City Edition uniforms: Nuggets, Wolves, Thunder and more unveil new looks

The Detroit Pistons City Edition uniform ties into the culture of Detroit and offers Pistons fans a limited-edition jersey option at retail. Through collaboration with the NBA and Nike, the Pistons created this uniform based on inspiration from both the automotive culture – Motor City across the front, bold highway-like striping – and also the hard-nosed mentality of the city.  The uniform, which has a black base color with gray accents and embellishments, will be accompanied on court with special-edition warm-up apparel.

Nike City Edition uniforms are designed to honor basketball fans in each NBA city who bring energy and passion to the court every night while cheering on their favorite teams.

Representatives of the Prince Estate and members of Prince’s family evidenced their pride in announcing the partnership with the Minnesota Timberwolves, which honors the inspiring life and iconic legacy of Prince Rogers Nelson. They stated:

“From a young age, Prince enjoyed basketball – as a player and a fan. From his days playing at Bryant Junior High and Central High in South Minneapolis, through countless pick-up games while on the road with bandmates around the world, he enjoyed the camaraderie and competition of the game. This partnership brings together the city of Minneapolis, and more broadly the state of Minnesota, in an exciting effort to uniquely honor Prince. We look forward to initiatives ahead – both on and off the court – that will extend from this campaign and echo throughout the Twin Cities and beyond. Thanks to the Timberwolves, Nike and the NBA.”

The City Edition jersey is a representation of an icon and a team; a jersey representation and a purple celebration for the ages. When Minnesota combines music, basketball, culture and a beloved legacy, it becomes something historic. The blend provides radiant energy, recalls classic memories, and creates a united fan excitement befitting of a Prince inspired experience.

Today’s announcement is about much more than a jersey unveil. It represents the launch of a platform that has been created after many hours of sustainable collaboration with the Prince Estate that will celebrate the legacy of the Minneapolis sound. Most elements of the Timberwolves experience will be impacted at moments throughout the season – including but not limited to game experience, digital content, digital platforms, events and promotions.

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The actual jersey design incorporates multiple references to the legacy of Prince. The left vent on the jersey bears a paisley leaf in tribute to Prince’s creative sanctuary – Paisley Park. The right shoulder pattern honors the iconic jacket Prince wore when performing “Purple Rain”. The “MPLS” on the left leg symbolizes the well-known Minneapolis Sound that Prince ushered in during the late 1970s. The Timberwolves partial logos on the right leg and on the belt buckle are in tonal purple – the regal color most closely associated with Prince. Tying it all together is the distinctive font, which is reminiscent of the 1980s Prince era.

The Wolves are set to wear the City Edition uniforms eight times this season, starting with a Nov. 16 home game against the Portland Trail Blazers. 

“More than just a uniform, this is a statement of our pride in the Native American culture that is so rich and vibrant in the fabric of Oklahoma,” said Thunder Senior Vice President Brian Byrnes. “We are honored to have worked with Nike to develop a design that in so many ways captures and celebrates the influence of our state’s Native American communities.”

The lead design element of the uniform is turquoise, representing the 11th anniversary stone and the native color of friendship. It also coincides with the Thunder’s 11th season. Interlocking letters create “OKC” on the jersey’s chest, with separate shapes blending into one another to create one shape. Boldly set, the belt pattern on the shorts is derived from a traditional sash and represents the various individual communities expanding outward, pointing toward and blending with each other. Encompassed by the Four Corners, all shapes point inward to gather at OKC. The short vent graphic is inspired by the turtle shell, the circle symbolizes the Earth and recognizes the tribes that line the outside. Primary stripe elements point east to welcome the rising sun and guide the way.

The Thunder plan to wear the uniforms at least six times at home this season, with the first date coming on Nov. 14 against the New York Knicks. 

The black uniform once again features the phrase “Buzz City” on the chest plate, though the words and uniform numbers are now teal, with black and teal outlines.  The player name is entirely in teal.  The sides and back of both the jersey and shorts have a gray pattern designed to represent the wings of a hornet.  The jersey also includes the phrase “City of Flight” in teal above the jock tag at the bottom left.

The waistband of the shorts displays an “H” surrounded by wings similar to those on the original Nike Air Jordan I and II shoes.  The team’s secondary logo appears in teal on each leg.  A flap appears adjacent to the logo on each side, with the one on the right leg concealing a hidden “CHA.”

The logo of LendingTree, a Founding Level Partner and the Official Loan Shopping Partner of the Charlotte Hornets, is featured on the left chest of the jersey, while the Jumpman logo of Nike’s Jordan Brand appears on the right chest, as they do on each of the team’s uniforms.

The Hornets plan to wear the uniforms for 10 home games this season and for seven road games.