The Best NBA Jerseys of All Time Every Fan Should Know
Following your favorite sports team is more than just cheering for them on game day. Fans buy all kinds of paraphernalia, including game jerseys, to show their fandom. No league has fans who wear their uniforms more than the NBA, where wearing a game jersey is as commonplace in everyday life as it is at games.
So, what are the most popular jerseys? What are the most popular teams? We’re not going to list the best NBA jerseys of all time because it’s certainly subjective, but we will go over some of the most popular NBA jerseys for fans.
They vary from the superstars to the most popular teams and some rarities. Check out our thoughts on the best basketball jerseys, and let us know what you think.
Starting With the Classics
Standout franchises exist in any professional sports league, and the NBA is no exception. Some of the most iconic NBA jerseys belong to the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers, who have combined for 35 NBA titles and have a wide range of Hall of Fame players over the years.
Because of their long histories and winning traditions that go on to this day, both franchises are extremely popular worldwide, leading to many people wearing their jerseys.
The New York Knicks haven’t had as much team success, but being in the Big Apple, they have many fans. Whether it’s Spike Lee or your Average Joe, you’ll find Knicks jerseys nationwide.
When it comes to popular franchises, the six NBA titles in the 1990s by the Chicago Bulls made their franchise very popular, whether it’s online at BetUS for bettors or for fans with their jerseys. Oh, and that Jordan guy as well. Even decades after his retirement as a player, Michael Jordan is one of the most popular players among fans, with his Bulls jersey considered one of the coolest NBA jerseys to own and wear.
These franchises came about and had much of their success in a time when NBA teams only had two variations of their jerseys: a home version that was usually a light color and an away version that was a darker color. Things have changed over the years, with many variations for every team, leading us to our next category for the best NBA jerseys of all time.
Variety Is The Spice Of Life
With jerseys becoming increasingly easy to buy, the NBA recognized that the more versions of a team’s jersey were available, the more the league could sell. In the 1990s, teams started offering a wider variety of jerseys on the court, which led to many more cool jerseys that fans wanted.
The late 1980s and early 1990s also saw some expansion in the league’s membership, with some teams bringing other styles. The Charlotte Hornets featured teal in their main colors and were a very popular jersey. The success of the young franchise, led by Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning, also made them one of the coolest NBA jerseys for a fan to have.
Another of the most popular was the Orlando Magic’s pinstripe look. It certainly helped that the team had two of the most popular players in the 1990s—Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway—but the new look was very popular. Even the Bulls took the hint, adding a black jersey with red pinstripes that became an iconic look and is often included when ranking the 10 best uniforms in the NBA.
Franchises have gone back in time with throwback jerseys at times – the Lakers wearing their old Minneapolis Lakers look is one that comes to mind – and also have embraced the variations with different color schemes and looks. Some of those work, some don’t, but they give fans more options.
Starting with the 2017-18 season, NBA teams also had City Edition jerseys, which were made to “celebrate the history, culture, and personality of each team’s city.” Each has a different look for the team and is very popular with fans to see on the players and wear for themselves.
It’s All About The Player
Back in the day, a team jersey was enough for most fans, but nowadays, it’s more about the player. Not many people want to wear the jersey of the 12th man on the team – though there are fanatics who would. People want the stars, so the jersey rankings list the most popular player jerseys.
Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Jayson Tatum… the list of the top 20 best NBA players that fans want includes today’s stars and former players. For many people, the best basketball jerseys honor the best players in the league.
But not everyone wants the same version of Jordan’s jersey. So there are plenty of collectors who like to get some rare jerseys – like Jordan with North Carolina, Jordan with the Washington Wizards, or even Jordan in his #45 jersey from when he returned from his first retirement in the 1990s.
Jordan wore #45 for just 23 games, but it’s a cool jersey for the most devoted fans. The same goes for popular players who played for some other teams in their careers after success with one team.
Dominique Wilkins with the Boston Celtics or LA Clippers. Shaquille O’Neal with the Phoenix Suns or Cleveland Cavaliers. Hakeem Olajuwon with the Toronto Raptors. Before player movement from team to team was so commonplace, players with other teams’ jerseys on was quite a jolt to the eyes, which some fans like when they have their choice of jerseys.
Every fan has their choice of the coolest NBA jerseys, but there is no shortage of options. We’ve highlighted some of our favorites, but the most important thing is representing who you like, either a team or a player.
