This marks the first time the Suns are using any direct verbal reference to The Valley on their jerseysSUNS
All NBA teams, except the Knicks, "have revealed their City Edition uniforms ahead of the start of the season later this month," according to Chuck Schilken of the L.A. TIMES. Some of the jerseys are "more fun than others." Some are "cooler than others" and some are "definitely better looking than others." Schilken: "Pretty sure the Suns didn't want to conjure memories of Atari's Super Breakout." Or that the Heat "wanted something even Don Johnson wouldn't have wanted to wear on the set of 'Miami Vice.'" But that is "what ended up happening" (L.A. TIMES, 12/4). USA TODAY's Mike Sykes II wrote some of the jerseys are "really good." Sykes: "Like, really good. But the bad ones? They're awful." Sykes ranks the Heat as having the "best city jersey" for four consecutive years. Sykes: "But can you blame me? Look at these things." Even as a "mashup of the other three, they look amazing." Sykes: "Just wear these all the time, Miami. Please." In regard to the Cavaliers' jersey, Sykes wrote, "Why does it look like these jerseys are a ransom note? Send them back wherever they came from" (USA TODAY, 12/2).
GIVING THEIR RANKINGS: BLEACHER REPORT's Sean Highkin ranked the Thunder's City Edition uniform last in the league, and wrote they have "had and continue to have the worst color scheme in the NBA." The "first good" Thunder jersey was last year's City Edition, a "collaboration with the local Cherokee tribe." The team "would have done well to stick with that theme, maybe with a different color scheme to change it up." Highkin: "These new ones are a mess." Highkin ranked the Heat second, and wrote the team "could keep trotting out variations" on its Miami Vice theme "for the rest of time and it will be impossible to mess up." Highkin had the Spurs as his top-ranked City Edition uniform, and wrote these are the first actual jerseys the Spurs have ever had that "feature the 'Fiesta' colors." They have "been on every other part of their branding over the years but never on the uniforms themselves." That has "finally changed, and the result is as good as it could have been" (BLEACHERREPORT.com, 12/3). SI.com's Jarrel Harris ranked the Wizards' "really boring" City Edition uniform last in the league. The Magic were ranked one spot ahead, and Harris wrote the "grey outline kills everything." Harris: "Can you imagine Shaq and Penny wearing these?" Harris ranked the Grizzlies' uniform as the best in the league, and wrote the "'Soul City Edition' uniforms to celebrate the life of Memphis singer Isaac Hayes" are "beautiful" (SI.com, 12/3).
INSPIRATION BEHIND THE DESIGN: In Cleveland, Chris Fedor writes to celebrate the city as the "birthplace of rock and roll," the Cavs' City Edition uniform "features a design and style with intricate details that reflect the attitude, spirit and history of Cleveland's deep musical roots." The waistband of the black shorts "features a silhouette of the Cleveland skyline within a white guitar pick." A "large weathered 'C' is plastered on the left shorts panel." On the right is an "array of Cleveland badges inspired by tour pins and jacket patches to increase the bond between the Cavs, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the city" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 12/4). Meanwhile, in N.Y., Kristian Winfield writes the Nets' City Edition uniforms are "both inspired by and pay homage to Brooklyn's own Jean-Michel Basquiat." It "should be noted" that F Kevin Durant is a "huge Basquiat fan" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/4).
