.
Without further ado, here are the rankings, starting from the bottom.
29. Golden State Warriors (21 points)
(The yellow rose supports female leadership and empowerment. Designed by Allison “Hueman” Torneros.)
Walker (17): I love the idea of celebrating women, but I wish the team and artist could’ve worked more critically on this design. A rose to uplift women is very cliche.
Jones (2): I don’t get this one. Noble idea, but it looks like a novelty deal. Gives me airbrushed overall vibes.
Advertisement
Patterson (1): I was born and raised in the Bay Area, and I had to read about what this design was supposed to mean. That’s a problem. The Warriors missed on a great opportunity to pay tribute to Oracle Arena, where they became the best version of themselves. The rose can’t even be seen when the jerseys are tucked in. Not impressed.
Edwards (1): This jersey looks like a bootleg. You can find this at a store in the mall right next to the Will Smith “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” uniform, which is right next to the Wu-Tang-inspired All-Star shorts. Gross. I like the message behind it, but this ain’t it. At all.
28. Orlando Magic (27)
(All-black jersey with metallic gray pinstripes.)
Jones (13): Just bring back the black jerseys Shaq and Penny Hardaway played in.
Edwards (6): Aren’t these the same as the Magic’s usual uniform? Another team that just completely punted on first down.
Patterson (5): The most basic of basics. The only thing saving this jersey from being black with white font is the blue outline.
Walker (3): These are so lazy and unimaginative.
27. Sacramento Kings (29)
(“Sacramento” across the chest and former commissioner David Stern’s encouraging words, “We are keeping the team in Sacramento,” near the bottom.)
Patterson (15): It’s new and unusual for the Kings — maybe even a bit bland, but they’re not terrible. I would’ve preferred either a throwback of the title-contending Kings or a powder blue.
Jones (7): Why are the Kings in gray? Want to celebrate the Kings staying in Sacramento? How about black and purple? Maybe something paying tribute to the old Arco Arena? I’d even be good with the light blue deals, which are my favorite.
Walker (4): Oh, a gray uniform? I have to imagine — and I know there are — a million better ways to celebrate the anniversary of deciding not to relocate a team. But this ain’t it, chief.
Advertisement
Edwards (3): Gray uniforms never work. Ever. Stop doing them. Please. I beg of you. Name one well-done gray jersey … I’ll wait.
26. Charlotte Hornets (30)
(Mint, gold and granite coupled with the support of Charlotte’s airport abbreviation.)
Jones (10): Shoutout to the airport on this one. A really big shoutout. Considering the Hornets had the coolest jerseys in the 1990s, I expected better.
Edwards (10): The lettering is too in your face. I don’t particularly like gold on jerseys, either. Maybe they’ll look better on the court, but right now they’d look better in the trash. The Hornets have too cool of colors to come up with this.
Walker (6): I’ve seen this before — you see how Portland celebrated its airport? I need a lot more than just the CLT initials.
Patterson (4): Wasn’t a fan of these. The pinstripes are cool, and I can get with the gold lettering, but it’s just boring.
25. Minnesota Timberwolves (37)
(A colorful collaboration supporting diversity and creativity throughout the state.)
Walker (25): Doing something different every year — which is no small feat, as we’ve seen — wins points for me.
Edwards (9): Just boring. Last year’s lime green jersey was one of my favorites in recent years, so I was holding them to a high standard.
Patterson (2): I read the Timberwolves wanted to use different colors from previous uniforms, but there were so many creative ways to convey that. This feels lazy.
Jones (1): I don’t get it. The team that gave us Prince-inspired jerseys gave us … this? Boring.
24. Cleveland Cavaliers (39)
(The logo font identifies with the Cavs logo of the 1980s. Located above the jocktag: “For the love. For the land.”)
Patterson (29): This is actually my favorite jersey of the group. The gold font and subtle blue accents and shadows behind the letters work perfectly. I’d definitely buy a No. 3 Caris LeVert jersey.
Advertisement
Jones (6): Not the worst, but it’s nothing special.
Walker (2): Hey, shoutout to Lake Erie, but a bold font isn’t enough to capture my attention. Do better.
Edwards (2): This might be the most boring of the bunch. The concept is played out, and the colors don’t pop at all. Another team that punted on fourth-and-short.
23. Los Angeles Lakers (42)
(Reminiscent of a blank page; purposefully designed to resemble a canvas.)
Jones (19): Plain. Basic. But I’m from L.A., and it works for me more than most. Then again, I just bought a pair of Jordan 1s in this colorway, so maybe I’m influenced by that. Black and purple is never a bad combo.
Patterson (11): Definitely thought of the Kings’ home jerseys when I first saw these. They’re cool but not really moving the needle for me.
Edwards (7): I fell asleep looking at these. Nothing original, and the concept is a “blank page”? Yeah, someone mailed this in.
Walker (5): Meh. (*shrugs shoulders*)
22. Indiana Pacers (49)
(A tribute to the past and present of Indiana-respected Gainbridge Fieldhouse.)
Edwards (22): It’s different. The colors go well together. I also like the subtleness of the celebration for Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Patterson (16): A nice change of pace from typical Pacers jerseys. I appreciate the design and color of the ode to Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Walker (8): Detroit made it very clear what it was celebrating with its concept, and I would’ve liked a similar, in-your-face recognition of the Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Jones (3): I don’t know why this jersey reminds me of a wrestling singlet, but it does. The story of the Gainbridge Fieldhouse is cool, but I could easily see this on WWE’s “Monday Night Raw” and be fine with that too.
21. Chicago Bulls (51)
(The Municipal Y, two sets of five lines and interior historic value dating back to 1917.)
Walker (20): I lived in Chicago for a few months, so this one takes a little in the know to appreciate. It works if you’re familiar with the area, not so much if you’re not. The Municipal Y at the bottom is paying tribute to the branches coming together that make up the Chicago River. The city’s flag, which is one of my favorites, sits right beside it, and the design is reminiscent of a throwback Bulls jersey.
Advertisement
Patterson (12): These might as well be the regular Bulls home uniforms, which are cool but not exactly what I had in mind for City Edition designs.
Edwards (11): Did they even try to do anything different? This probably took 30 seconds to design.
Jones (8): This looks like a regular Bulls jersey with stripes on the side. OK.
20. Toronto Raptors (52)
(Look closely and see the city’s six boroughs deconstructed.)
Walker (19): A not-so-subtle note to Drake’s OVO — October’s Very Own — brand. How original.
Patterson (19): Basic, but the gold makes these feel very neat. I’m surprised not to see any owls on this.
Jones (9): Isn’t this Toronto’s jersey every year? Is Drake involved?
Edwards (5): Toronto has had much better black-and-gold uniforms in the not-too-distant past. The city has too much uniqueness for this to be the final product. I still love you, Toronto!
19. New York Knicks (53)
(Designed in partnership with Kith, consider this a throwback to the late 1990s and early 2000s teams.)
Jones (17): I actually like these more than most. Maybe it’s the V-neck. Maybe I could see Larry Johnson or Latrell Sprewell in these. It’s not the best but certainly not the worst I’ve seen.
Walker (16): I love Kith, and I love the throwback to the 1990s edition of the team’s jerseys … but these are boring.
Edwards (14): As someone who loves black jerseys, the Knicks in black don’t work for me. I don’t know if it’s the color scheme or what. Shoutout to Kith, though. I love Kith. This jersey just isn’t for me.
Patterson (6): These feel like they were pressed to make the deadline and didn’t want to deviate too far from their original design.
18. Philadelphia 76ers (55)
(“City of Brotherly Love” across the chest tells the story of what Philadelphia preaches.)
Jones (27): I like the “Brotherly Love” on the front. I don’t know why; I just do. It could pass as a jersey from the ABA days.
Walker (21): The way they displayed “Brotherly Love” is dope, but they didn’t get more creative beyond that, which is pretty disappointing.
Advertisement
Edwards (4): The font is cool. That’s literally it. Otherwise, it looks like a practice jersey.
Patterson (3): I’m bored by this. Maybe if the base color wasn’t white, it could’ve been better executed.
17. Boston Celtics (58)
(This jersey honors Bill Russell. What more needs to be said?)
Jones (21): Disclaimer: I was born and raised to hate the Celtics, but they’re playing with my emotions by adding Bill Russell to this. These are my high school colors (Long Beach Poly), so I’ll let this one slide.
Edwards (18): Respect and love to the late, great Bill Russell. These honor him. That’s all I’ll say.
Patterson (10): These are more on the simplistic side, but they do an amazing job of honoring the legendary Bill Russell. I also appreciate the cursive font.
Walker (8): If you’re going to honor a pioneer like Bill Russell, then come harder than this. I see the 11 gold diamonds to represent his rings, but he was the first Black coach, the first Black MVP and a civil rights stalwart. I would’ve preferred a creative all-black design to allude to his biggest achievements.
14. (Three-way tie) New Orleans Pelicans (59)
(Mardi Gras purple, green and gold highlight the jersey of the Crescent City.)
Edwards (28): I’m a sucker for purple. It’s my favorite color. And, obviously, the Mardi Gras theme pops here. Well done.
Jones (23): It’s a Mardi Gras jersey, but it feels like we’ve seen some version of this before. If they wanted to get my attention, mix in that baby from the king cake. That would pop.
Patterson (7): I think all that the city of New Orleans has to offer isn’t being done justice with these jerseys.
Walker (1): I’d love to see more creativity with the Mardi Gras concept. If you’ve been to the celebration, you know it’s anything other than conventional. A jersey using that as the inspiration should be, too.
Advertisement
Miami Heat (59)
(The mashup concept returns in Miami, but the white jersey replaces the black jersey.)
Jones (22): The Heat usually have one of the top-five City Edition jerseys. I like this one, but it’s my least favorite of all their City deals. I like the blend of different letters for “Miami,” even though they remind me of an old-school ransom note.
Edwards (19): We’re at the blah portion of the uniforms. I don’t like white jerseys. The lettering and concept behind it are cool. That’s about it, though.
Walker (10): Yeah, if we’re going to remix designs, then let’s remix the brilliant Miami Vice jerseys.
Patterson (8): As a Heat fan, I’m a bit disappointed in the lack of creativity with the City Edition jerseys on a yearly basis. The different fonts are cool, but this is a situation where the team isn’t doing the city justice with these.
LA Clippers (59)
(Honoring the Drew League and paying homage to the South Los Angeles community.)
Walker (18): No excuse. Just produce. Nice to see the Drew League getting some love.
Jones (15): I love the shoutout to the Drew League and Watts, but the actual jersey isn’t all that. The script lettering doesn’t do it for me.
Patterson (14): This is a nice break from the typical Clippers design. Shoutout to the Drew League. Also notice the subtle red and blue outlining, something very L.A. specific.
Edwards (12): I love that these uniforms are inspired by the Drew League, but they do nothing for me. They’re … fine? I don’t know. Boring.
13. Oklahoma City Thunder (61)
(This jersey reminds those in the Sooner State of “the Standard,” which focuses on the values of service, honor and kindness.)
Edwards (23): I’m not sure why I like these so much, but I do. The colors shouldn’t go together, but they mesh well.
Patterson (22): The longer I looked at these initially, the more I liked them. The base color being gray allows the blue and orange on the sides to stand out. I’m definitely a fan.
Advertisement
Walker (12): I love the use of the state’s outline in the center of the shorts. The color is eye-catching for the team because OKC is synonymous with orange.
Jones (4): It just looks like a black Thunder jersey. It’s not bad, not great. Just doesn’t move me much.
11. (Tie) Denver Nuggets (62)
(Letters paying tribute to the Union Station neon sign plus a silhouette of the city’s skyline equals the Mile High City jersey.)
Patterson (24): These are oddly appealing to me. For whatever reason, I imagined a young Carmelo Anthony with cornrows playing in these — like his white Syracuse jersey.
Walker (14): What is supposed to be celebrated here? The fact I have to ask is telling.
Edwards (13): A boring white jersey. The Nuggets have had some good ones over the past few years. This isn’t it.
Jones (11): Just looks like a Nuggets jersey I’ve seen before.
Brooklyn Nets (62)
(A tribute to Jean-Michel Basquiat goes from the black jersey to the white.)
Patterson (20): Yeah, they’re basic, but I like them. Feels intentionally minimalistic to me.
Edwards (15): These are just boring. Not sure what else to say.
Walker (15): They should know better than to present these dull uniforms to the world and say the Nets are celebrating Jean-Michel Basquiat. That’s an insult.
Jones (12): Haven’t we seen these before?
10. Washington Wizards (67)
(The pink jersey with the city’s well-known cherry blossoms, including three above the jocktag, mirroring Washington, D.C.’s flag.)
Walker (27): Every year, millions of people come to the city and fill the Tidal Basin, hoping to see the city’s famous cherry blossoms. Though I love the jersey, I will knock off some points because the Washington Nationals went big with this design this spring, so the Wizards weren’t completely original with the concept.
Patterson (18): This is another example of simple and done well. The pink and blue mesh well here.
Advertisement
Jones (14): I like this one more than I would have thought. I’ve never owned a pink jersey. Probably wouldn’t buy this one, but I wouldn’t be mad if someone did.
Edwards (8): Usually I’m a sucker for pink. It’s hard to mess up that color, but the Wizards found a way. These look like bubblegum. The “Washington” font is too small. Fumble on the play.
8. (Tie) Houston Rockets (68)
(A reminder of last season’s jersey — with a twist of the “Houston” lettering seen with the 1994 and 1995 championship teams.)
Edwards (29): This is a perfect blend of nostalgia for me, someone born in 1992. The “Houston” font from the back-to-back title-winning teams is a nice touch, but it’s the ode to the late 1990s/early 2000s jerseys for me here. This is around the time I found my love for basketball.
Patterson (27): I was a huge Steve Francis fan growing up, so these instantly took me back to fond memories I had watching him. Although we’ve seen City Edition jerseys that look similar for the Rockets, I’ll always be a fan of these jerseys.
Walker (7): The team ran back to a design it essentially used last year. For me, if they’re going to throw it back to the old-school, which I like, the jagged lines are unnecessary.
Jones (5): I wasn’t a fan of the original, so I wasn’t going to be crazy about it again. Too cartoonish for me. I was glad when they stopped wearing this version of the jersey back in the day, and it’s not one I’d add to my collection in 2022.
Milwaukee Bucks (68)
(The “Gathering Place” jersey pays respect to Bronzeville, and it replaces the team’s green with blue.)
Edwards (20): I’m a sucker for powder blue, and I like that these honor Bronzeville, a historic community in Milwaukee.
Jones (18): The design is simple, but the message is significant. This shade of blue always works for me, too. Shoutout to Bronzeville.
Advertisement
Patterson (17): By now I’ve just accepted that I like blue as a primary color for jerseys. It might be simple, but the different shades of blue, green, black and white ensure the jersey doesn’t feel incomplete.
Walker (13): Celebrating a historic Black community in Bronzeville and using the side to pay tribute to a mural the team helped restore? Ten out of 10. I’d recommend these.
7. Dallas Mavericks (73)
(A retro look celebrating the Metroplex, one that also includes “MFFL” — which stands for Mavs Fan For Life — above the jocktag.)
Patterson (25): I love these, and it’s because they remind me of the striped, blue and light green Pistol Pete Hawks jersey. It’s hard to go wrong, in my eyes, with that much blue.
Jones (20): I love ’70s nostalgia. So, yeah, I can dig this.
Edwards (17): I want to love these but can’t. They remind me of a 1970s living room.
Walker (11): An allusion to the Metroplex? That’s cool.
6. Portland Trail Blazers (77)
(Few jerseys show love to their city’s main airport. Even fewer jerseys show love to their city’s main airport’s carpet pattern.)
Walker (24): This is the ultimate IYKYK (if you know, you know). If you’ve ever been to the Portland airport, you know these jerseys celebrate the design of its carpet. It’s fantastic.
Patterson (21): It’s great to see the Blazers keep the stripe design. The play on the Portland airport is cool, but I will admit I’ve been to that airport multiple times and must’ve been too focused on getting to baggage claim to notice.
Edwards (16): They’re different, for sure, and the Portland airport carpet they’re based on is a sight to see. However, I just want the Blazers to play in their standard black uniforms all the time.
Jones (16): I really never paid attention to the carpet in the Portland airport — ever. But, hey, it works for them.
Advertisement
5. Atlanta Hawks (84)
(The Peachtree jersey is inspired by Atlanta’s well-known Peachtree Street.)
Jones (28): It’s simple, but it works for me. Maybe I’m a sucker for bright colors against a black backdrop.
Edwards (25): Nothing flashy about this uniform, but I like that it appears to be inspired by Donald Glover’s show “Atlanta,” which is must-watch TV.
Walker (22): When I saw these, I knew they should give the designers a raise. This jersey pays homage to “Atlanta.” The comedy would open each episode with an intricate placement of the show’s TV name, and the Hawks use the same font here.
Patterson (9): These feel a bit basic, but I like the font and taper of colors on the numbers. That makes for a cool contrast between the black.
4. Detroit Pistons (93)
(Rapper Big Sean assists in a tribute jersey honoring the historic St. Cecilia’s gym.)
Walker (29): If the category is showing the heritage of each city with these jerseys, I’d quickly pick the Pistons as the winner of this competition. This is how you celebrate the fabric of your city. Designed by one of your city’s biggest rappers? Check. Giving a shoutout to a local place that outsiders wouldn’t know the significance of? Check, check.
Edwards (26): It’s cool that the Pistons are doing something different. A green jersey? Yes, please. Also, the story behind these is cool. St. Cecilia’s church is Detroit’s Rucker Park. A lot of the game’s greatest made a name for themselves at the church’s gym.
GO DEEPER
Isiah. Magic. Gervin. How a Detroit church gym became the birthplace of legends
Jones (25): Mixing in the city’s culture, getting input from Big Sean and telling a great story make this jersey one of my favorites. I learned something new about Detroit with this design, and the green is a winner. No complaints here.
Patterson (13): Even without the context of community inclusion, these jerseys have so much detail. I love the blue outlines and three gold stars. Plus, I can respect the Pistons wanting to try something new.
Advertisement
3. Phoenix Suns (99)
(A turquoise base, the sunburst logo and a major level of respect shown to the 22 tribal nations of Arizona.)
Patterson (28): I was torn when ranking this one because it easily could’ve been first for me. This is a different shade of turquoise than any other jersey on this list, and it’s so visually appealing that the only things needed on the front were the numbers and logos.
Edwards (24): I love how vibrant this jersey is. It really pops. This shade of turquoise is a good color. Paying respect to the Native American heritage is a great gesture, too.
Jones (24): The turquoise jersey and nod to Native Americans are really cool. Gives it a truly unique Phoenix feel. Something from a city known for being hot should be vibrant.
Walker (23): This is a tasteful homage to the region’s Native American population with the turquoise colors. Even the style of the font is distinctly Phoenix, and I love that.
2. Memphis Grizzlies (102)
(Memphis’ hip-hop scene is on display, as the design is inspired by album-cover art of the city. The jersey even features a gold grill.)
Jones (29): This is my absolute favorite. The font could be on the cover of a Three 6 Mafia or 8Ball & MJG album. The black, blue and gold blend excellently. You don’t have to be a Grizzlies fan to want to wear one of these.
Patterson (26): These jerseys are amazing. I love the way the font is made to look as if it’s shiny. Easily a top-five jersey on this list.
Walker (26): The gold-grill fangs on the bottom of the jersey are enough for this to be a favorite. The block letters are also reminiscent of a late Young Dolph album, and you immediately recognize that if you’re a fan like I am. Great job.
Edwards (21): The font is incredible. It’s an ode to early 2000s hip-hop in the South, specifically Memphis. That alone is enough for me to regret not putting these a spot or two higher.
Advertisement
1. San Antonio Spurs (104)
(The Alamodome hosted the 1996 NBA All-Star Game. This jersey’s colorful look is a reminder of that event.)
Walker (28): This is how one celebrates and incorporates something that represents the history of the city. The throwback to the 1996 All-Star Game? Those teal jerseys with the geometric shapes on the side? Chef’s kiss.
Edwards (27): This is a trip down memory lane for me. The 1996 All-Star jerseys are some of the most memorable of my lifetime. I love the shorts from that All-Star Game. This is just a cool idea.
Jones (26): The nostalgia works. One of the most unique All-Star jerseys ever comes into play here, and it’s authentically San Antonio. The colors work well, too.
Patterson (23): I love the creativity to capitalize on the 1996 All-Star Game. The teal alone was enough to make me appreciate this jersey, but the orange and pink lining add to it.
Related listening
(Illustration: Sam Reilly / The Athletic; photos courtesy of Nike and the NBA)