This season, the NBA has made a grand event out of releasing the jerseys for every team. At an event in Los Angeles last week, Nike, the league’s new apparel sponsor, went all out for the release of its “Statement Edition” jerseys, which are alternate uniforms that are supposed to have more pop than just the home whites or away colors. Some actually made statements, others flopped, and all of them were roundly critiqued.
Here is our very official ranking of all 30. Don’t @ us.
1. Golden State Warriors
Town business. #DubNation #NIKExNBA pic.twitter.com/uGUI46pKvT
— GoldenStateWarriors (@warriors) September 16, 2017
Haley O’Shaughnessy: Ahead of the franchise moving to San Francisco, Golden State honored its home since 1971 with the City of Oakland tree logo. It’s a sweet gesture, especially since the organization plans to keep the jersey in rotation for future non-Oakland years. (Conspiracy corner: This is all an elaborate pitch to Oakland native Damian Lillard, who has the logo tatted on his chest.)
2. Charlotte Hornets
THEY'RE HERE Introducing the NEW #NIKExNBA Statement Uniform. #BuzzCity pic.twitter.com/f7RbdDsHoI
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) September 16, 2017
Paolo Uggetti: Few people can pull off purple, and the Hornets do just that with this sleek shade. Charlotte isn’t discussed often because well, there’s not much to say about their impact on the court, but if you’re going to be the sixth seed in the East, you may as well do it in style.
3. Houston Rockets
STATEMENT JERSEY. #NIKExNBA pic.twitter.com/bpCpkp3dkb
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) September 16, 2017
Uggetti: Accents are great, and I can’t get over how good the red outlines look on the new Rockets’ threads. The smoke gray on the sleeves is also a nice touch. (Back to conspiracy corner: Picking Trevor Ariza as the model means he probably won’t be included in a hypothetical forthcoming Melo trade.)
4. Indiana Pacers
See more photos of the Statement uniform and pre-reserve your new Pacers jersey at https://t.co/nq0ocBgCTb pic.twitter.com/w44KInw7Fa
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) September 16, 2017
O’Shaughnessy: This, Utah, is how you do yellow. Look at how happy these jerseys make Myles Turner! He sure doesn’t look like someone about to go 31-51, Vegas, although if the Pacers do end up with that record, which would be Indiana’s worst since 1989, at least they’ll look clean doing it. Er, losing it.
5. Oklahoma City Thunder
You love it, but don't you wanna own it? You can on 11.24.17#NikexNBA #ThunderStatement pic.twitter.com/MWHbkq6m3G
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) September 16, 2017
O’Shaughnessy: Paul George and this jersey have a lot in common, both being solid new additions for OKC.
6. Memphis Grizzlies
Our Statement Edition unis will continue to showcase our Beale Street Blue. #NIKExNBA
— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) September 16, 2017
➡️: https://t.co/VmG4BP29ZU pic.twitter.com/OuW8XVIgSN
Uggetti: Beale Street Blue. Much like the Chargers’ powder blue, this is a perfect color, and I hope the Grizzlies wear it all the time.
7. Los Angeles Lakers
#NIKExNBA pic.twitter.com/rAQUWLrtAK
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) September 16, 2017
O’Shaughnessy: OK, Los Angeles, these are pretty similar to the regular Lakers jerseys (which are also good). In fact, the biggest change in this picture might be Julius Randle, who spent the offseason getting into incredible shape.
8. Milwaukee Bucks
Bucks Statement Edition Uniform: https://t.co/a1jvJlXnz4#NIKExNBA pic.twitter.com/FsggCwb91u
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) September 16, 2017
Uggetti: There’s a clear attention to detail here that’s gotta be commended. The black is sharp; the shades of green around the neckline and the ball on the shorts side paneling complement each other perfectly. Also, that logo is cool as hell. And no, I don’t mean the Harley-Davidson one.
9. Philadelphia 76ers
EYES EMOJI » https://t.co/iP0szWrn7x#NBAxNike pic.twitter.com/pnoZrPX5Vr
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) September 16, 2017
O’Shaughnessy: The script font and stars are fun and Philadelphian, exactly what an alternate “statement” jersey should be. NBA Twitter did point out that “Sixers” looks a bit like “Suxers,” though, and once you see it, it can’t be unseen.
10. Sacramento Kings
▶︎▶︎ Making our statement » https://t.co/ANAlIsShAi#NIKExNBA pic.twitter.com/F7mM1iJlSA
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) September 16, 2017
O’Shaughnessy: This sharp grey-link pattern also appears on the Kings’ new court design (sadly, they’re missing the giant Lannister-esque lion at half court).
11. Brooklyn Nets
B K L Y N pic.twitter.com/sCojDRWQ87
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) September 16, 2017
O’Shaughnessy: LUV IT, BKLYN. GUD.
12. New York Knicks
Nom de DIEU, le flow de @FrankLikina avec le nouveau maillot "Statement" des Knicks...! pic.twitter.com/3t9YqAZrDP
— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) September 16, 2017
Uggetti: Going the safe route instead of blinding the Garden with some bright orange shirseys, was the right move. Hey, the Knicks made a good move!
13. Chicago Bulls
IT'S HERE
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) September 16, 2017
Your first official look at our new Statement Edition uniform. #NIKExNBA pic.twitter.com/BStBTmFwi9
Uggetti: The Bulls’ classics are irreproachable, but you can never go wrong combining black and red.
14. Los Angeles Clippers
⚪️ Association
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) September 17, 2017
⚪️ Icon
Statement #NIKExNBA » https://t.co/2wt7OsKXxn pic.twitter.com/jjW7TXaV3W
Uggetti: The black is really sleek, but I still can’t get over that Microsoft Paint (RIP) logo.
15. Toronto Raptors
Statement.#WeTheNorth | #NIKExNBA pic.twitter.com/Yamw8iCVpG
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) September 16, 2017
Uggetti: I like these jerseys. They are perfectly fine, good-looking jerseys. Are they the best? No. Are they the worst? No. In a hypothetical jersey contest can they get you into the playoffs? Yes. Will they get you into the Finals? Probably not. Ladies and gentlemen, your 2017 Toronto Raptors.
16. Boston Celtics
Welcome to the Association. #NIKExNBA pic.twitter.com/KLozcnWmj5
— Nike Basketball (@nikebasketball) September 16, 2017
O’Shaughnessy: OKC: “Let’s make a statement. Let’s send Paul to this event.”
Golden State: “We’ll raise you Durant.”
Minnesota: “Karl.”
Charlotte: “Kemba.”
Boston: “SHANE LARKIN.”
17. New Orleans Pelicans
.@IanClark in the new #Pelicans Statement Edition Uniform! #NIKExNBA #DoItBig (via @nikebasketball) pic.twitter.com/flk6W51j7H
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) September 16, 2017
Uggetti: These are very red and very bright. The Pelicans already sported a version of these last season, and I guess if your brand of game isn’t exactly exciting, your jerseys gotta have some pop. Compensation 101.
18. Minnesota Timberwolves
The story behind the Statement. @fitbit #NewEraNewThreads pic.twitter.com/4iutysYTlX
— Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) September 16, 2017
O’Shaughnessy: These are like Lisa Frank meets the NBA, which I would have been extremely into in middle school. These jerseys did serve some good, convincing Enes Kanter that the new OKC threads weren’t so bad after seeing what the Wolves were working with: “Light green? OK, [the Thunder] have a good jersey.”
19. Washington Wizards
The Statement Edition. #NIKExNBA | https://t.co/03wev3Y36P#DCFamily pic.twitter.com/CvtYwYkUXn
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) September 16, 2017
O’Shaughnessy: I mean, Washington did re-sign John Wall and Otto Porter Jr. without adding any major offseason free agents. Having a “statement” jersey no different from last season’s ordinary digs kind of works for the Wizards. Shall we call this the run-it-back jersey?
20. Denver Nuggets & Dallas Mavericks (Tie)
JJ Sua-ve in the Mavs' statement jersey. pic.twitter.com/8U4QqYSlQ6
— Bobby Karalla (@bobbykaralla) September 16, 2017
Ready to make a STATEMENT. #NIKExNBA pic.twitter.com/EkLxIiwgeE
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) September 16, 2017
Uggetti: Why are we using the skylines of two cities with largely unrecognizable skylines?
22. Orlando Magic
Make. Your. Statement. #PureMagic #NIKExNBA pic.twitter.com/8E8YNfAKoP
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) September 16, 2017
Uggetti: Pinstripes are good, but for a “statement” jersey, I would have liked to see more of that bright blue.
23. Portland Trail Blazers
— Rip City Brasil (@BlazersBrasil) September 16, 2017
Uggetti: Really self-aware of the Blazers to put a tire track running through their jerseys to signify how they will get run over by the Warriors in the in the first round of the playoffs again.
24. Phoenix Suns
Set the tone. Make a statement. ✔️
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) September 16, 2017
Feat. @Ebled2
➡️ https://t.co/OI3mE6mPOL pic.twitter.com/cBqKmXvNyn
O’Shaughnessy: The lettering on these may be overly chunky, but at least Eric Bledsoe looks happy in this video (as opposed to the league photoshoot).
25. Utah Jazz
Jazz Gold x Statement Edition
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) September 16, 2017
https://t.co/N7gYFsC0Mj pic.twitter.com/wC1TqmbnwQ
Uggetti: A lot of gold is a risky move. The cool green the Jazz have in their scheme barely stands out because the entire jersey looks like an already-used highlighter.
26. Cleveland Cavaliers
Introducing our Nike Statement Edition black uniform, to forever represent the greatest game in Cavs hoops history → https://t.co/P5O471fchs pic.twitter.com/Sx0jZJbcqr
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) September 16, 2017
O’Shaughnessy: Are these pinstripes or Goodyear tire treads?
27. San Antonio Spurs
Introducing the Statement Edition. #NIKExNBA pic.twitter.com/whdAkA9lGk
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) September 16, 2017
Uggetti: The Spurs don’t have a lot of options, but going with a matte grey that they’ve used in the past isn’t exactly aesthetically pleasing.
28. Miami Heat
New #NIKExNBA pic.twitter.com/JytHVmLVhh
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) September 16, 2017
O’Shaughnessy: Miami opted to not stray far from its norm—the straight red is classic, but not much of a statement. They should’ve let Hassan Whiteside (whose artistic expectations are so high that he called the Louvre “not shabby”) design these jerseys.
29. Atlanta Hawks
Making a Statement. #NIKExNBA pic.twitter.com/6vw3WMLZta
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) September 16, 2017
O’Shaughnessy: There is no “statement” from these uniforms. They are exactly the same as last year’s uniforms (remember these guys?). For a mecca of culture and art like Atlanta, these are disappointingly forgettable. Maybe this season that is the statement for the Hawks.
30. Detroit Pistons
The full look.
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) September 16, 2017
See all the new jerseys for this season at https://t.co/kgnN6cTzg7 pic.twitter.com/GdBsuHYeKY
O’Shaughnessy: No flash, sharpness, excitement, or cohesion—maybe they do fit the Pistons after all.