On Monday, four NBA teams revealed new ABA-style uniforms for the upcoming season. The Brooklyn Nets, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, and San Antonio Spurs introduced their Classic Edition uniforms in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the 1976 NBA-ABA merger.
Honoring the Past: San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs’ uniform is a faithful reproduction of the team’s original design from their early years in San Antonio. This design prominently features the arched “Spurs” wordmark on the chest, an element worn by the first players who represented San Antonio in 1973 after the team relocated from Dallas.
Jordan Mandelkorn, Vice President of Marketing, Creative, and Retail for Spurs Sports & Entertainment, emphasized that the uniform is a unique way to celebrate the team’s ABA roots. The season will feature a matching throwback court design with the ABA 50th-anniversary logo to connect fans across generations.
The uniforms, first popular during the George Gervin era at the HemisFair Arena, will debut on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, against the Dallas Mavericks at Frost Bank Center. The Spurs plan nine “Classic Nights” throughout the season. The shorts feature a black diamond backdrop framing a classic cowboy spur, enhancing the retro style.
Denver Nuggets: A Missed Opportunity
The Denver Nuggets’ city edition uniforms, featuring a drab orange color scheme, pay tribute to the team’s late 1960s and early 1970s heritage in the ABA. The jersey includes an arched “Denver” wordmark in black with a white outline, offering a simple and uninspired design.
The shorts, with a black Rockets logo on the left leg, reminisce the team’s original 1967 identity as the Denver Rockets before renaming to the Nuggets. The organization also announced a matching throwback court at Ball Arena for selected games.
The Nuggets will debut these uniforms on Sunday, December 27, 2026, against the Indiana Pacers. They will wear this commemorative look for nine total regular-season games, including seven at home.
Indiana Pacers: A Classic Look
The Indiana Pacers’ Classic Edition uniform honors the franchise’s powerful ABA era. This uniform replicates the iconic 1971–74 road design, featuring a royal blue jersey with a white “Indiana” wordmark arched across the chest.
The gold numbering, a single gold racing stripe around the armholes, and a distinct gold-and-white striping pattern on both the jersey and shorts make a strong visual impact. The nostalgic design is reminiscent of the early 1970s Atlanta Hawks jersey worn by “Pistol” Pete Maravich.
The shorts include a vintage 1967 logo, a cartoonish white hand holding a basketball inside the letter “P.” These will be worn for 15 games, including seven home dates with a custom throwback court design and retro game-night experience at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Brooklyn Nets: The Best in Show
The Brooklyn Nets’ 2026–27 Classic Edition uniform revives the iconic New York Nets design. The red, white, and blue color palette matches a period-specific ABA basketball and features side paneling with retro stars. This design echoes the famous look worn by Hall of Famer Julius “Dr. J” Erving during ABA championships in 1974 and 1976.
The Nets will complement the uniform with a throwback court design at Barclays Center, debuting on Opening Night, Wednesday, October 21, 2026, against the Charlotte Hornets.
Overall, these designs honor the rich history of the leagues from 50 years ago. Despite mixed opinions about the Specter Edition Uniforms revealed by Nike and the NBA in September, these classic editions offer a tasteful nod to a pivotal era in basketball.
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