Ranking The 2021–22 NBA City Edition Jerseys From Worst to Best
Over the past four seasons the NBA and Nike have put together an alternate jersey concept for each team called the “City” jerseys. When the idea was first put into production they had a reason behind it. They wanted to “breathe new life into uniform designs to more closely connect a franchise to its city.”
They recently released the fifth edition (75th Anniversary) of this jersey concept, and as there always is there are some real hits that can sink your battleship. But there are also some real misses like when all your ships are in the A and B spots but your opponent keeps guessing I and J spots.
Before we get into it, I do want to say I love how many of the teams paid their respects to past teams with hints of throwback logos or color schemes etc., Let’s get into the rankings now.
30. OKC Thunder
OKC is in a rebuild, and these jerseys kind of show that. These are just straight up boring. Which is what most of a rebuild feels like. No other way to put it really. Nothing special or interesting about them besides the “OKC” down the side of the front.
29. New Orleans Pelicans
The red, gold and blue stripes barely give this jersey any more pizazz than OKC’s. The font of the “NOLA” on the front is a nice touch. But you won’t catch me putting this on my Christmas list.
28. Phoenix Suns
Same look as last year, wasn’t a big fan then and still am not now. The only reason they are this high is because they aren’t plain with the color scheme.
27. Dallas Mavericks
Wouldn’t call this an improvement over last year’s edition exactly, but the colors match each other well. A sort of ode to the beginning times of the franchise should give lifelong fans a warm feeling. Not to mention, seeing Luka play in these will be fun.
26. Denver Nuggets
90% of this uniform is solid but the other 10%, that being the rainbow patterns on both the jersey and shorts, is too distracting for this to be any higher on my list. I understand it’s a throwback look, but it just feels unnecessary to me.
25. Utah Jazz
Like Phoenix, we saw the same thing from Utah last year. But I like this color scheme more, especially with their alternate court to go along with the uniform *chefs kiss*. If it weren’t for the alternate court pairing, these would be at least 3 spots lower.
24.Boston Celtics
The two things that stand out to me on this one isn’t the color scheme. As it’s what I expected from the C’s. But the retired numbers on the bottom left and the clover with “RED” in it on the right side of the shorts are some of the best touches to a jersey this year.
23. Memphis Grizzlies
Not a big difference between this and their standard home uniforms but it is an improvement over last year’s edition. Also the throwback Vancouver logo on the shorts in the modern colorway looks too good to have them in the bottom 5.
22. Sacramento Kings
These look clean and are the best out of the now five editions of this jersey concept. But these are just the umpteenth way they’ve used purple, white and black pretty plainly.
21. Washington Wizards
Not much to write home about but doing well with a nod to the past puts them above the others.
20. Miami Heat
Over the short time I’ve been sitting here writing this, this one has jumped up my list at least 8 spots. Especially after seeing them in action tonight (Nov. 4). While they are growing on me, the different lettering on the front is just too off-putting for me to give them a top-20 spot. I like the idea, just don’t feel it was the right move.
19. Los Angeles Lakers
I like how a lot of teams are paying respects to the past with the colorways or how the logos look this year. But the Lakers already have the dark/light blue colorways for that, so I feel like they should have gone more modern for this year.
18. Portland Trail Blazers
Rip City is one of my favorite nicknames for a city/town ever. So anything the Trail Blazers do with it, I like. The subtle plaid pattern going down the right side of the uniform is a good touch.
17. Orlando Magic
Orange and black go well together 99% of the time, such is true with these uniforms. The silver stars in the team name on the front give it a little extra. The stars going down the sides brings it down. If it weren’t for those, these would probably be top-10.
16. Milwaukee Bucks
Would I buy this? Yes. Does anything jump off the page to me? No. Which is why I have the defending NBA Champions just out of the top-15.
15. San Antonio Spurs
Didn’t really think these colors could go well together but SA did it well. Nice to see a switch up from the black and grey and/or digital camo look that they had worn out the past few seasons with alternate jerseys.
14. New York Knicks
Simplicity at it’s finest. They tried simple with last year’s edition but all I could focus on was the god awful circle surrounding the number on the front. The team’s retired numbers embroidered in the shorts waistband gives it a subtle touch that puts it above the rest.
13. Philadelphia 76ers
The multicolor on the side of the jersey could be done without but it isn’t distracting enough to take away from the beauty of the rest of the uniform.
12. Minnesota Timberwolves
These make me want Kevin Garnett back on the court just to see him play in one. The two-tone blue look works perfectly with the green outline and the trees.
11. Golden State Warriors
The ray of sunshine look coming off the Golden Gate Bridge in the middle of the jersey catches the eye right off the bat. Add the lightning strikes and throwback logo that’s on the shorts and you have yourself a winner of a uniform.
10. Atlanta Hawks
One of the best logos to ever grace the NBA comes back with this one. Almost nothing better than the razor-talon hawk. Using it for the 404 area code on the bottom right of the jersey really screams what “City” edition uniforms are all about.
9. Los Angeles Clippers
Powder/Baby blue uniforms must be an LA specialty. First, the LA Chargers and now the Clippers. Both pull it off supremely well. Adding the creamsicle orange to throwback to the Buffalo days makes it two times better.
8. Detroit Pistons
Lightning strikes, throwback horse basketball on fire logo, and blue and red together make for a jump off the page uniform.
7. Cleveland Cavaliers
Just about every logo in the team’s history is included in this design. Very tastefully at that, mix that with a young core to rock these and it’s a match made in heaven.
Before we get into the top 6, I do want to make one thing clear. From here on out there is not one bad thing I can see about any of these next uniforms. They hit on all cylinders.
6. Indiana Pacers
I get huge Reggie Miller vibes from these uniforms. Do I think any player on the team now could score 8 points in 8.9 seconds? No. But they could easily feel like Reggie while wearing these. Pacers great Bobby Leonard’s catchphrase “Boom Baby” on the bottom right gives it that “City” feel.
5. Chicago Bulls
These are perfect for the core that Chicago is building right now. It gives a feel of the ’90s championship teams, with a modern twinge to it. The best thing about these is the Bull logo with the black and red pinstripe look on the sides of the shorts.
4. Houston Rockets
Yao Ming. Steve Francis. Those are the two names that come to mind when I see these. *chefs kiss* They should make these their permanent home or away uniforms.
3. Brooklyn Nets
Too bad Kyrie might not be able to wear these this season. Maybe they are good enough for him to change his mind. Probably not but man they might make me if I was him.
2. Toronto Raptors
Most people might have this as #1 on their lists. But they are over using the black and gold color scheme. While this is done very well, especially bringing the Raptor logo back, I feel a change was needed color scheme wise for sure.
1.Charlotte Hornets
And last but of course not least, these 10/10 beautiful uniforms. The dark blue honeycomb fading into the light/baby blue is done impeccably well. The cursive diagonal “Charlotte” on the front fits perfectly. Just like the Rockets, I think these should become their permanent home uniforms.
There you have it, my rankings of the 2021–22 “City” Edition NBA uniforms. I can’t wait to see a good amount of these in action.
