You have already been offered a few articles from Le Basketographe in the past, on the history of the iconic logo of the New York Knicks, that of the “worst” jersey of all time, or a rather crazy story involving Jack Nicholson, Roman Polanski and the Los Angeles Lakers. Today, we relay to you his work on the “City” jerseys in the NBA for the 2022-2023 season.
Behind each design hides a reference and a story. Here are some examples to make you want to read the 30 concocted by Le Basketographe.
The Warriors and the confusing tribute to women
Designed by Oakland-based artist Allison Hueman, the Warriors uniform incorporates several original design elements. The centerpiece of the jersey, a yellow rose, represents the women who inspire change and lead without fear.
Sunbeams emanating from the chest symbolize the empowering power of women and the color gradient represents the diversity of the Bay Area. The slightly confusing result is a unique uniform that speaks to the Warriors’ deep roots in the community. Finally, the Warriors font is inspired by the Art Deco signage of historic sites in the bay.
Miami and the memory of Ray Allen’s shoot
The Miami Heat’s uniform is based on last year’s uniform, changing from black to white as the base color. For its main inscription, the uniform once again presents an aggregate of the fonts present on old jerseys. The jersey also includes the words “15 STRONG”, symbolizing the unity of the team during their title victory against Spurs in 2013, and a yellow border reminiscent of the safety ropes released by the staff of the American Airlines Arena a few seconds before Ray Allen’s shot in the closing seconds of Game 6.
Famous Phoenix Native American Tribes
The Suns uniform celebrates Native American cultures and the 22 indigenous tribes that have lived in this region for thousands of years. The color turquoise represents the stone of protection, or living stone, which has special meaning in the local indigenous community. The jersey features the main Suns logo centered on the chest and red trim which represents the color of the earth. The sides of the jersey highlight a traditional pattern.
A black ribbon hosts multiple inscriptions meaning “sun” in all the tribal languages of Arizona. We will also notice the presence of a basketball surrounded by 22 red, yellow, white and black feathers, the colors of the traditional medicine wheel, representing the four directions and the cycles of life.
Les Hawks et la confusion Peach/Pitch ????
This uniform is a new version of the Peachtree Hawks uniform launched three seasons ago. The term Peachtree is a nod to the city’s roots and refers to Atlanta’s main street, Peachtree Street, around which the city is built. This name is so popular in Atlanta that there are dozens of streets with this term. The city is even nicknamed “The Big Peach”.
But back to the jersey: the orange gradient and the design represent the energy and the incredible dynamism of the city. The fishing/basketball symbol on his belt buckle is an ultimate homage to Georgia, the “fishing state”.
For the curious wondering what peaches are doing in Atlanta, you have to dig into the area’s history. Before the construction of the city, an Indian tribe lived in a village called Standing Peachtree, or rather Standing Pitchtree. The village took its name from the abundance of pines that were there and from the harvest of resin (“pitch” in VO). By taking possession of the region, the settlers would therefore have confused the two terms.
Detroit and Big Sean’s paw
The Pistons uniform was designed in collaboration with rapper Big Sean, whose Detroit childhood inspired much of his music. The uniform pays homage to the gymnasium of Saint Cecilia, nicknamed “The Saint”, where many legends have played. A true institution in Detroit, “The Saint” has been a beacon of hope for many Detroit residents and created a safe place to play basketball. The green color corresponds to the logo of the gymnasium.
The quote inscribed on the gymnasium floor “Where stars are made, not born” is repeated on the jersey. There is also Big Sean’s signature and a trio of stars on the shirt and shorts, referring to the history of the Pistons and their three titles won in 1989, 1990 and 2004. Finally, the shorts are adorned with a replica of the gymnasium stained glass window.
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To find the other 25 references, with perhaps the one linked to your favorite franchise, go to Le Basketographe!
City shirts are out… it’s not crazy
