The NBA`s annual Christmas Day game lineup is always a highly anticipated treat, but one beloved tradition has been conspicuously absent in recent years: the special holiday uniforms.
So, why did they disappear?
The reason is straightforward: when Nike officially replaced Adidas as the NBA`s uniform provider in 2017, they made the decision not to continue the festive Christmas-themed designs established by their predecessor.
Despite the end of this holiday fashion era, Nike offers a standard variety of uniform options, including the Association, Icon, City, and Statement editions. Yet, this has not stopped fans and players from yearning for the return of the seasonal gear.
Last year, superstar LeBron James, who is setting a record for Christmas Day appearances, publicly voiced his desire for the Christmas uniforms to make a comeback. However, Nike remains undeterred by such appeals. In 2021, the company stated that they were satisfied with their current “robust storytelling” through their existing uniform assortment.
Let`s take a nostalgic trip down memory lane to revisit the short-lived, memorable holiday ensembles created by Adidas:
2008-11: The Snowflake Era
The tradition began subtly, featuring a white snowflake graphic incorporated around the team`s main logo on the front of the jerseys. The league also actively highlighted games involving teams with primary red and green color schemes to enhance the holiday atmosphere.
2012: Bold Monochromes
This monochromatic color scheme formally introduced the holiday trend. The designs were simple, utilizing striking, single-color schemes to celebrate the 65th anniversary of Christmas Day NBA games.
2013: Big Logo, Bigger Sleeves
The primary design focus was the large, centered team logo. However, the sleeves garnered most of the attention and criticism. Although the uniforms were 26% lighter than traditional jerseys, many players insisted that the added fabric affected their shooting. This sleeved T-shirt style, which was also used in the All-Star Game, was heavily criticized by the NBA community, including former Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki.
2014: First-Name Focus
For this iteration, the defining design feature was placed on the back of the uniform. Players` first names replaced their last names, appearing on a panel positioned beneath their jersey numbers. Adidas explained this choice was meant as a “nod to [players`] familiarity and popularity” around the world.
2015: Holiday Greeting Cards
These widely praised jerseys were inspired by classic greeting cards. They featured primary team colors accented with cream tones, using elegant, cursive holiday-style lettering for the names and numbers. This style is often regarded as the most successful and beloved design in the entire collection.
2016: A Festive Repeat
Due to the overwhelming positive reception, this festive font and design became the only style used for a second consecutive year, marking the final edition of the special NBA Christmas jerseys before Nike took over the following season.
