The Pistons' silver and black colors are meant to be a subtle nod to Detroit’s automotive traditionPISTONS.com
Several NBA teams this week unveiled their latest Nike City Edition jerseys, and while there "aren’t many radical updates from last season’s collection of hometown tributes and throwback uniforms," the ones that do "definitely catch the eye -- and not always in the best way," according to Phil Thompson of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. The Warriors' uniform is an "improvement over last season’s 'The Bay' tribute to Chinese heritage, and that alternate wasn’t bad at all." This season’s "yellow-and-charcoal-gray combination creates an interesting departure" from the team's everyday look." Meanwhile, the Pistons' "Motor City" uniform "takes both a simple approach to a City Edition jersey and a bold move to go black-and-gray at the risk of looking boring." The move "works," as the "silver piping and dark highway stripe play well off each other and give a subtle nod to the city’s automotive tradition." The Bucks' "red, yellow and (yellowish?) orange collaboration likely was inspired by the 'Return to the MECCA' court design," and the "bright, clashing colors aren’t necessarily bad, but this is a bit much." Thompson: "What fresh hell is this?" (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 11/1).
NUGGETS FIND GOLD: ESPN.com's Paul Lukas graded several of the jerseys, and gave the Nuggets an "A" as their City uniforms see the "long-awaited return of the rainbow design." The stripes "appear as though they might possibly look a bit faded or washed-out on the court, but let's wait and see how they look under the bright arena lights." The Nets normally "have the most limited color palette in the league," so it is a "stroke of near-genius to outfit them with a crazy quilt of multi-colored trim." The design "references the Coogi sweaters favored" by late rapper and Brooklyn native Biggie Smalls. The Nets receive an "A-" grade for "good execution." Meanwhile, the 76ers received a "B+" for a uniform that "references the gray sweats Sylvester Stallone famously wore in the Rocky movies." The "blue and red trim adds some much-needed splashes of color" (ESPN.com, 11/1). SI.com's Michael Shapiro ranks the nine jerseys released so far and put the Nuggets atop his list. He wrote the design is "beautiful," as the rainbow colors recall the "team's past, while the small white space between the colored bars makes for a cleaner look than in prior iterations" (SI.com, 11/1).
DIAMONDS & PEARLS: The T'Wolves are going with Prince-inspired jerseys, and team CEO Ethan Casson said that the franchise "proposed the idea of this Prince dedication to Prince’s estate early on in the process." He said, "They were equally as excited about what this could be.'" Casson said that the T'Wolves "didn’t feel pressure but rather 'an obligation to get it right'" (TWINCITIES.com, 11/1). In Minneapolis, Michael Rand noted the T'Wolves "will wear the uniforms eight times this year -- including five times at home, with the first of those coming Nov. 16" against the Trail Blazers. They will "go on sale to the public on Nov. 8," with the T'Wolves, the NBA and Nike "hoping they will be a local, national and even international hit" (STARTRIBUNE.com, 11/1).
LOCAL FEELINGS: In Oklahoma City, Maddie Lee notes the Thunder's turquoise Native American heritage-inspired City uniforms "feature geometric patterns in a darker blue and decorative elements in orange and white." The OKC logo itself is "formed with interlocking shapes, white letters outlined in dark blue and orange." Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Batton and Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby "expressed their appreciation for the Thunder's choice to honor Native American heritage." Nike graphic designer Carson Brown, a Native American, "strove to pack the design with symbolism" (OKLAHOMAN, 11/2). NBA TV’s Tas Melas said, "They are right in your face, and that turquoise is bright. It’s the Thunder’s 11th year in OKC, and the turquoise is the 11th anniversary stone. It is also the color of friendship and Native American culture. There's a bunch of little details that tell the story of the Native American background in and around OKC. There's some history and culture behind it, and also they’re pretty” ("The Starters," NBA TV, 11/1).
