The Top NBA Road Uniforms: The Odd Numbers

My last slide show took a look at the top NBA road uniforms starting with the even numbers, and today I will be finishing the list up by taking it to No. 1.

There's another 15 teams on this list: some are bound to disgust and some are bound to delight. We already know which team I've picked as the worst road uniform, but what team will claim the No. 1 spot?

No. 29 Philadelphia 76ers

I'm expecting to get a lot of criticism for putting the 76ers so low on my list, but I just can't find any room in my heart to like these at all. I wouldn't call them ugly, but they are positively boring and lack any character.

Worst of all, Philadelphia has had some amazing uniforms in the past that make this black monstrosity look drab. I've heard the 76ers may be going back to their red, white, and blue color scheme full-time.

This would be an excellent decision.

No. 27 Oklahoma City Thunder

Three factors combine to really kill this uniform right from the get-go. First, the stacked wordmark of the city above the numbers looks plain stupid. Second, the blue darkens at the ends of the jersey and looks weird.

And third, when viewed on television the Thunder uniforms (particularly these blue ones) look like the Knicks. Besides that, I like the color scheme and team name, but they haven't put anything together worthwhile here.

No. 25 Charlotte Bobcats

The Bobcats' uniforms remind me a lot of Golden State: interesting and unique color schemes but a total package that leaves something to be desired. Perhaps the biggest problem for Charlotte is their use of shiny material that seems a bit overwhelming, particularly with their orange road set.

I have also heard that the Bobcats will be wearing new uniforms for the upcoming 2009-10 season, so it will be interesting to see what they may design.

No. 23 Houston Rockets

I get it...Yao Ming plus red and white equals millions of jerseys sold in China. Still, I can't bring myself to like these uniforms.

Although they use the same colors as the Detroit Red Wings, there is none of the classic look to them and they are very boring.

I still say the Hakeem era uniforms were the team's best. After all, they did win two championships with them.

No. 21 Washington Wizards

Here is a uniform that I've always disliked, but after looking at it for a while I decided it wasn't as bad as I thought.

Unfortunately for Washington, their uniforms are going nowhere if they continue to use that silly logo on their jersey. It's probably one of the worst logos in sports history.

I'm sure I'm not alone in favoring the return of the Bullets nickname because it's totally bad-ass and a return to the original colors wouldn't hurt either. But I'd settle for the nickname switch and they could keep their current colors.

No. 19 Dallas Mavericks

I really like the new Mavericks uniforms and find them much better than the 1990s version they used to play in. That being said, this current road uniform could use some help.

There's nothing horribly wrong with it but it could use some more variety of color—perhaps some white or green—to spice it up a little bit. And also, I'm not too crazy about the color of blue they use, it seems so many teams are satisfied with a dull teal blue that's so uninspiring.

No. 17 Los Angeles Clippers

Truth be told, I always thought the Clippers uniforms were nice and certainly much better than the product they've put out on NBA courts for three decades. To some they are boring, but I like the classic mix of red, white, and blue.

If I had to change a couple things, I would first bring back the white side paneling instead of the current blue, and I would somehow incorporate a big ship (cause you know they are the Clippers) into the uniform.

No. 15 Detroit Pistons

Here's another uniform I've mostly detested over the years for some reason. However, I've tried to hide my bias and rank it appropriately. Still, I just can't get into these uniforms.

I think the '80s versions were much better, but there isn't too much of a difference between the two uniforms when you look at the grand scheme of things. Overall, I wouldn't suggest changing much with the current Detroit look, and I'd be hard-pressed to figure out how to improve them.

I'd say these uniforms are perfectly ordinary.

No. 13 New Orleans Hornets

Now here's a uniform with lots of potential that isn't quite reached. I think when you look at these in design pictures they aren't too amazing, but on television, they are more outstanding.

Overall, I like the pinstripes, I like the color schemes, and I like how they've retained the design template of the old Charlotte days.

I mean, this jersey just screams Mardi Gras doesn't it? It is really has a strong identity. One thing I would change is giving the team white numbers and nameplates...it would really look better.

No. 11 Miami Heat

Yet again, another uniform that is very identifiable and screams "hot" and "Miami". Plus, the Heat are one of the few teams that can pull off the shiny jersey material without looking too ridiculous.

I still can't make up my mind if I like this version or the originals created back in the late '80s. But, I think this is one of the stronger uniforms in the NBA, although if I had to choose I would rather see Miami wear red on the road.

No. 9 New York Knicks

Ah, the New York Knickerbockers. This uniform has potential to be a top five design, but it's lacking a few things to get it there.

Much like their neighbors over in Queens, the Knicks suffer from adding black to their color scheme.

If I were allowed to redesign New York's wardrobe, I would get rid of all the black and then create something that merges the early '90s era with the more creative uniforms the team has worn in the '80s, including numbers and secondary logo on the shorts.

No. 7 Portland Trailblazers

Very quietly, the Trailblazers have worn one of the most underrated and awesome uniforms in NBA history. They have kept relatively the same look for 30years, which I think is simple and very effective.

If there was ever a team that looks good in black, it is Portland. I can't count how many times I've watched the Blazers on television and thought how nice their uniforms looked.

No. 5 Utah Jazz

This is probably my most risky pick, but there's just something about this uniform that I really like. It's true the Jazz have had some downright awful uniform designs in the past, but I think this look atones for a lot of those mistakes.

The biggest thing for me is that this uniform jumps out at me when I watch the Jazz play. The gold trim is used so effectively, particularly on the front word script. I wanted to put an unusual team design high in my rankings and this is it.

No. 3 Indianapolis Pacers

Hands down, this is probably the most underrated uniform in the NBA today. The Pacers have worn some nice designs over the years, but this one takes the cake for me. It is so simple and so effective.

To me, this uniform is perfectly designed and I wouldn't change anything about it. I haven't had the opportunity to watch Indy play very much in this new set, but when I have I always like how they look.

No. 1 Boston Celtics

I don't think it gets any better than the green road Celtics uniforms. There's just too much class and simplicity that's molded such an icon of a design. Clearly it has worked for over 60 years, and there's no reason to change it now.

If I was in the NBA, I would want to play in Boston at some point in my career just to don the green and white. I thought this was a no-brainer for the No. 1 spot, with only Chicago mildly challenging the Celtics.