Behind the design of the Nike NBA City Edition uniform collection

In its sixth year, the Nike NBA City Edition collection continues to represent the stories, history and heritage that make each NBA franchise unique — honoring the bonds between court, community and culture. Uniforms aren’t just a piece of clothing. Uniforms can help break down barriers, bring people together, build community, and expand sport for a new generation.

“At Nike, basketball is more than just game. It’s an opportunity to bring people together and celebrate community,” said Jesse Alvarez, Product Director for Men’s Basketball at Nike. “In our sixth year collaborating with the NBA, we’re putting court, community and culture at the center of our designs to tell the stories that make each franchise unique.” 

“The 2022-23 Nike NBA City Edition uniform collection showcases the unique history and culture behind NBA teams, their cities and their shared bond with NBA fans around the world,” said Christopher Arena, Head of On-Court and Brand Partnerships at the NBA. “These uniforms are the culmination of a collaborative effort between Nike, NBA teams and the league as we continue our commitment to highlight the local icons and narratives intertwined with our teams and cities that have helped define this league.” 

Atlanta Hawks

• This year’s Atlanta Hawks Nike NBA City Edition uniform is a fresh take on the team’s original Peachtree uniform, which launched three years ago — the same amount of time it takes to grow a fruit-bearing peach tree from a seed. 
• It is a nod to the city’s roots as a cultural trendsetter. 
• The jersey and short colors — a gradient from Electro Peach to Sunset Haze — and design
  represent the high energy and awesome diversity of the city, based on the foundation of what
  makes Atlanta great. 
• With a peach/basketball hybrid symbol on its belt buckle, the uniform pays the ultimate respect to Georgia, “The Peach State,” while uplifting the Hawks’ mantra of being “True to Atlanta.” 

Boston Celtics

• The Boston Celtics 2022-23 Nike NBA City Edition uniform pays homage to a true “Champion of Gold,” Bill Russell. 
• Russell’s legacy spanned the “Golden Era” of Celtics basketball, which included an unmatched and unstoppable 11 championships in 13 years. 
• And while Russell broke barriers on the court, as a member of the first all-Black starting five and then as the first Black head coach in the NBA, it’s the ones he broke off the court that truly defined him as “The Gold Standard” — what it truly means to be a Celtic. 
• The stylized script wordmark is inspired by typography from the decades when he dominated — and the anthem is emblazoned with the phrase “Champions of Gold.” 
• The belt buckle features Russell’s retired number “6,” surrounded by 11 diamonds, celebrating each of the championships he won with the team as a player and a coach. 
• There are 11 gold diamonds on the side panels (jersey and shorts) as well.

Brooklyn Nets

• The Brooklyn Nets 2022-23 Nike NBA City Edition uniform brings back an instant fan favorite with a new twist. 
• With a flip from black to white this year, the Nets once again pay tribute to legendary Brooklyn- born artist Jean-Michel Basquiat with lettering and designs inspired by his signature work. 
• The front of the jersey reads “BKLYN NETS” with colorful side panels, while the shorts feature Basquiat’s distinctive crown motif with continuing side panels and the “BROOKLYN, NEW YORK” lettering.

Charlotte Hornets

• A tribute to the city’s rich financial history — as home of the first U.S. Branch Mint and the Carolina Gold Rush of the early 1800s — the Charlotte Hornets 2022-23 Nike NBA City Edition uniform returns to the mint gold and granite color scheme from the 2020-21 season. 
• Most notably, “CLT” appears on the uniform for the first time, embracing the familiar abbreviation used throughout the city of Charlotte, including the airport. 
• The letters, along with the numbers on the front and back of the jersey, are gold with mint trim, while the player‘s name on the back is gold with no outline. 
• The uniform also displays pinstripes, which are designed to look like the ridges on a coin, alternating in gold and mint. 
• The shorts offer a gold “C” with mint trim in the team’s font across the waistband, as well as secondary logos (in gold and granite, with mint outlines) on each leg.

Chicago Bulls

• The Chicago Bulls 2022-23 Nike NBA City Edition uniform is an ode to Chicago’s iconic architecture — through the lens of the Chicago Municipal “Y” symbol, which was introduced back in 1917.
• It’s a symbol of unity, representing the three branches of the Chicago River that go throughout the neighborhoods and eventually come together at Wolf Point, in the heart of the city downtown. 
• The Municipal “Y,” which can be found all over the city (although not everyone notices it!), is reflected in various elements of the uniform — the most striking example is on the sides, with two sets of five lines running downward and branching off at the shorts. The five lines also represent each team’s players on the court. 
• On the uniform, the “Y” is front and center — it’s woven throughout the printed pattern, and it intersects with the “C” of Chicago on the belt buckle. 
• There’s also a beautiful rust color integrated throughout the uniform, which is a nod to the bridges that cross the Chicago River downtown.
  

Cleveland Cavaliers

• The Cleveland Cavaliers 2022-23 Nike NBA City Edition uniform draws inspiration from the physical make-up of Northeast Ohio. 
• It showcases the wordmark “The Land,” Cleveland’s most popular nickname, further connecting this uniform and team back to the city. 
• The graphic is reminiscent of vintage Cavs logos from the 80s, with a blue ball that represents the sunny shores of Lake Erie and tiered brown tones that take inspiration from the area’s bountiful soil. 
• The phrase “For the Love. For the Land” is displayed on the anthem, symbolizing what basketball means to the region.

Dallas Mavericks

• The Dallas Mavericks 2022-23 Nike NBA City Edition uniform bridges the gap between old and new — looking to the past to inspire the future of sport. 
• Back in 1973, Dallas luminaries saw the promise of North Texas, but they needed a catalyst. They took out a 2-page spread in Fortune magazine dubbing Dallas and Ft. Worth as a new industrial complex and metropolis in the middle of the country, a “Metroplex.” This started the boomtown days of success and prosperity, which paved the way for the possibility of an NBA franchise to exist in North Texas. 
• Fast forward 50 years, and the Metroplex is now going through a financial, business, cultural and social boom, becoming a bigger and brighter version of its former self. 
• To celebrate this history in their uniform, the Mavericks graphically rewind the clock to the retro fashion aesthetic of the late 70s and early 80s. 
• By incorporating the team’s legendary color pallet with an inline groovy wordmark, the team achieves a modern take on a nostalgic design.
  

Denver Nuggets

• The Denver Nuggets 2022-23 Nike NBA City Edition uniform is inspired by the team’s hometown — a city that’s proud of its past but always driving forward. 
• Its design draws from the mile-high city’s iconic architecture, such as the bold “DENVER” lettering on the front of the jersey, a tribute to the revered neon sign at Union Station. 
• The Nuggets will use this City Edition uniform to recognize several civic organizations that contribute to the continuing evolution of Denver into an even better place to call home.
  

Detroit Pistons

• The Detroit Pistons 2022-23 Nike NBA City Edition uniform tells a story bigger than local basketball. 
• Designed in collaboration with Pistons Creative Director of Innovation Big Sean, whose childhood in Detroit inspired much of his music, this uniform pays tribute to the gym at Saint Cecilia’s (a.k.a. “The Saint”), where many legends have played. 
• “The Saint” has served as a beacon of hope for many Detroiters and created a safe place to play basketball. 
• The uniform is colored green, matching the gym’s historic logo. And the quote inscribed on the court floor at “The Saint” — “Where stars are made, not born” — is featured on the anthem, along with Big Sean’s signature. A trio of stars on the jersey and shorts also alludes to this message, while symbolizing the Pistons’ three NBA Championships. 
• The shorts are adorned with a replica of The Saint’s storied stained-glass window and sport white and blue side stripes.
  

Golden State Warriors

• The Golden State Warriors 2022-23 Nike NBA City Edition uniform sits at the intersection of court, community and culture. 
• Designed by Bay Area artist Allison Hueman, the uniform incorporates several unique design elements. The centerpiece of the jersey is a yellow rose representing women who change the game and lead fearlessly. 
• The chest emanates rays of sunshine, symbolizing the power of uplifting women and the side gradient represents the diversity of the Bay Area. 
• The rose is symbolic of the women who are champions of our community. 
• The result is an eye-catching uniform that speaks to the Warriors’ deep roots in the community, and their commitment to helping it continue to bloom. 
• The Warriors type face is inspired by the historic Art Deco signage from historical landmarks in the Bay.
  

Houston Rockets

• Bringing back last year’s design, this year’s Houston Rockets Nike NBA City Edition uniform reminds Rockets fans of the rich history of the franchise while pushing the team into the future. 
• In celebration of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary, the 2021-22 on-court collection was designed to showcase the iconic moments of each franchise, so the uniform brings together different details from past Rockets’ uniforms worn throughout important eras, such as Yao Ming being drafted and the strong 2017-2018 season. 
• The font across the chest draws inspiration from the road jerseys worn during the team’s back-to-back Championships. 
• And the shorts blend the double-arch design with the Rockets logo, which the team wore during its 22-game winning streak.
  

Indiana Pacers

• Amongst the cathedrals of basketball throughout the state that grew basketball, the Indiana Pacers 2022-23 Nike NBA City Edition uniform celebrates the past and present of Gainbridge Fieldhouse with the theme “Built for Basketball” 
• Consistently noted as an architectural crown jewel and the premier venue in the country to experience live basketball, this year marks the official completion of a multi-year renovation. 
• A renovation that elevated the building to provide players a distinct home-court advantage and an unmatched game night experience for fans. 
• The uniform honors Gainbridge Fieldhouse’s iconic elements with a sleek design that also celebrates the new. A glimpse of the future, with a nod to the past. 
• The nearly black pitch blue base is a striking departure from previous uniforms and serves as a foundation for a modern team and building. The gold truss spanning the chest and down the legs of the shorts mimic its distinct structure. The jock tag featuring “We Grow Basketball Here” harkens back to the flipper board fashion that was a staple for communicating game schedules at the older fieldhouse and beloved by fans. 
• The shorts feature a new Built for Basketball badge honoring the state’s rich basketball history speaking both the building itself and the building of a team ready to pace a new legacy for the Indiana Pacers.

LA Clippers

• The LA Clippers 2022-23 Nike NBA City Edition uniform celebrates the team’s deeply rooted bond with the South L.A. community. 
• It includes design elements honoring the heritage and passionate spirit of the renowned Drew League, the city’s most beloved community basketball league. 
• The colorful mosaic design on the chest is inspired by the iconic Watts Towers, and the wordmark combines classic scripts from the Clippers and the Drew. 
• Green, a prominent color within the Drew League’s story, is used to line the inside bottom of the jersey. 
• The Drew League’s motto, “No Excuse. Just Produce,” is the City Edition Anthem, with dates celebrating the Drew League’s 50th anniversary adorning the sides of the motto.
  

Los Angeles Lakers 

• Los Angeles is a city where artists know how to transform a blank page into a world of possibility — and that’s the spirit behind this year’s Lakers Nike NBA City Edition uniform. 
• Rather than including details that tell a story, the uniform has been intentionally stripped back to its most simple design. So unlike in years past, the uniform is not the story — it’s a vehicle to tell the stories behind individual Changemakers around Los Angeles. 
• The concentric circle design symbolizes bringing all of Los Angeles together. 
• The anthem has a simple message, inspired by the contagious conviction of the changemakers who walk this city’s streets: “Leave a legacy.”