While the style of NBA jerseys has changed over the years, pretty much every decade has been home to some iconic designs. Everyone loves their own eras of basketball, but for many, the 90s were where the NBA really stood out with creative jersey designs for some of the best teams to ever play.
Some of the best jerseys in NBA history are still paid tribute to in the modern day by some of the best players, and some of those jerseys have even been given some unique twists. Whether anyone is a fan of untouched jerseys or classic jerseys with a fresh coat of paint, there are dozens of incredible NBA throwback jerseys to check out right now.
10 1992-1995 Atlanta Hawks Jersey
The Hawks may not be the team that has won a lot of championships, but they have had some great jerseys over the years. They’ve played around with a lot of different design ideas, but one of the best comes from 1992-1995.
Something about the font and the way the word Hawks is proudly displayed on the front of the jersey just works. It’s a simplistic jersey compared to many of their others, something that a lot of NBA fans will surely be happy to see.
9 1990-1997 New Jersey Nets Jersey
Some people have called the Nets the best dressed team in NBA history, and that’s often hard to argue with. The team now known as the Brooklyn Nets has had more than a few fantastic jerseys over the years, but their 1990-1991 jerseys might be their most iconic.
Hugely different from the modern colors, the jerseys were red, white, and blue. The simplistic design of the jersey is its strength, with the large blocky letters looking great and standing out in every single moment of play.
8 1998-2012 New York Knicks Jersey
New York’s jersey hasn’t changed too much over the last little while, but the 1998-99 Knicks jersey is an underrated thing of beauty. It’s the kind of jersey that screams basketball with design details that most people probably think of when they think of jerseys.
The blue and orange is always a great mix, but that black stripe on the sides kept it around until 2012. The new jerseys are great, but a lot of Knicks fans are already calling for a redesign thanks to how plain the newer jerseys can feel .
7 1977-1991 Portland Trail Blazers Jersey
Some people may prefer the newest iteration of the Trail Blazers jerseys, but 1983-1984 was arguably the best year for the kit. Being so popular that it was used from roughly 1977-1991, a lot of fans think the jersey is a thing of beauty.
While it doesn’t exactly feature modern lettering, the lettering does provide a kind of classic vibe to the jersey. In the minds of a lot of Portland fans, it’s definitely better than both of the team’s jersey attempts from the seventies.
6 1991-1994 Philadelphia 76ers Jersey
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To a lot of people, the 76ers have a history filled with relatively boring jerseys. For whatever reason, that all changed in the early nineties when they went for a totally different jersey design theme. Featuring falling stars, the 1991-1994 jerseys were fantastic.
They may be a bit much for some fans’ tastes, but nowadays, a lot of NBA fans are appreciating the more unique and interesting jersey designs of the past. The jersey is an underrated gem in the relatively bland history of the 76ers.
5 1988-1998 Orlando Magic Jersey
Some people may disagree, but even more people seem to think that the first Orlando Magic jersey is still the franchise’s best. The modern iteration of the jersey has taken a few notes from the classic shirt, but it just doesn’t have the same level of charm.
The modern jersey looks exactly that, modern. The original jersey stands out a lot more with some distinctive font styles that show off a lot more personality. Having that big star featured also gives something unique to a team that often feels forgotten by NBA fans.
4 1995-1998 Toronto Raptors Jersey
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NBA fans can say a lot about the Toronto Raptors, but they’ve proven themselves to be a competitive team in the league year after year. When they started they didn’t have nearly as much success initially, but their jerseys were definitely striking.
Seeing a group of players take the court in purple jerseys with a fire-red raptor on the front is something that had to catch a lot of eyes. Their first jersey design is an iconic one, and it’s often still paid tribute to in the modern day.
3 1960-1966 Los Angeles Lakers Jersey
If there is one thing that doesn’t change often in the NBA, it is the Lakers jerseys. One of their absolute best jerseys only lasted roughly six years, and 1960-1961 was a good time to be a fan of the team for their style.
While they don’t stand out as much in their original styles, the sleek design of the time really makes the jersey work. It’s not at all the kind of thing that many people would think of when they think of the Lakers, something that makes the jersey even better.
2 1995-2000 Vancouver Grizzlies Jersey
There isn’t much to say about the Vancouver Grizzlies since they weren’t around all that long, but one thing that can be said is that they had some of the best jerseys in league history. Even NBA fans who never watched a Vancouver game seek out the team’s gear simply for the style.
The way the blue and bronze mesh with the native American imagery along the sleeve and neck lines is a thing of pure beauty. The fact that the team is now a relic of the past adds to the mystique of all their gear as well.
1 1992-2000 Phoenix Suns Jersey
From 1992-2000, the Phoenix Suns had one of the best jerseys in NBA history. It’s certainly a relic of the era that it was created in, but it’s one that fits in so well that those wishing to reclaim that moment in time seek out the jersey.
The decision to include a basketball shooting across the uniform like a shooting star was a great choice, and it is far more interesting visually than any of the franchise’s other jerseys. It also helps that Charles Barkley was storming the court in this incredible jersey.