Ranking the NBA's Alternate Uniforms

In my opinion the NBA does the best marketing job out of all of the major professional sports leagues in the U.S.

They have the best commercials. They promote their players best. They stay out of trouble way better than any other league (we will exclude the latest Agent Zero fiasco).

They also, in my opinion, are the most creative with uniforms. The MLB's traditional white and grey routine makes for usually boring uniforms, with colors coming out sometimes. The NFL has too many strict rules on uniforms.

However the NBA really goes nuts with their uniforms. Here is a list ranking the NBA's alternate uniforms.

Green Jerseys

The NBA has gotten in a bad habit of having teams wear Green jerseys. They have done it for events like "green week," "green month," and St. Patty's.

They all look bad and they all deserve to be dumped in one bucket at the bottom of this list.

Warriors

The Warriors wore old school gold, red, and blue uniforms this year. Golden State fans will take anything over the horrific regulars they wear.

However, these just look like those cheapo retro threads the Cavaliers are throwing out. I am officially sick of retro jerseys.

Jazz's Green and Gold Alternate

Here is a quick look at the Jazz's throwback.

It really bugs me that the Utah Jazz have not let go of the nickname Jazz. That makes zero sense folks.

You cannot make it worse by looking like the hardwood version of the Packers and adding the old "New Orleans" font can you?

Apparently you can. If by throwback you mean a middle school looking uniform, than these are right on.

Cavs' Wine Alternate

I really want to refuse to make comment on this one. If you have the best uniforms in sports, you don't ruin it by wearing crappy retro uniforms.

Especially when it's your fourth different retro uniform in two years.

Warriors' Orange Alternate (discontinued?)

I heard that the Warriors were going to stop wearing these jerseys, however I kind of preferred them over their current navy blue uniforms.

They have the most atrocious color scheme known to man, and their execution on the uniforms really kills it. I think it is time they go back to blue and gold, but I guess getting rid of one of their three terrible jerseys is a start.

Clippers' Blue Alternate

Seriously, does anyone care for the Clippers uniforms?

These look like someone took the Lakers' throwbacks and threw some red on them.

Hand me downs, I guess that would be fair right? Not only are these boring, but the Clippers entire identity is boring and in need of a re brand. Not to mention the fact their logo is way too similar to the Lakers.

Bucks' Red Alternate

Seriously Milwaukee?

The Bucks, who already look like the fighting Christmas trees each night, released these strange uniforms.

They combine a modernized script with old school striping. I'm not a fan. I think they need to change to green and gold, which would be original and fall easily into the area's identity (Packers, Marquette).

Blazers' Throwback Red

This picture gives us a look at Portland's alternate uniforms for 2009. The one on the left is the focus here.

Boring is the prognosis. However, I really like the one on the right—stay tuned.

Magic's Black Alternate

The Magic broke these bad boys back out this season. I'm kind of disappointed they didn't just make an updated version of these to go with their newer uniforms.

But the throwback is cool I guess. I'm never really a huge fan of pinstripes though. They can be murder on your eyes if you don't have a high definition signal.

Jazz's Light Blue Alternate

Light blue and dark blue, haven't seen that before.

I will say I like how Utah uses the vertical wordmark on the pants, and the chest font is throwback.

Someone has to do something with AK-47's hair though. What a goob.

Blazers' Red Alternate

Another boring uniform, one of which I prefer over the primary road.

I prefer these over Portland's regular black jerseys, however alternates with the same template get boring after a while. You will notice I like when teams mix the design up a bit.

Pacers' Yellow Alternate

These are nice and clean, but they kind of remind me of a college basketball uniform. Michigan or West Virginia might come to mind.

I'm just not a fan of really light jerseys. I think their navy blue regulars are some of the best in the NBA.

I think changing the side panels to blue on the these bad boys would make for a pretty cool look, but for now it is just too much yellow to handle.

Nuggets' Navy Alternate

I can't seem to figure these things out. The script on the chest for one is terrible. Two, the side panels just seem to not fit with the rest of the uniform.

Denver's regular home and away are great in my opinion, so seeing these things always kills it for me.

I almost want to see them go for some gold alternates, now that the Hawks and Hornets no longer have gold jerseys.

Another case of navy blue and light blue. Weak. Anything is better than the rainbow uniforms though.

Cavs' Blue Alternate

Everyone is making jokes that LeBron specifically called for these uniforms to be made so he could get used to playing in blue and orange.

Cleveland's regular uniform set is great, so I really do not get why they keep throwing alternates at us.

Last season they wore yellow alternates. Then they wore blue alternates (not similar to these). They also wore wine colored throwbackish uniforms this year.

Whew!

Pistons' Red Alternate

Here is another color scheme you are going to get tired of pretty fast—red and blue.

Way too many teams in sports use it, and of course most try to utilize a blue and red jersey because both colors are T.V. friendly.

The result is an overshare. There is nothing about these uniforms that are outstanding.

However, anything is better than the Pistons' brick red and green days, so as long as they are in their original colors I am okay.

Mavs' Light Blue Alternate

Dallas switched their retro-green uniforms to light blue this year, without even changing the design (except for the numbers).

To me that was a sad move. I really liked the originality in the fact they had green jerseys despite the fact their color scheme has changed to navy, light blue, and silver.

But come on! How many teams wear two shades of blue these days? All of them (overstatement).

Dallas is doing their best to just blend in with the rest of the sports world. I wish the green stayed. I kind of even miss their shiny silver uniforms from back in the day (http://www.sportslogos.net/logo.php?id=ht2fgh1hbe97lsfwa5vuljh7l)

Suns' Orange Alternate

These alternates are pretty good. I like the grey and orange, which is original!

However, in reference to the title, look at the posted url:

http://pics.hoobly.com/full/KLNKYRPBTUFO5X1R7G.jpg

See what I mean?

Rockets' Red and Gold Alternate

Ba da ba ba ba, I'm lovin' it.

Houston lost their regular uniforms so they decided to call the McDonald's All Americans to borrow theirs.

No, just kidding, but these are interesting. Houston, like Boston, has an alternate that is the same color as their regular.

However, this time, instead of looking like the fighting peppermints they look like the hamburglars.

Raptors' Black Alternate

Here is a case where I prefer the black over the red. The Raptors' black jerseys are sick!

The only disappointing part is when the players turn around and you notice the back half isn't purple.

Don't we all miss the Vince Carter era uniforms? These will do just fine however.

Celtics' Green and Black Alternate

The fighting clovers has a rich history when it comes to uniforms, so rich that they refuse to wear a colored jersey unless it is green.

Boston wore these for the first time in 2005, and fans of course noticed right away. The difference between this green jersey and their regular is that this one features black, where the other one is strictly green and white.

Also, this jersey removes old school stripes for a more modern and clean design. I actually really like the look, but then again I'm not a Boston fan.

Celtics' Green and Gold Alternate

Here is one I really like. When I think of the Boston Celtics, I actually, for some reason, think of green and gold, not just green and white.

In 2007 Boston went for their third green jersey, this time featuring traces of gold in the numbers, word mark, and piping. Another great look from Boston, but can we please just have a black or gold jersey already?

Heats' Red Alternate

Seriously Miami, make these your primary roadies already.

Beyond that distracting dose of alternate fail in the foreground you will spot the Heat's alternate red jersey.

These are really clean and sharp looking. Some of my favorite the NBA has to offer. When I think of the Heat, I think of them in red, not black.

Hawks' Red Alternate

The Hawks unleashed new red uniforms for the 2009 season, complete with a quickly infamous "ATL" script.

The ATL script actually has created a little bit of controversy, as some people think it reflects ebonics.

Screw that! I think the uniform is awesome. Calling Atlanta "A.T.L." is just part of the way we do things, and to have it on a team uniform is cool.

I like also the fact that this uniform is in fact red, which kind of brings back the history of the Hawks franchise.

Bulls' Black Alternate

A lot of teams in a lot of different sports choose to wear black, so many that it is really getting old.

However, if any NBA team has the right to wear black it's Chicago, who broke out black uniforms for the first time back in 1995.

I really don't think Chicago's "classic" uniforms look all that great. I think they look really clunky. However, I definitely prefer this look to their regular red uniform.

Yeah Bulls fans, sue me.

Warriors'

Here is a Golden State alternate I really like. Not sure if they are going to wear these any time soon (tell me if they have this year, but I'm pretty sure they are wearing the San Francisco uniforms).

These are really awesome.

Lakers' Sunday White Alternate

The Lakers have begun to the tradition of wearing these white uniforms on home for Sunday games.

I personally think these need to become the permanent home and make the gold jerseys the road jerseys.

Georgia Tech can get away with white and gold for home and road respectively, so why not LA right?

Still, these are one of my favorite NBA uniforms.

Wizards' Gold Alternate (discontinued?)

I kind of want to dub these the gunslinger uniforms. No?

I'll be nice. Either way, I think these are slick, though I'm pretty sure they have been closeted.

Which is a shame. The Wizards regular uniforms are boring. These on the other hand were hands down the most noticeable uniforms in the NBA.

They were also the only uniforms to feature a different colored jersey and shorts.

Blazers' Rip City Alternate

So, truthfully, I just want to see Portland switch to this design but replace "rip city" with Blazers.

However, I really like how they changed things up. The completely unpredictable and catchy wordmark, a long with the original design makes for a winner in my book.

Grizzlies' Light Blue Alternate

These are my guilty pleasure pick. I think the type of shiny fabric Memphis uses, plus the original design, makes for a really awesome uniform despite the fact a lot of people find these similar to the Nuggets' identity.

I know, I even said dark and light blue is used too much. But really, these uniforms are sweet!

Cavs' Navy Alternate--

In my opinion these are the best and most iconic sports uniforms in existence. The alternating gold, blue and red stripes is trademark, and to think these uniforms are only four years old.

The Cavaliers created a great identity when they went for the re brand back in 2003, but these navy blue alternates really were the cherry on top.

I love the original wordmark. I love the design. The colors are awesome. The alternating stripes also pay homage to older Cavaliers uniforms. These are by far the best the NBA has to offer.