Over the years, NBA teams have had a number of jerseys come out, from throwbacks and alternates to the straight-up classics. A couple of things play into our rankings. First being their aesthetic – this is what really constitutes a “good” jersey. The second criterion would be the historic importance of the jersey. So for example, jerseys like the Detroit Pistons teal jersey isn’t on our list purely based on the historical significance. Here are our top five best NBA jerseys.
Top Five NBA Jerseys of All Time
5. Orlando Magic (1989-1998)
Those Orlando Magic days brought to us some really good looking Magic pinstripes. In 1992 Shaquille O’Neal was drafted by Orlando and a few years later, he and Anfernee Hardaway were battling the Houston Rockets in back to back NBA finals. Those jerseys are as classic as they get while having the historical significance of one of the best times in Magic history.
4. Denver Nuggets (1982-1993)
The Denver Nuggets rainbow skyline jerseys are remarkable. Dikembe Mutombo was drafted by the Nuggets in 1991, however, those jerseys are mostly remembered through him and his infamous finger wag. The strong blue jersey is complemented with a subtle rainbow across the chest. The white mountains create a subtle view of the Denver skyline through the rainbow. Those jerseys are incredibly unique since all other jerseys mostly stick to one colorway and do not really challenge the norm.
3. Boston Celtics (All-Time)
The uniformity of the Celtics jerseys is the main reason they are that high on this list. Boston is known as a championship-caliber organization. Throughout the times, from the 1960s to the present, the Celtics are consistent with their white and green colorway, spelling “Boston” or “Celtics” across the chest. These jerseys are synonymous with championships. Whether you think about Bill Russell, Larry Bird, or Kevin Garnett, these jerseys have remained consistent and so has their success.
2. Los Angeles Lakers (All-Time)
Building on to the success of a franchise, we come to the Lakers purple and gold. These gold jerseys have remained somewhat consistent over the years. To a similar point as the Celtics, their image has been associated with success. Whether it is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Shaq, or Kobe Bryant, they represent championship success. When it comes to flashy jerseys, these are all-time classics without trying too hard.
1. Chicago Bulls (All-Time)
Last but not least, the Chicago Bulls classic look of red and white colorway spelling “Chicago” or “Bulls” has got to be an ultimate classic. The main reason behind that is that the GOAT (greatest of all time) himself, Michael Jordan, wore it. As a basketball fan, when you think of a Bulls jersey, it almost always involves Jordan with his tongue sticking out, and about to end a defender’s basketball career one way or another. Jordan won six titles, including two three-peats in those jerseys and to this day, Chicago still wears the same design. These are classics.
Honorable Mention:
Nowadays, fashion and streetwear have established themselves as an important part of the game of basketball. Because of this, there are a lot of variations of jerseys that appeal to both the aesthetic and historic sides of an NBA jersey. Anthony Davis was traded to the Lakers this summer, which means that they immediately became a contender since they already have LeBron James. This makes the Lakers jerseys in high demand, but how else will you differentiate yourself? Jersey shirts are a good way to do so. Onephyle’s Anthony Davis “The Brow” jersey shirt puts a spin on normal jerseys by turning it into a jersey shirt. To keep up with the rest of Onephyle’s designs, follow them on Instagram, @onephyle!
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