Just what makes an NBA jersey the best is entirely subjective. Everyone has their own design quirks that they prefer. Some love old-school jerseys and others love the latest and greatest uniforms on the court. Even NBA players can be quite vocal for their love of jerseys at different times.
It’s impossible to cover every jersey as almost every team has at least one that stands out, and sometimes, a team has more than a few sharp jerseys in their history. Still, these are the jerseys that NBA fans often seek out to hang up somewhere in their man cave after a player puts up a clutch game seven performance.
10 Toronto Raptors - Military Nights (Alternate)
To some, the Toronto Raptors alternate jerseys known as Military Nights might be a bit tacky. To those who support and respect those in the armed forces, these jerseys are probably a seriously big hit.
The jerseys brought a much-needed edge to Toronto, helping them continue to dig their way out of what seems viewed as the silliest jersey in the league with their classic purple Raptors jersey. The color scheme deviating from what fans are used to also makes the jerseys a nice refreshing change of pace.
9 Brooklyn Nets - 1990-1997 Road Uniform (New Jersey)
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The NBA knew what it took to make some great jersey’s in the 90s. Sure, some of them are a bit dated or tacky when compared to the modern kits, but there's a reason so many people proudly display jerseys from the 90s on their walls.
The jerseys were visually interesting, and the 1990-1997 road uniform for the Brooklyn Nets (then the New Jersey Nets) was simple but fantastic. It’s hard to explain, but the way the colors mix and the way the Nets name is proudly displayed makes the jerseys one of the best.
8 Utah Jazz - 1996-2004 Road Uniform
Some people might not love this Utah Jazz uniform, but it stands out from a sea of lifeless NBA jerseys. There aren’t a lot of ways to adequately represent the name Utah Jazz, but the classic uniform takes a pretty good shot.
It certainly also helps that the team was quite good in the late nineties. Unfortunately, the team took a serious turn in the early 2000s, but that just made the uniforms one of the high points of the team. That simple addition of a mountain combined with the Jazz font is something 90s NBA fans will never forget.
7 Atlanta Hawks - 2007-2012 Road Uniform
To give the Atlanta Hawks some credit, they’ve had some great jerseys over the years. One of their best is a bit more modern and was used from 2007-2012. The deep blue of the uniforms was a refreshing switch from the usual deep red.
It’s the accents of red that line the sides of the jersey that add a little bit of extra life to the look. While the team wasn’t doing amazing while playing in the jersey, they were consistently making the playoffs, and that’s not something every team can say about the lifespan of their jerseys.
6 Memphis Grizzlies - Memphis Sounds (Alternate)
A lot of people haven’t been especially thrilled by the few Memphis Grizzlies jerseys. One of their jerseys, an alternate, is actually one of the best in the league's history. It serves as a throwback to the classic era of NBA jerseys making it really stand out.
The switch up to bright red was already a great call for the team, but whoever designed the font for the numbers and lettering deserves a raise. The jerseys are fantastic, and Memphis fans often call for the team to break them out again and again.
5 Phoenix Suns - 1992-2000 Home Uniform
Pretty much everyone agrees that the Phoenix Suns jerseys from 1992-2000 are some of the best jerseys to ever grace the NBA. It’s a simple design idea, but it’s a flashy one. It’s a design that works in pretty much every color too.
The simple choice to have a ball shooting across the jersey made for one of the most memorable images in NBA history. It also helps that someone as skilled as Charles Barkley helped to break in the jerseys for the world to see.
4 Vancouver Grizzlies - 1995-1999 Road Uniform
The Vancouver Grizzlies might have been one of the worst teams to ever grace the NBA, but they definitely knew how to take the court in style. Even NBA fans who have never seen a Vancouver Grizzlies game attempt to track down their gear.
The shade of greenish–blue the team used had them standing out from every other team at the time. It really is a shame that Vancouver didn’t perform better, because maybe if they had, fans might have a modern version of that classic jersey.
3 Los Angeles Lakers - Hollywood Nights (Alternate)
Love the Lakers or hate the Lakers, their Hollywood Nights alternate jerseys are a thing of beauty. It takes the usual flashy colors of the Lakers and subdues it a bit. There are still pops of yellow and purple, but the black presentation classes up the whole look.
The yellow practically turns to gold when pressed onto the black fabric, making the jerseys look almost prestigious. To most people, it's a jersey design that isn’t seen enough and can’t be seen enough. The Lakers do enjoy surprising their fans, so you never know when the jerseys will be back.
2 Toronto Raptors - Drake’s OVO Nights (Alternate)
No one can say that the Toronto Raptors don’t have style. Thanks to Drake, the team has what might be the most beautiful jerseys in NBA history. Taking the usual Raptors style and swapping out the usual colors for black, white, and gold went a long way.
The usual red, white, and black jerseys are all fine, but nothing can touch how good the gold-lined jerseys look. Combine that all with an incredible custom court and one of the most devoted fanbases in basketball, and Raptors fans were in for a treat each time they got to see those jerseys.
1 Chicago Bulls - 1985-Present Road Uniform
Nothing even needs to be said about this Jersey. It’s so good that it hasn’t changed since the 80s. It’s the go-to jersey that every basketball fan is willing to pick up, regardless of their team of choice. As long as that jersey says Jordan, it's going on the wall.
It’s true what they say, simple is best, and it’s hard to get simpler than this jersey. Some prefer the red, and some prefer the white, but regardless of the color, everyone loves what might be the most iconic jersey in NBA history.