Ranking some of the most memorable NBA All-Star Game uniforms of all time

Ranking some of the most memorable NBA All-Star Game uniforms of all time
By Mike Vorkunov
Feb 16, 2024

It’s time, once again, for the NBA All-Star Game, the annual exhibition played in the middle of the season. Sunday in Indianapolis is expected to be a fun event, as fans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse — and those watching the broadcast — will look for their favorite players to give the best highlights possible.

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The All-Star Game also seems to be a time where many pay attention to how those players look during the game. Uniforms often are what is remembered.

For almost every game in recent years, the NBA has debuted new uniforms for each team in the All-Star Game, whether it’s Team LeBron and Team Giannis or, as it is again this weekend, East vs. West. Some are hits, some are not.

You can decide whether or not you like this year’s selection for Sunday’s game.

 (Courtesy of the NBA)

But how do these stack up with history? Let’s take a look at the 10 best NBA All-Star Game uniforms throughout the years. Your opinion may vary; feel free to express your thoughts in the comments section.

10. 1975

The purple homage to the Phoenix Suns uniforms, the clean and easily readable lettering, the orange panels on the shorts — this was such a strong look at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Unfortunately, it didn’t last as the league moved onto another design the following season, but this was such a great match of color scheme to the host city.

9. 1980

At the Capital Centre in Landover, Md., the NBA leaned in with red, white and blue, Washington Bullets-inspired uniforms. The horizontal striping was a nice look, even if the white jerseys looked very close to what the Bullets actually wore. The league changed the shadowing on the numbers of the All-Star jerseys to avoid total duplication.

8. 1991

 Clyde Drexler (22) and Dominique Wilkins battle for position during the 1991 NBA All-Star Game in Charlotte, N.C. (Andrew D. Bernstein / NBAE via Getty Images)

It was the little tweaks that made these stand out. The All-Star Game in Charlotte, N.C., was the first time the NBA experimented with the design of its uniforms to make them flashier. They added ice blue stars behind the numbers of the jerseys and some pomp to what had been a no-frills look. The league centered “NBA” on the top row of the jerseys and changed the font to something that makes me recall the font used in arcade and video games of that era. Those wrinkles livened up the uniforms.

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7. 1993 and 1994

The league changed the dark All-Star uniforms from red to blue and found a winning combination of color and design. Maybe it’s because the color coordination of the blue jerseys and lettering design gave it a frozen ice palace look that seemed appropriate for games set in Salt Lake City (1993) and Minneapolis (1994). The NBA was starting to feel itself and pushed the boundaries of uniform design.

6. 2003

 

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Everything old is new. The NBA rolled out retro All-Star Game uniforms, a throwback to its ’80s look. Maybe it was the sight of Michael Jordan in one of those jerseys again, but this really worked. It helped that the Atlanta crowd was treated to an overtime game, in which the West topped the East.

5. 1997-2002

 Kobe Bryant attempts a dunk during the 1998 NBA All-Star Game at Madison Square Garden in New York. (Andrew D. Bernstein / NBAE via Getty Images)

This might be a little controversial, but the NBA’s decision to let players play in their actual team uniforms at Madison Square Garden was brilliant. It was great marketing for the teams at a time when there was no way to see every team whenever you wanted. This was a time when NBA teams had some of their best uniforms — the teal with the Detroit Pistons, the pinstripe with the Orlando Magic, those great Seattle SuperSonics uniforms … the list goes on. It was very cool to turn the game on and see everyone in their own uniforms and make those recognizable. Bring that back.

4. 1985

This was a sign of what was to come for the next few years. The NBA came to Market Square Arena in Indianapolis and figured out the uniform situation. This was Jordan’s first All-Star Game, and collectively, those white jerseys were a hot commodity (and still are today). But the NBA improved on those the following year.

3. 1986-90

Neat, trim and stylish, these uniforms had it all. They weren’t the most out-there uniforms; they actually were tame, a classic look that just aged well. The red visitors uniforms were an aesthetic improvement on the blue. Something just worked better in that color. Sure, the top of the jersey could be a little busy, as the league fit the logo alongside “NBA” above the jersey number, but it still looked good. That’s probably why the league ran them back out for five consecutive years.

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2. 1995

These came right as the NBA went through its uniform renaissance age in the mid-90s. It was sign of what was to come with uniforms across the league. The homage to Phoenix inspired some great details, like the Aztec trim along the sides and a sunburst behind a green cactus. The purple really popped. Just beautiful.

1. 1996

There has never been a better NBA All-Star Game uniform. These are collector’s items. These are high-end fashion. The turquoise canvas and fuchsia chili pepper. The ode to San Antonio. The stars who wore them — MJ, Penny, Shaq. It just does not get any better than this. They are iconic.

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(Top photos of Dominique Wilkins, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan: Andrew D. Bernstein and Nathaniel S. Butler / NBAE via Getty Images)

Mike Vorkunov is the national basketball business reporter for The Athletic. He covers the intersection of money and basketball and covers the sport at every level. He previously spent three-plus seasons as the New York Knicks beat writer. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeVorkunov