Ranking the five best NBA City Edition jerseys for 2024-25

Last season, players wore the special jerseys during the in-season tournament as part of the NBA's effort to differentiate between regular-season games and the inaugural tournament. The NBA said via a press release that the jerseys "represent stories, history and heritage that make each franchise unique" — best exemplified in the Jazz and Knicks' throwback jerseys that paid homage to their '90s teams. 

This year's jerseys again evoke nostalgia with subtle nods to each franchise's unique history, be it color combinations, logos or even callbacks to certain players. Here, we rank five of the best.

No. 5: 76ers

Last year's jersey had the text "City of Brotherly Love" on the front. This year's uniform pays tribute to the Spectrum Arena, which served as the home of the Sixers from 1967-96, with four color blocks on the side. It's interesting that the designers worked in five colors on a white jersey to create a classic aesthetic. 

No. 4: Spurs

The jersey includes nods to 1960s Texas fashion and the 1968 World's Fair held in San Antonio. It's almost identical to last year's City jersey, which also included the "Viva Spurs" inscription, but evolves the fiesta colors to a subtler tone. Its unassuming design is very Spurs-esque.

No. 3: Nuggets

Last year's jersey was uninspiring as it basically rehashed the Nuggets' away jersey with the text "5280" referencing Mile High City. However, this year's version is stunning as it includes the color scheme of a topographic map visualizing elevations. The white base and digitized numbers make it nearly perfect. 

No. 2: Magic

The classic pinstripes from last year's City Edition jersey have been retained, but the colors have been toned down considerably from navy blue to light grey. It's a little less Disney than other Magic special jerseys in recent years. The lightning bolt on the sides is a nice touch. 

No. 1: Raptors

A slamdunk choice if there was one, this year's jersey pays homage to one of Toronto's greatest stars, Vince Carter, and his iconic between-the-legs dunk. It's also awesome that the "We the North" inscription is included in the original Raptors color sequence, blending the old culture with the new.