Understand the characteristics used in NBA uniforms

In 2017, Nike took over the supply of sports materials for the basketball teams of the NBA. And those who began following the league before this transition learned about the organization of uniforms in a simple way: the home team played in white and the visitor wore a colored uniform. Since then, the number of uniforms has increased, some reference nostalgic teams and others carry atypical colors.

Before Nike fully took over the supply of materials, franchises basically had the uniforms known as “Home,” always white, for home games; and “Away,” always colored, worn when they were the visitors, with the Los Angeles Lakers being the only historical exception, having the home uniform in yellow. Starting in 2017, the rule of home and away uniforms was broken. Today there are 6 collections, and each franchise participates in at least 4 of them. Each NBA team has 4 to 6 uniforms divided as follows:

Association Edition

Predominantly white. This uniform represents the Association, the most traditional aspect of the League. This uniform is rarely altered. Exceptions are when the franchise's visual identity is renewed or when the team is bought by another owner.

City Edition

In this edition, creativity is the only criterion. City Edition is the version that is less tied to the franchise's standards. The uniforms must reference the location where the franchise is based, it could be an artist, a date, a memorable episode, cultural aspects, and other examples. It is important that the tribute to the state or city is made.

Icon Edition 

What determines this edition is the color that best identifies. They are also the most well-known and marketed jerseys of the NBA.

Statement Edition

It is comparable to the alternate uniform. The uniforms leave a stronger impression and have vibrant colors. This uniform needs to remain active for at least two seasons.

From the 2020-21 season onwards, Statement models began to be signed by the Jordan Brand.

Classic Edition

This is the nostalgic edition that brings back memories. Each season, some franchises are selected to receive the uniform from this collection. The selected teams are usually those that celebrate anniversaries that are multiples of 5 or 10.

Earned Edition

Exclusive to the 16 franchises that qualified for the playoffs of the previous season. There is no major intention or rule for this uniform. However, it is a significant achievement for the franchises that qualify.

Text/Research: Vitor Queiroz