The unveiling of the NBA City Edition uniforms has become a fun annual tradition for haters and fashionistas alike. Everyone loves an alternate jersey, and basketball fans are getting new ones every season with the City Edition designs.
The 2025-26 NBA City Edition jerseys have all been released. This year’s crop includes a few fan favorites from prior years like the Miami Heat’s “Miami Vice” look now coming in black, and the Denver Nuggets going back to their mountainous skyline look. There are plenty of original designs in here, too. In general, Nike did a good job on this year’s alternates.
Still, some of these uniforms are better than others. It is tradition to rank every City Edition jersey at SB Nation, and I’m falling on the sword this year. These are simply my gut reactions, and I’m happy to have you tell me why I’m wrong in the comments. Let’s rank them.
30. Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets’ 90s-style designs are so iconic that I don’t like anything that strays away from them. Nike, put these guys in a Starters jacket.
29. Los Angeles Clippers
This looks like cheap gym merchandise. The Clippers’ redesigned standard jerseys are really good, so I feel like this franchise can do better.
28. Portland Trail Blazers
The Blazers have had some killer City Edition jerseys in the past, but these aren’t doing it for me.
27. Washington Wizards
I’m old enough to remember when Gilbert Arenas was wearing these while screaming “Hibachi!” and everyone hated them back then. Not all ‘00s nostalgia is good for you. The cherry blossoms should be permanent.
26. Golden State Warriors
These are fine but not my favorite.
25. Utah Jazz
Bold move picking Lauri Markkanen as the model for these. Maybe he really isn’t getting traded.
24. Atlanta Hawks
I feel like a Trae Young Peachtree jersey will go over really well at an Atlanta music festival 10 years from now.
23. Detroit Pistons
These are fine, but give me a teal horse jersey or give me death.
22. New Orleans Pelicans
These are spookier than a Pelicans injury report. The “0 Fears” version of this goes hard. Maybe they should be higher.
21. New York Knicks
Simple but effective. My main gripe is that they don’t really look like an alternate jersey.
20. Dallas Mavericks
Idea for next year’s City Edition Mavs jersey: A jersey with “Fire Nico” on it. I know he’s been fired, but it can still be Dallas’ version of “go birds” and “Roll Tide.”
19. Boston Celtics
I assume Celtics fans absolutely love these. We get it, your team has won a lot of championships. Any Celtics jersey without green is simply a no for me.
18. Denver Nuggets
These are going to look great during the 2026 NBA Finals.
17. Sacramento Kings
Not the best purple jerseys in this year’s City Edition collection, but still pretty good.
16. Chicago Bulls
Nothing too flashy but pretty solid, just like this year’s Bulls.
15. Memphis Grizzlies
These are simple and clean and effective. A Cedric Coward City Edition jersey would make you the coolest kid in a Memphis high school right now.
14. Los Angeles Lakers
I like these and I want to imagine they are going platinum in Arkansas with Austin Reaves fanboys (and fangirls).
13. Philadelphia 76ers
These would be a lot cooler without the crypto patch.
12. Milwaukee Bucks
I pledge allegiance to Cream City.
11. Orlando Magic
The Magic are disappointing so far, but at least these jerseys are nice. Someone please send me those shorts.
10. Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder’s regular uniforms are so boring that almost anything is an upgrade. These immediately feel like one of their best looks.
9. Cleveland Cavaliers
I can’t decide if I like these or think they look too much like the ‘70s creamsicle Tampa Bay Buccaneers jerseys. I feel like they have potential but would enjoy them more with just “Cavs” across the front.
8. Brooklyn Nets
Biggie forever. These might be the highlight of the Nets’ season, and that’s not a compliment.
7. Phoenix Suns
These are so good and should be a staple in the Suns’ jersey collection going forward.
6. Minnesota Timberwolves
The Prince Purple Rain jerseys are striking, creative, and have an awesome hometown tie-in. This is what it’s all about.
5. San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs’ Fiesta jerseys are always top tier, and these are no exception. I like the white ones from a few years ago better, but black works, too.
4. Houston Rockets
I’m not sure if these will be everyone’s cup of tea, but I just love them. It feels authentic to Houston’s basketball history on both the college and pro side, while also being original.
3. Miami Heat
The Miami Vice jerseys are as good as it gets, and they should never be replaced. I liked the white and blue versions from previous years a little better but these are still dope.
2. Toronto Raptors
I’m a simple man: if you put a dribbling dinosaur on a basketball jersey, I’m going to love it. From the jersey the Raptor is wearing to the cool font on the script to the chalky black threads, I think these are perfect.
1. Indiana Pacers
These use the Pacers’ 1970s ABA jerseys as a touchpoint but with a modern twist. It’s too bad Indiana is debuting these awesome uniforms in a gap year without Tyrese Haliburton.
