Ranking the Best 90s NBA Jerseys
By
Richard Janvrin
Contributor Updated: 04 September 2024
Richard Janvrin Contributor
Richard has been writing about sports since he was a teenager. Still, his first professional role came in 2015, covering all things NFL and fantasy football-related. From there, in December 2018, he started in the sports betting industry, covering sportsbook reviews before arriving to where he is today.
The Best 90s NBA Jerseys
The 90s were an unforgettable time in NBA history as there were more fans than ever to watch some of the best rivalries the game had ever seen. Additionally, the 90s NBA jerseys were arguably the most interesting of any of the major sports leagues, and today, many of those jerseys are considered a fashion statement. These include the pinstripes of the Orlando Magic, the teal from the Charlotte Hornets, or the iconic raptor on the Toronto Raptors jersey.
Today, while many of those jerseys are gone, fans can experience the sport in new ways. For example, you can bet on live NBA games.
Below, I’ll do my best to put you in a time capsule to relive the 90s basketball jerseys that remain iconic today.
- 11. San Antonio Spurs
- 10. Detroit Pistons
- 9. Atlanta Hawks
- 8. Charlotte Hornets
- 7. Houston Rockets
- 6. Seattle SuperSonics
- 5. Minnesota Timberwolves
- 4. Phoenix Suns
- 3. Orlando Magic
- 2. Vancouver Grizzlies
- 1. Toronto Raptors
11. San Antonio Spurs
Tim Duncan broke into the NBA in 1997, and while this was toward the end of the decade, the Spurs’ 90s basketball jerseys seemed to fit the big man and his aura perfectly.
The Spurs launched the jersey in 1989, and it’s still worn today.
This jersey includes their name across the front, the player number, and the thick grey stripe along the side of it on a black jersey.
During a period when the 90s basketball jersey outfits got a bit whacky and zany, this was quite sophisticated for this era and stood out.
10. Detroit Pistons
OK, here we go; the Pistons ’90s basketball jerseys lasted from 1996 to 2001 and were easily one of the most memorable.
These jerseys were a darker teal with orange-ish stripes and a flaming horse on the front, which looked like a knight in a chess game.
As mentioned, 90s basketball jersey outfits got a bit out of hand, and while this is far from the craziest, it’s certainly one of the more iconic of the era.
9. Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks 90s NBA jerseys (1995 to 1999) are simply incredible, for better or worse.
Looking at the jersey, you’d find the player’s number in the upper right, “Hawks” spelled out below that, and a red hawk with its wings spread completely out across the jersey, including on the sides.
Today, this jersey would certainly cause some heads to turn. The number placement is unusual by today’s standards, with everything directly in the middle prominently displayed, but not these.
8. Charlotte Hornets
It feels like teal, purple, and other unexpected colors were seen far and wide throughout the 90s NBA jerseys and the Hornets were no exception.
The Hornets signature teal color went beyond just being famous basketball jerseys and instead was a fashion brand.
For example, I live in New Hampshire, and I have baby pictures of myself wearing a Hornets starter jacket.
No, it wasn’t the jersey, but the Hornets branding was some of the most iconic in the NBA.
7. Houston Rockets
The Rockets jerseys also had the numbers in a unique spot, but instead of the upper right like the Hawks, these were in the upper left. The jerseys themselves were unique in that they were dark blueish/black with white stripes across them vertically. For me, though, the logo was the selling point. The logo was a rocket with contrails surrounding a basketball, and the word “Rockets” was spelled across it.
It almost felt like “Space Jam” in real life, as the logo and jersey blended with the vibe that made “basketball jersey dress 90s fashion” a standout trend.
6. Seattle SuperSonics
The SuperSonics changed to a dark green, dark red, and yellow color scheme in 1995 and had these jerseys up until 2001.
The dark green was the basis of the jersey, while the dark red served as the outlines for the slides and down the sides of where the torso. The yellow served as a border to those lines, and at the very end of the “swoosh” behind the “Sonics” lettering, it led to a basketball that served as the dot above the “I” in “Sonics.”
The bold lettering was certainly a bit silly looking, but these were staples of the 1990s.
5. Minnesota Timberwolves
Kevin Garnett was a rookie in 1995, and with that, he wore one of the most iconic 90s NBA jerseys — the one for the Timberwolves.
An all-black jersey, the neck and shoulder lines had a green/white trim.
The Timberwolves logo was also somewhat close to a death metal logo.
These were by far some of the coolest and most aggressive-looking 90s jerseys.
4. Phoenix Suns
I’d argue that the “Sunkist” jerseys the Suns wore from 1992 to 2000 defined the 90s NBA jersey look. These were purple with white, letting the player’s number and the Suns text logo, but also had an extremely prominent basketball inside of a sun with numerous horizontal lines extending to the left of it.
This design was easily the most “in your face” and prominent. I still see these jerseys today, especially for Charles Barkley, who played there from 1992 to 1996.
3. Orlando Magic
I considered putting the Magic’s jersey No. 1. The pinstripes with the “Magic” text logo and a star serving as the “a” were simply a defining look of that era of basketball.
This is one of the first teams that come to mind, thanks in large part to Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway playing there together until Shaq departed in 1996.
Yeah, this might be one I reflect on later and wish I put at No. 1, but I’ll leave it here at No. 3.
2. Vancouver Grizzlies
Oh yes, there was a time when the Grizzlies played in Vancouver and while these jerseys certainly weren’t as fashionable as the Magic, this jersey was simply one of a kind.
The “Grizzlies” text logo was bold, prominent, and oversized, but the neck and shoulder lines had a tribal pattern outline that was meant to pay homage to the Pacific Northwest.
These are extremely cool-looking jerseys.
1. Toronto Raptors
While some think of the Magic when they think of 90s NBA jerseys, I think of the Raptors with Tracy McGrady. Both the white and purple jerseys are some of the most unique and compelling jerseys I’ve ever seen.
The raptor logo on the front is incredible. It’s a raptor wearing a white jersey with an “R” on it, and the text above that has a cool, bold look.
The numbers on the front and back start out black but go into a purple tone, and the name of the back has what looks like raptor teeth staggered above it.
No jersey for the rest of the time will look this cool.
