
Yesterday the Denver Nuggets, along with the rest of the NBA, unveiled their new 2024-25 City Edition uniforms. The theme for the new uniforms is the “Evolution of the Iconic Rainbow.”
Let’s begin with the video:
WE UP HERE pic.twitter.com/EKDg3e6eRB
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) November 14, 2024

The new white uniforms feature lots of color “striping” throughout the uniform, from the “5280” logo to the side panels on both jersey and pants. The patterns are supposed to mimic some of the topography of the Rocky Mountains. And 5280, which has really played itself out on various Denver/Colorado uniforms over the past few years, of course refers to the length (height) of a mile. Parts of Denver sit at an elevation of 5,280 feet above sea level. Hence the city’s nickname, “Mile High City.”
Here are a few more looks at the uniform:


Much of a team’s CE storytelling is just awful corporate-speak, so the Nuggets aren’t much different in this respect. According to the team, “As we launch our new City Edition uniforms, we’re not just showcasing fresh threads. We’re honoring the story that brought us here, connecting eras from the rainbow classics of Alex English and Dikembe Mutombo to the dominance of Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray. In Denver, 5280 isn’t just altitude—it’s a mindset. It’s how we’ve shaped one of the toughest home courts in the league and turned high expectations into standard practice.”

I had always thought it was against NBA rules to put a number on a jersey that wasn’t a player number — in this case every jersey has 5280 — but I guess that’s not the case. The Nuggets have plenty of rainbow striping within the 5280 logo, and directly beneath that is player number. I’m sure that won’t be confusing for the refs.
Per the team: “5280 is embedded in Denver’s DNA, and it’s a number that defines both our city and our team. You see it on the steps of the Capitol, city signs, and even in the grit and pride of our fans. Every time the Nuggets take to the floor, we remind our opponents of what it means to play here; to compete at a level where even the thin air is part of the challenge.”
The side of the jersey features side panels that repeat the rainbow mountain motif.

The rear of the jersey is fairly plain. Player NOB is in a radially arched black block font, and jersey number is also in black, in the same font style as on the front.

The shorts also are thick with mountain striping. While the right side of the shorts continues the rainbow stripe pattern, the left side instead features “DENVER” with the same rainbow stripe.

I was actually OK with the uniform until that feature. There’s just something about a team (or city) name running vertically down the pants leg that feels minor league. But here’s how the team spins all the rainbow features.

And yes, the team is using the 5280 wordmark again. At least this new CE isn’t just a color swap from the previous edition.
Obviously, all these new CE uniforms are unnecessary. Some of them are pretty good, others are not. I actually do like the rainbow striping patten quite a bit — but they’re overusing it. Keeping it to side panels on both sides of the jersey and shorts would make this a pretty solid alternate. Adding it to the 5280 (yuk) logo AND using “DENVER” down the left pants leg is too much of a good thing. I could even like this uniform if the team kept the rainbow pattern in the 5280, but they should have kept the mountain pattern to the side panels of the jersey and on BOTH sides of the pants. Adding “DENVER” ruins it, for me at least.
Fortunately, the team will only wear these uniforms in six games this season, and they will debut them this Monday, when they play the Knicks.
Your thoughts?
“5,280, of course: It’s a simple number that everyone will remember.”
– George Washington, probably
This uniform would be so much better if Nike would STOP INSISTING ON PUTTING 5280 EVERYWHERE.
If this said “Denver” it would be so much cooler.
I completely agree with your analysis!
I think they should’ve thrown us a curve ball, and gone with “1600”.
Stop trying to make “5280” a thing, Nike. We Denver area residents use “Mile High” instead. I like the colors for an alternate, but this uniform would be much better with “Denver” on the front and stripes on both sides of the shorts.
Meanwhile if you want to make my lifelong Nugget-fanatic wife happy (I’m a transplanted New Orleanian) just go back to the baby blue and gold.
BOOOOOOOOOOOO !
I can think of other non-uniform numbers I’d rather wear… most of them being nerdy references, with a couple being more personal.
0079
0083
1701
1764
1864
1974
2000
2001
2005
2053
9674
11037
74205
74656
Good God, enough with the 5280 already.
5280. As forced and silly as The Land, District and Valley. So stupid. So Nike.
So what’s stopping Philadelphia from putting a “76” on the front of their jersey?
Glad the 5280-fatigue isn’t just me. I hope someone at Nike follows UW and can send the message forth that everybody is over the altitude of the city and Nike’s bewildering fascination with it. Although I am looking forward to the Sixers, Heat, Knicks, Nets, Rockets, and Celtics start rocking “SEA LEVEL” on their wordmarks. Maybe the Pelicans can be “-10”.
Nuggets are my team, Colorado is my place, but I hate this 5280 crap (“it’s a mentality”…what is this mentality, lightheadedness and lack of oxygen?).
I also dislike big vertical wordmarks on pants. I’m okay with the rainbow contours, I guess, but they seem a little muted and weak here. They’ve managed to use every color but still look colorless and blank.
These look like something you’d wear to a track meet or a marathon. They’d be okay for that, but I hate them as an NBA uniform.
Urp.
5280: as a Denver native, I agree with everyone who says this is over done!
Nuggets should tap into their rainbow skyline uniforms more often for alternate designs
Just a big, loud NO to this one.