Basketball has long been the coolest sport in America, and one thing that makes it stand out above others is the jerseys. Sometimes when the designers get it right, they create an iconic jersey that people just love. Even decades later, these retro jerseys remain some of the coolest of all time.
Orlando Magic – ‘90s era
The 1990s was a great time to be a basketball fan because the NBA was so exciting and Michael Jordan came into his prime. The pinstriped jersey was made famous thanks to Shaquille O’Neal, Anfernee Hardaway, and the team’s success during the period. The blue just works so well with the pinstripes, but the font on the jersey shouldn’t be overlooked. It all comes together to form one of the most iconic NBA jerseys of all time.
Toronto Raptors – Balling raptor
At the time, people were not so sure they loved this now legendary jersey from the Toronto Raptors. The cartoon raptor playing basketball on the front was not subtle, and there were thoughts that this jersey wouldn’t stand the test of time. A couple of decades later and the jersey is now one of the most sought after in the league. The Raptors finally won the finals in 2019 and that only made demand for this jersey go through the roof.
New York Nets – 1975
The New York Nets, now playing out of Brooklyn, had one of the best jerseys in the history of basketball during the 1970s. The stars running down one side of the jersey, surrounded by a bold stripe of blue, really stand out. It’s their take on the red, white, and blue, and it was only made better thanks to the skills of Julius Erving on the floor.
Minnesota Timberwolves – 1990s
The Timberwolves jerseys of the 1990s Garnett and Marbury era defined this team. The trim around the jersey was a line of trees, and the jagged font was something that gave the Timberwolves some edge on the court.
Sometimes there can be a lack of attention to detail, but in designing these home and road jerseys, the Timberwolves had a uniform to be proud of. Now, many years later, it remains something of pride for Timberwolves fans.
Chicago Bulls – Red and black Jordan pinstripe
When you’ve got the best baller in the history of the sport playing for you, there are going to be more than a few iconic jerseys. While the Bulls classic is unchanged since it was first designed, this red and black pinstriped number is something extra special. The retro jersey was a classic and still one of the best in the league.
Portland Trail Blazers – Clyde Drexler era
The Trail Blazers have always been one of the most stylish teams in the league thanks to their jerseys, but this offering from the 1990s it arguably their best. The classic diagonal double stripe cutting through the jersey makes the players stand out from whoever they are playing against. The black jersey worn during Clyde Drexler’s era is one of the best and not only does it look good but it brings back happy memories for Blazers fans.
The best thing about most of the retro jerseys in the NBA is that they are all pretty cool. No matter what team you support, you can pretty much guarantee that at least once your franchise had an amazing jersey.
