Much like the Phoenix Suns and Boston Celtics, the Cleveland Cavaliers have posted some images of what is expected to be their “City Edition” uniform for 2024-25.
We heard it was #NBAJerseyDay and were feeling a little creative. 💭🎨 #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/3txmIA10O1
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) October 21, 2024
This would appear to comport with the league-wide City Edition leaks that occurred last month.
In those leaks, the Cavs City Edition jersey looked like this:
The images posted by the Cavs confirm that the City Edition that was leaked is legit.
One of the images shows a better look at the side panel of the new light blue jersey:
The nickname “The Land,” the state of Ohio and Cleveland’s “216” area code are featured on the side panel of the uniform. The “storytelling” will be interesting with this one.
The other confirmation from the Cavs comes from a second image, which focuses on the upper right portion of the new jersey. Aside from the prominent maker’s mark, we also see the word “THE” and a portion of the word “LAND.”
While some of the NBA City Edition leaks have shown shorts and the rear of the jerseys, we’ve basically only seen the one view of the new jersey. On Instagram, user “JxS” (“JerseySwap”) helpfully posted a mockup of what the new uniform will likely look like.
This will be the fourth Cav’s uniform to use “The Land” as a wordmark. Each of those has been distinctly different — one was gray, one was white, and the third was in “wine”. Each was a City Edition, and each was worn for a single season. Here’s a look at the past “The Land” CE uniforms:
2017-18
2022-23
2023-24
I know these City Edition uniforms (and particularly the jerseys, which are really just a merch dump) aren’t designed for me, but I’ve never been a fan of “The Land” appearing on a jersey. This one feels like more of the same (we’ll need to wait for the storytelling to explain this one in greater detail). I’ll need to see it on court to render a more full opinion, but it doesn’t feel very “Cleveland-y” to me. I know a number of Clevelanders have recoiled at the phrase “The Land” appearing on the jersey, noting it’s not something many denizens use to refer to the city.
The Cavs have now worn seven different City Edition uniforms (this will be the eighth), and as I’ve mentioned before, for most teams, it feels like designers have run out of ideas. “The Land” appearing on a jersey once or maybe even twice may have been cool at the time, but now it feels like they’re just turning out a new uniform each year because they “have” to.
What do you guys think of the Cav’s new uni (jersey)? If you’re a Clevelander or a fan of the team, is “The Land” something that makes sense or does it feel more like just another merch dump?
The story telling part will be linking it with the art museum here (which is fantastic AND free to the public). Friend of mine was at the museum for work a few weeks back while they were doing the photoshoot.
I’ve said it before and I will say it again. The undying insistence by the Cavaliers that there is something unique or interesting or in any way cool about “land” being in the name of their city is just so, so lame. They aren’t even the only “land” city in the NBA!
It’s as interesting as any of the other shortened city nicknames, which is to say, not very much at all. I don’t find anything about it horrible unappealing but also nothing really stands out.
I’m mystified about why the Knicks have never referred to the Five Boroughs as “Fun City “.
The two blue colors on the Cavs new City Edition jersey appear to be reminiscent of the original Gund Arena seats and painted keys on the court.
Wordmark aside, I do like the light blue color, which harkens back to the 90s Cavs colors (just before a return to the wine and gold unis when LeBron entered the league).
Kinda looks like they simply repeated the graphic down the side panel, which makes the “storytelling” pretty limited in scope and mostly about the 2016 title. Yawn.
I’m not against the design of the logo itself but is that seriously the best nickname they can come up with? Why not Forest City? link
I understand that Cleveland has lost many of the trees that gave it the nickname, but what better way to bring attention than a jersey? Certainly, it would be better than “The Land” for the 3rd time in a row.
Stop trying to make THE LAND happen
All 4 of these LAND bite the big one
All four of these LAND jerseys suck hard
So uninspiring and uninspired. So a lot of fans will love them, simply because they are out there to be bought. Do not think, do not choose, just spend and try to belong without fear of missing out.