Ranking NBA teams ABA-style uniforms in honor of the 50th anniversary of the historic merger

On Monday, four NBA teams unveiled ABA-style uniforms for the upcoming season.

The Brooklyn Nets, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs unveiled new Classic Edition uniforms to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1976 NBA-ABA (American Basketball Association) merger.

That calls for some uniform rankings.

These are clean and classic.

The Spurs uniforms are a direct reproduction of the team's original home look from their early years in San Antonio.

One interesting detail is the arched "Spurs" wordmark on the chest exactly as it was worn by the first players to ever represent the city in 1973 after relocating from Dallas.

Jordan Mandelkorn, Vice President of Marketing, Creative and Retail for Spurs Sports & Entertainment, stated that honoring their ABA roots through this uniform provides a unique opportunity to celebrate the history that shaped both the Spurs and the city of San Antonio.

He emphasized that the season-long celebration—which includes a matching throwback court design featuring the ABA 50th-anniversary logo—will successfully connect generations of fans to the franchise's past while carrying that legacy into the future.

This look was originally made famous during the legendary George Gervin era at the downtown HemisFair Arena.

The team has scheduled the jersey to debut on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, against the Dallas Mavericks at the Frost Bank Center, kicking off the first of nine scheduled "Classic Nights" throughout the season.

Also, the shorts may be the best of the bunch.

The black diamond backdrop framing the classic cowboy spur really nails the retro look.

I'm a big fan.

These just don't pass the vibe check.