Check the scoreboard – our experts rank the best NBA jerseys of all time! See if your favourite team made the cut…
Not many sporting comps across the globe design jerseys better than the NBA and it shows.
So that’s why the league’s marketing team for the third year in a row are running ‘NBA Jersey Day’ to allow their millions of fans to show up and show out in their favourite team’s threads.
With the day upon us, the team here at Only Sports has put together the best jerseys of all time, one from each team, but we’ll leave it up to you to vote for which jersey is the best.
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Atlanta Hawks
This Hawks jersey was worn during the 1980s and early 1990s, made famous by Dominque Wilkins wearing it in the 1988 Slam Dunk Contest which he lost to Michael Jordan.
Boston Celtics
Sometimes the classics just need to be altered and that’s definitely the case with the ‘statement’ jerseys worn by the Celtics in the late 2010s.
Brooklyn Nets
Charlotte Hornets
The first 1990s jersey to appear on our list is this simple Hornets jersey that is now quite popular in the retro jersey markets.
Chicago Bulls
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavs have gone through many different colour combinations in their 52-year history but this is late-1980s gem they should absolutely bring back as a NBA throwback jersey.
Dallas Mavericks
Dallas’s 2022/23 city edition jersey is one of the rare nice designs out of the bunch and incorporates the team’s historical colours and groovy font.
Denver Nuggets
The rainbow design has become an iconic look for Denver over the decades and first featured in the 1980s to represent ‘the vibrancy and growth of the city’. NBA’s best jerseys don’t come much cooler than this.
Detroit Pistons
When these teal coloured jersey were introduced in the 1996-97 season, Detroit fans weren’t happy of how drastic of a change it was from the classic red and blue. Now though they are regarded as one of the craziest (in a good way) designs.
Golden State Warriors
The Warriors 2021/22 ‘Classic Edition’ jersey pays homage to the team’s roots back in Philadelphia where they originated back in 1994.
It was also worn by the team when two-time MVP Stephen Curry broke the all-time three-point record in Madison Square Garden.
Houston Rockets
This Houston Rockets unit is arguably one of the most popular NBA jerseys of all-time and was worn during the mid-90s when the franchise secured two NBA championships.
Indiana Pacers
Indiana has always stuck with the triple colour combination of yellow, white and navy but there’s just something about this design that makes it ‘pop’, hitting our list of the best NBA jerseys of all time.
Los Angeles Clippers
Since acquiring all-star talent in Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, it seems the Clippers have begun to incorporate Los Angeles culture into their designs evident here by the font on the jersey.
Los Angeles Lakers
The ‘Mamba Forever’ jersey was originally designed in 2017 by legendary Laker, Kobe Bryant, and was brought back in the 2020 playoffs to remember his passing.
Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis brought the heat back in 2019, paying homage to their former team name and design back in Vancouver.
Miami Heat
Miami have released many ‘Vice’ designs but the light blue and pink combination in 2020 is much more appealing than the white or black. A serious contender for the best retro NBA jerseys.
Milwaukee Bucks
It’s simple but it’s different is how one would describe the Bucks’ ‘statement’ jersey from 2017/18.
Minnesota Timberwolves
This Timberwolves ‘City Edition’ jersey from last season was our pick for best NBA city edition jersey ever – here’s the top 10.
So there no surprise that it’s our pick for best Minnesota jersey of all-time.
New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans have never really nailed a design in many NBA fans’ minds, but this design from 2010 stands out through simplicity and great colours.
New York Knicks
It’s always better when the jersey has meaning behind it and this number ticks that box.
Whilst still keeping the navy and orange of the team, it represents the firefighters of NYC and mirrors the Fire Department crest in the middle.
Oklahoma City Thunder
In the franchise’s short career, OKC have always stayed between the colours of navy and white but this orange jersey is amazing in every way.
Orlando Magic
It’s difficult to have a ‘best jerseys list’ and leave off the iconic pinstripe design of the Magic in the ’90s.
Philadelphia 76ers
“We talkin’ about practice”.
Well the practice in perfecting a jersey for the 76ers finally paid off with this NBA basketball jersey design in the early 2000s.
Phoenix Suns
Initially brought in as a city edition concept for a season, the Phoenix Suns have fallen in love with this now famous jersey and we all hope it doesn’t go anywhere anytime soon.
Portland Trail Blazers
Portland have never strayed from their classic sash design but the inverting of colours on this ‘statement’ design back in 2018 really made a splash.
Sacramento Kings
Combining elements from all stages of the Kings history made for a simple but classic outfit for the franchise.
San Antonio Spurs
The ‘fiesta’ colours have been on display for decades for the Spurs but using it as a border on a jersey with a plain white base made it the best San Antonio jersey of all-time.
Toronto Raptors
Close your eyes and think of a ’90s basketball jersey. Bet the vision you had was of this masterpiece from Toronto that is still to this day regarded as the best NBA jersey of all-time.
Utah Jazz
This Jazz jersey featured in two NBA Finals series and is a staple for its era in terms of crazy ’90s designs.
Washington Wizards
Paying respect to the uniform of the early 2000s, the Wizards have brought back this simple jersey design as their ‘Classic Edition’ outfit for 2022/23.
What do you think of our best NBA jerseys of all time list? Are there any designs you think we missed?
