Apr 16, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) and head coach Erik Spoelstra ask for a replay against the Chicago Bulls during the second half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images David Banks-Imagn Images

You like the Miami Heat jerseys? More than some do, perhaps.

Originally posted on Miami Heat on SI | By Austin Dobbins | Last updated Sep 13, 2025 6:37 PM ET

Sam Quinn of CBS Sports recently dropped his 2025-26 NBA uniform rankings, slotting the Miami Heat in at No. 11.

His reasoning? A subtle but telling distinction between the Heat’s white “Association” jerseys and their black “Icon” editions.

According to Quinn, the “Heat” wordmark on the Association jerseys, with its flared “T” that sparks imagery of fire, carries the design more effectively than the “Miami” wordmark on the Icon edition. It is a small detail, but one that captures the very identity of the franchise.

And he is right. Miami’s uniforms do not try to overcomplicate things. The franchise has stuck with the same basic look for decades, and that simplicity has helped make the Heat brand instantly recognizable. Red, black, and white are not groundbreaking colors in sports, but the way Miami has committed to them gives the team an aura of consistency that few others can match. You know a Heat jersey when you see one.

This has to be one of the WORST Miami Heat jerseys of all time and you can’t tell me otherwise. pic.twitter.com/ckPLMA02OB
— ²² (@StolenByJimmy) January 10, 2024

Where Miami really stands out is with its alternates. The Vice series, arguably the most successful uniform experiment in NBA history, took the team’s look from iconic to iconic and trendy. Every iteration of the Vice jersey tapped into Miami’s neon nightlife culture, resonating with fans and outsiders alike. Even now, years removed from their debut, fans still clamor for Vice designs.

Of course, not every Heat alternate has been a winner. The “Heat Culture” uniforms felt forced, and the mashup jerseys from the early 2020s were… let us just say forgettable. Still, when Miami gets it right, they absolutely nail it.

At the end of the day, the Heat might not have the absolute flashiest uniforms in the NBA, but they do not need to. They have built a look that is clean, sharp, and deeply tied to their franchise identity. If we are talking about the best Heat jersey ever, there is really no debate: it has to be the “White Hot” uniforms. Few alternate jerseys in league history have matched the energy those whites brought to the postseason atmosphere in Miami. They were sleek, they were intimidating, and they embodied exactly what Heat basketball is all about.

So yes, 11th feels fair. Miami’s uniforms may not always rank at the very top of lists, but when you combine their timeless core design with the occasional knockout alternate, the Heat remain one of the league’s most stylish teams.

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This article first appeared on Miami Heat on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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