City Edition jersey rankings: The good, the bad, and the awful

The 2024-25 City Edition jerseys were unveiled Thursday, and like last year's offerings, they're sure to provoke some divisive reactions.

Here, we attempt to rank the jerseys and offer lighthearted critiques. Disagree? Sound off with your volcanic-hot takes in the comments.

1. Toronto Raptors

The Raptors have wisely turned back the clock to an era of sartorial excellence with a look that pays tribute to recent retired-jersey honoree Vince Carter and the silhouette of his famous Slam Dunk contest offering.

2. Utah Jazz

A good rule of thumb is don't mess up something that works, and the Jazz followed that precisely. Featuring the classic mountains, purples and blues, and a striking font, it's another strong addition to the franchise's catalog of uniforms.

3. Orlando Magic

Is this a Magic jersey or a Spurs print with the wrong team name? The font, star in the middle, and even the color relate closer to San Antonio than Orlando. The patented pinstripes are the only thing that makes it on-brand for the Disney-adjacent franchise.

4. Memphis Grizzlies

Harkening back to the ABA era with a nod to the 50th anniversary of the Memphis Sounds, this crimson jersey is the latest top-notch release from the same organization that's rightly been celebrated for the throwback Vancouver kits.

5. Detroit Pistons

Pairing unique colors and font, this Pistons jersey could have been so much worse. And for a franchise perpetually stuck in the past, the "Bad Boys" lettering is a nice touch.

6. Philadelphia 76ers

Even if the 76ers have stunk to begin the season, at least they look good doing it. Everything about the kit screams vintage Philadelphia sports, from the classic Spectrum font to the blue and red outlines. The multi-color pattern along the side is also a nice touch, cementing that classic feel.

7. Phoenix Suns

Combining an Aztec side panel with '90s-style branding, this is a perfect example of what these jerseys should be: whimsical and inoffensive. Also, valleys are objectively cool. Who doesn't love the product of land erosion?

8. Atlanta Hawks

The fact that this one comes in at No. 8 speaks volumes about the rest of the list. It does say the team name on it, which is a prerequisite. The perfect gift for the Hawks fan in your family who you should subsequently disown.

9. Golden State Warriors

The color scheme is doing the heavy lifting here, negating a blocky choice of lettering. The space between Golden State is almost as big as the rim. However, navy blue as the main color never fails, flanked by bright yellow and reds along the side.

10. Cleveland Cavaliers

While there's no definite origin for the nickname, "The Land" became a popular term in the city's hip-hop scene during the 1990s. This is a jersey, and the team will be obligated to wear it. It's blue, and there are two holes for your arms.

11. Sacramento Kings

With a pretty generic design, you might be able to find this kit deep on the racks of your local second-hand store. Its saving grace is the color scheme – as any variation of red, white, and blue is hard to mess up.

12. Milwaukee Bucks

Doubling down on the blue and cream look from last year is fine if not a boring choice. The jerseys are somehow more inspired than the play of the team - but not by much.

13. Los Angeles Clippers

This one is extremely similar to last year's version. At least the superscript dot above the "I" is of a basketball, which is the sport the Clippers usually play. These are fine and a bit fun, which is the point of this exercise in the first place.

14. Portland Trail Blazers

Look bad, play bad. That should be the Blazers' new motto. At least it's not plaid like last year's. Not as bad as other teams, but also not very good. "Also not very good" could be the team's motto. Much to consider.

15. Houston Rockets

Houston, we have failed to launch. The best-case reaction to these bland jerseys is apathy, which I'm sure is how most fans feel until the Rockets make the playoffs again.

16. New Orleans Pelicans

These uniforms are pretty consistent with the Pelicans brand and are a massive upgrade from last year's horrid offering. Still, these colors aren't easy on the eyes - just like the King Cake Baby.

17. Washington Wizards

Another bland, white jersey. Sticking with the District of Columbia theme is a dull decision, but the historical Old English font is the boldest of the bunch. Maybe people will tune in solely to see the young guys force shots in these Declaration of Independence uniforms.

18. Dallas Mavericks

Dropping the regular colors of blue and black for the all-white approach is a predictable move done by a few teams over the past few seasons, so no real points for originality. The lettering style is still incomplete, but the side pattern is unique.

19. Chicago Bulls

Almost a replica of a previous Mavericks City Edition release, this is boring. And to think, there are so many cool elements of Chicago they could have referenced: the soupy pizza, hot dogs with no ketchup, the Dave Matthews Band bus incident, etc.

20. Minnesota Timberwolves

Two big things hold this jersey back from being good. First, it's extremely similar to last year's edition. Second, the font sticks out more noticeably compared to how it was arranged in the 2023-24 season. Minnesota fans deserve a better jersey to reflect how awesome Anthony Edwards is.

21. Oklahoma City Thunder

A City Edition jersey that opts to remove "City" from the branding. This is an inexplicably boring attempt for a team that's anything but mundane. It's possible the designers simply forgot to finish the job.

22. New York Knicks

Consistent with the team's new Kith collection, from the New York-based label founded by Ronnie Fieg, this Knicks jersey is basically the same thing they released last year. It's whatever. Perfect for a Bodega KAT. Meow!

23. Brooklyn Nets

The Nets are again turning to every IKEA shopper's favorite "hypebeast" artist, Brian "Kaws" Donnelly, for their City Edition shirt. It apparently "fuses core elements of the Nets brand," which is a bunch of words that mean absolutely nothing.

24. Charlotte Hornets

The melted mint ice cream look should have stayed on the cutting-room floor. The alternating black and gold stripe colors are also a confounding choice. Just yucky overall.

25. San Antonio Spurs

Last year's unis perfected the retro look with that Texas flare. These feel like a tacky knockoff with the new turquoise tint and bubbling around the letters. Even small changes can drastically alter the perception of a jersey.

26. Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets are once again bragging about their city's elevation above sea level (5280 feet) for a jersey that "is woven into the fabric and culture of Denver." Okay, how about getting a functional bench? No wonder Nikola Jokic looks so gassed every game.

27. Los Angeles Lakers

Coming to a flea market near you. Like what are we even doing with this lazy offering? Prepare for the first-ever instance of TEMU filing a copyright infringement claim against an NBA franchise.

28. Indiana Pacers

A retread from last season in reversed colors, it's believable that these jerseys were designed on the first edition of Microsoft Paint. The airbrushed font and splattered colors definitely give off '90s vibes, but there's no specific connection between this kit and Indiana.

29. Miami Heat

At this point, we're all sick of Heat Culture. No team should be celebrated for leaving the playoffs with a whimper. If they worked as hard on these jerseys as they claim to on the court, we'd get something better than this all-red monstrosity.

30. Boston Celtics

Are you into blue-collar appropriation? Do you wear high-vis vests on the weekend? Have you considered moonlighting as a crossing guard? Then we've got the jersey for you.