Forget about throwing all the way back to the ‘70s. Or even ‘80s. The NBA is tossing its uniform set back just a little less. Think of it more as a free throw, instead of a three-pointer. It’s time for the ‘90s.
This year’s NBA Hardwood Classics nights, now a tradition in the NBA that invites teams to place nostalgic designs on uniforms, features a 1990s generation of uniforms, complete with the oversized graphics, pinstripes and oh-so-much drop shadowing.
In the first image released by Adidas on Friday, Feb. 1, we get to take a look at the pinstripe-heavy Pacers and Bulls. Indiana’s blue stripes on a white background accented with plenty of yellow may be the most classic jersey of the set.
In terms of bold graphics, you’ve got your pick between Phoenix’s crazy orange—and not the cool PHX orange worn in more recent years—the in-your-face hawk from Atlanta, complete with gradient shading, mind you, and the buck for Milwaukee reminiscent of a Cabela’s store. They all come at your in an oddly different way.
Of course, if you simply want some basic ‘90s design, you can feast your eyes on the drop-shadow the Heat offer, or the checkered pattern from the Kings.
The ‘90s certainly provided an “interesting” era for uniforms in the NBA and fortunately it dissipated relatively quickly. But we have it again, large bucks and all.
Article Categories:
Tim Newcomb is a journalist based in the Pacific Northwest covering news, culture, sports design and entertainment. He has written on uniforms and sports logos for TIME Magazine, Sports Illustrated and more. You can follow him on Twitter at @tdnewcomb. Visit his website here.
Bobby Mason
Friday, February 1, 2013 at 10:45did they ditch a couple of them? i remember seeing the raptors going back to their purple one with the raptor on it.
SportsLogos.Net
Friday, February 1, 2013 at 10:49That was apparently "not official"... the Raptors denied they were wearing that jersey the second we posted it back then
Cuserell
Friday, February 1, 2013 at 11:58That doesn't make any sense that the Raptors, Sixers and Cavs jerseys weren't included especially since they were in the adidas lookbook for retailers. Something happened between now and then, because those were all but final.
Jason Korona
Saturday, February 2, 2013 at 21:11The raptors refused to wear their 90s jerseys because the 90s was the era of vince carter and he was a disgrace to all of tornoto and all raptors fans.
Chris Creamer
Sunday, February 3, 2013 at 09:52That's a load of bull - besides, Vince Carter only wore those 90s jerseys for half a single season
Brandon Wilson
Friday, February 1, 2013 at 10:55I actually miss that Hawks Jersey! It was so cool.
Zach
Friday, February 1, 2013 at 10:59I actaully like the throwbacks from Sacramento and Phoenix. Indiana i don't really get because those were just their last jerseys. What happened to the track uniforms? Also, I thought Toronto was also boasting a purple throwback this year, the one with the dinosaur on it?
Joe
Friday, February 1, 2013 at 11:19those were also Phoenix's last jerseys too, so why not "get" Indiana?
Sports E-Cyclopedia
Friday, February 1, 2013 at 11:00I want the Wizards to use the throwback from the 70s
Aaron
Friday, February 1, 2013 at 13:15Don't forget they were still called the Bullets until 1996. So really it should be Bullets' last jersey.
Ryan
Saturday, February 2, 2013 at 01:37The Wizards should wear the Gilbert Arenas gold jerseys as their throwback, I hated the logo back then, but those gold ones were classics.
carter23
Friday, February 1, 2013 at 11:13any idea when they'll be wearing them? i know heat are tonight, and PHX were wed.. i'd love it if the bucks wore it tonight against my ny knicks
carter23
Friday, February 1, 2013 at 11:15i just checked the bucks' site, and they are wearing them tonight - with lots of pics included
mvs
Friday, February 1, 2013 at 11:19That half-black half-purple Kings throwback is the epitome of 1990s NBA design
Aj Crisp
Friday, February 1, 2013 at 11:27Love the Bucks, Suns and Hawks ones. I miss those days. I also miss the Raptors ones from the 90s.
IPGComic
Friday, February 1, 2013 at 11:36Awww the Pacers went with the pinstripes instead of the FloJos...
Joe
Friday, February 1, 2013 at 11:40I wish more teams got involved: Cavs' baby blue/orange/black splash, Pistons' teal, Warriors' lightning bolt down the side, Rockets' pinstripes, Orlando's pinstripes, Philly's gradient, Raptors' purple & pinstripes, and Utah's mountain...90's throwbacks need to be representative of what the designs were: overblown.
Mike Majeski
Friday, February 1, 2013 at 12:15I'll second the Cavs. Would love to see the black splash ones. And what about the Nets 90s tie dye looking ones?
Aaron
Friday, February 1, 2013 at 12:43A couple things, the pinstriped Pacers jerseys were afer the 90's. Secondly, why weren't the Suns' purple jerseys from the 90's posted instead of the black jerseys. Now don't get me wrong, out of most of the jerseys from the 90's, the Suns, Heat, and Pacers ones were great and ones I wouldn't have minded seeing in this decade albeit slightly modernized. Also where are the Pistons' horsepower jerseys anyways?
Ryan
Saturday, February 2, 2013 at 01:48The Pacers played with the pinstripe from 1997-2005 (so it was the 90's), everyone who wants the "track" uniform as the throwback go look at it...it's horrible. I agree with the Pistons jerseys also, but if you throw those in there then we must add the Rockets cartoon jersey too. And as I said before the goldWizards jersey. I agree with the guy below that said add pinstripes to the current jersey now.
Jino Garsia
Friday, February 1, 2013 at 12:53the indian pacers should still use those! or give their unis pinstripes now
Trell93
Friday, February 1, 2013 at 13:00Best one is the Bucks Jersey
Aaron
Friday, February 1, 2013 at 13:20Oh yeah, even though they're not in Vancouver anymore, the Grizzlies should get involved with their original turquoise uniforms. Also the Nuggets navy uniforms should be included.
Jarred Gamarra
Friday, February 1, 2013 at 13:51the bulls one is still sick til this day!!!
Matthew Garry
Friday, February 1, 2013 at 14:21No Utah??????? Damn, my last six months of waiting just went to waste...
Ranch James
Friday, February 1, 2013 at 20:01that's why Utah Jazz wore hardwood classics
CG
Friday, February 1, 2013 at 14:56Phoenix and Miami should keep those permanent. I was surprised how amazing those Suns uni's looked on the court the other night.
Sean Haubert
Friday, February 1, 2013 at 14:56Where's the tie-dyed Nets jersey? Dražen Petrović rocked that uni.
Sean Haubert
Friday, February 1, 2013 at 14:56Where's the tie-dyed Nets jersey? Dražen Petrović rocked that uni.
Sean Haubert
Friday, February 1, 2013 at 14:56Where's the tie-dyed Nets jersey? Dražen Petrović rocked that uni.
Aaron
Friday, February 1, 2013 at 16:08Another one to add, the Rockets pinstriped uniforms.
Iamthere4Iam
Friday, February 1, 2013 at 16:35I actually always liked Indiana's pin-stripes. I'd rather they still use them. They're were a ton more 90's jerseys they're forgetting. The Pistons, Magic, Soni- oh right... Minnesota, Utah, Houston
ingmar66
Friday, February 1, 2013 at 16:44Only the Bulls and Suns uniforms are nice in my opinion. The rest is so stomachturningly ugly in all its gradients and drop shadows and reminds me of the spandex biker shorts, cloggy basketball shoes with pumps and straps and tasteless television network graphics that we had to put up with in those nineties. And horrible music in NBA arena's. And that boring official magazine of the NBA, Hoops (with very uncool posters of jump shots or free throws instead of dunks and shattering backboards and those disgustingly polished Q&A pieces that were totally scripted). But at least a lot of NBA playoff series in the 90's were very exciting, that's for sure. I cannot say the same thing about the uniforms (or these replicas).
Marco Vettoretti
Friday, February 1, 2013 at 16:58Is there an official release from Adidas about this set of unis?
carg0
Friday, February 1, 2013 at 17:16MY EYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!! OH GOD, IT BURNS! IT BURNS!!
54321
Friday, February 1, 2013 at 19:58Those unis give me weird high school memories. Raptors should totally rock the dinosaur once a year.
FJOJR
Friday, February 1, 2013 at 22:2090s unis making me feel old. Wish Reebok (owned by adidas) would do this more often in the NHL. Then again the design changes made with the Edge may not be old enough yet. By the 10 year mark they should try to create 90s era designs for some teams. Isles fisherman, Cats old jersey, Lightning storm, the old Sens profile jersey.
Brent
Saturday, February 2, 2013 at 00:29Anyone know if NBA.com will allow customization of these unis? Would love to get a Ray Allen (Bucks), MJ & Pippen (Bulls), Reggie Miller (Pacers), Dikembe (Hawks); Barkley (Suns), C-Webb (Kings), Mourning & Hardaway (Heat) jerseys in my collection.
Quikee
Saturday, February 2, 2013 at 02:26Bulls, Hawks & Kings throwbacks are the best. all other teams design are terible.
T.Cart
Saturday, February 2, 2013 at 03:52The Indiana uniforms before the stripes were created by Flo' Jo and by far the best ones to me
Jason
Saturday, February 2, 2013 at 11:18Do you think the Pistons will bring out the teal uniforms? I hope not
Cesare
Saturday, February 2, 2013 at 23:16Was kinda wondering about the Pistons, myself. As soon as I saw these 90s unis, I remembered the short lived teal, with the horse logo. I liked the logo, but it didn't fit in with the history of the team.
Danny Two Step
Saturday, February 2, 2013 at 12:38I'd love to see the Nuggets navy blue with gold lettering and maroon accents (think Mutombo era). Those were sick. Question: if you buy one of these jerseys from the nbastore, is the lettering and numbers screened on or embroidered?
Jab
Saturday, February 2, 2013 at 13:26I love these 90s jerseys especially the Bulls, Pacers, Heat, & Hawks. Damn I really wanted to see the Raptors (I know they were dropped early from the set), Sixers, & Cavs cause they were really interesting looks to say the least lol. So will there not be any Sixers & Cavs as well? Any word that they may bring'em back out for next yrs hardwood classics?
Ben
Saturday, February 2, 2013 at 17:08Hawks ones are so awesome...they should get new ones similar to that design, just updated
Bobby
Wednesday, February 13, 2013 at 19:31I'd love to be able to buy one of those Hawks jerseys.