The Brooklyn Nets joined the rest of the NBA in revealing their new 2024-25 City Edition uniform on Thursday, and like several other teams, these are a two-year story arc. Their previous CE uniform, which is similar to their new one, was designed by KAWS, a Brooklyn artist and designer.
Unless I somehow missed it, the Nets were one of the few teams not to unveil their uniforms along with a hype video — and that’s totally fine.
Let’s take a look at the newest CE uniform:
According to the team…
The Nets remain the first and only professional sports team the Brooklyn-based artist has collaborated with. Year two of the partnership further expands upon the Nets’ commitment to highlighting local tastemakers and leading creators from Brooklyn to celebrate the unique culture found within the borough and is an example of how the team continues to elevate their retail offerings to reflect the fanbase’s growing interest in fashion and style, including launching a private label, premium merchandise line, bǝrō.
KAWS is the third icon from Brooklyn that the team has paid homage to through the NBA City Edition program after previously celebrating the lives and legacies of The Notorious B.I.G. and Jean-Michel Basquiat.
Unlike the prior CE, which featured “NETS” in bubble lettering with a black block shadow, the new uniform reads “BROOKLYN” in the Nets’ current font style, with additional colors used on the wordmark. And while the design is also similar to last season’s, the 2023-24 uniform used large splotches of blue (two shades) and red in addition to shades of black and gray. The 2024-25 edition is entirely black/gray (almost a camouflage pattern), with the only color present on the wordmark and the “B” basketball logo.
The jersey features “BROOKLYN” in an almost “Hollywood Sign” pattern, in white letters with black blockshadow, and the aforementioned colors forming part of the outline of the wordmark. White numbers with black blockshadow are beneath the BROOKLYN logo.
“The uniform fuses core elements of the Nets brand with some of the most notable components of KAWS’ work,” wrote the Nets in a press release, “from his early days as a graffiti artist to his now globally recognized paintings and sculptures.”
The shorts have the same black/gray pattern as the jersey. The only color on the shorts comes from the “B” logo located down the side of the pants.
The team will debut the new uniforms on December 1, against the Orlando Magic, and will be worn an additional 11 times throughout the season:
Sunday, Dec. 1 vs. Orlando Magic, Wednesday, Dec. 4 vs. Indiana Pacers, Saturday, Dec. 21 vs. Utah Jazz, Friday, Dec. 27 vs. San Antonio Spurs, Wednesday, Jan. 8 vs. Detroit Pistons, Monday, Feb. 10 vs. Charlotte Hornets, Wednesday, Feb. 12 vs. Philadelphia 76ers, Wednesday, Feb. 26 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, Friday, Feb. 28 vs. Portland Trail Blazers, Thursday, April 3 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, Sunday, April 6 vs. Toronto Raptors, and Friday, April 11 at Minnesota Timberwolves.
“We’re excited to expand our partnership with KAWS, whose work pushes artistic boundaries and allows us to continue to connect with fans all over the world,” said Andrew Karson, Executive Vice President of Marketing at BSE Global, parent company of the Nets. “Our latest City Edition collaboration continues the Nets’ commitment to cultural innovation, and its fresh and expressive vision represents the borough we call home. These uniforms reflect our connection to the community, and KAWS’ distinctive artistic style perfectly captures the spirit of Brooklyn – bold, vibrant, and full of energy.”
The Nets’ newest City Edition uniform aims to capture the vibrancy of Brooklyn and mixes authentic details with notable elements of KAWS’ work, including:
• Taking inspiration from KAWS’ 10-part artwork, “TENSION,” the overall uniform design is evocative of the artist’s signature eye-catching abstract paintings, and features a gray color pallet with a bold accent of color
• BROOKLYN is displayed across the chest of the jersey – an intentional departure from last year’s NETS – as a way to proudly represent and celebrate the team’s home borough
• The lettering on the jersey is inspired by the artist’s graphic style with the remixed Nets logo on the shorts given the same treatment
KAWS’ signature “XX” design motif is prominently featured on the waistband of the shorts
• KAWS’ autograph is woven into the jersey directly above the jock tag
I totally get where the Nets are coming from in their desire to engage with “local tastemakers and leading creators from Brooklyn” although the team even admits it continues “to elevate their retail offerings to reflect the fanbase’s growing interest in fashion and style, including launching a private label, premium merchandise line, bǝrō.” At least they’re honest about creating jerseys more designed for the retail market than the basketball court. I actually like the wordmark, even with its blockshadow, and in particluar the use of two shades of blue and one of red. But I’m definitely NOT a fan of the rest of the design, which is devoid of all color. But like I say, the uniforms weren’t designed to appeal to me, so if this is the direction the team wants to go, far be it from me to disagree. And once the team moved from Jersey to Brooklyn, black and white (with some shades of gray) have been their signature.
Your thoughts?
I caught highlights this morning of the Grizzlies game on the news. Their CE uniforms make no sense to me.
Dig these, they remind me of b&w pictures of ships with dazzle paint. Plus while I’m not the biggest KAWS fan, glad they actually went with an artist.
The previous effort by KAWS was fresh and different, this one looks repetitive, tired and uninspired.
For the love of God….MAKE IT STOP
I feel you brother
I was born and raised in Brooklyn. (Left many years ago and I’m not a Nets fan). It’s a borough of 2.6 million people. This uni is visually appealing, but it’s about one resident of Bklyn–KAWS.
when the nets moved to brooklyn, I was really hoping for a rebirth of the above the rim, red-white-and-blue, Dr. J aesthetic.
Instead we got a logo that makes the nets look like an exclusive club, mostly black and white unis, contributing to what seems like a mostly limp aesthetic.
this new design continues that, and none of this makes me want to follow the team.