Valley of the Suns
Fansided

Ranking every Phoenix Suns uniform ever

By Adam Maynes

PHOENIX, AZ - MAY 11: Tom Chambers #24 of the Phoenix Suns boxes out against Buck Williams #52 of the Portland Trailblazers during Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals as part of the NBA Playoffs on May 11, 1992 at the Arizona Veterans Coliseum in Phoenix, Arizona. The Portland Trailblazers defeated the Phoenix Suns 153-151 in double overtime. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1992 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - MAY 11: Tom Chambers #24 of the Phoenix Suns boxes out against Buck Williams #52 of the Portland Trailblazers during Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals as part of the NBA Playoffs on May 11, 1992 at the Arizona Veterans Coliseum in Phoenix, Arizona. The Portland Trailblazers defeated the Phoenix Suns 153-151 in double overtime. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1992 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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1. Fireball Black

PORTLAND, OR – MAY 2: Charles Barkley #34 and A.C. Green #45 of the Phoenix Suns box out Jerome Kersey #25 of the Portland Trail Blazers in Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 1995 NBA Playoffs at the Memorial Coliseum on May 2, 1995 in Portland, Oregon. The Suns won 117-109. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1995 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR – MAY 2: Charles Barkley #34 and A.C. Green #45 of the Phoenix Suns box out Jerome Kersey #25 of the Portland Trail Blazers in Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 1995 NBA Playoffs at the Memorial Coliseum on May 2, 1995 in Portland, Oregon. The Suns won 117-109. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1995 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

These jerseys are the best of them all. That iconic 90’s look, coupled with the cool black base, the orange and purple trim with the purple waste band (I can still hear Al McCoy describing all of that before a radio broadcast to this day).

For all the same reasons that the purple and the white look great – the fireball, the fading, the left leg panel, the brightness, etc. – the strength that the black uniforms exhibit is uncanny. When the Suns pulled these jerseys out of the closet for the first time, fans were enamored. Their team didn’t just look cool, they looked unbeatable.  And in that era, it almost felt like they were unbeatable.

The 93-94 season was the first that they wore these uni’s and were so successful with them during the regular season that they eventually wore them throughout their 1995 playoff run. In 1995-96 they took their team photo in them, the second time in franchise history that the team photo was in anything other than the home whites. Sound like a silly anecdote? Maybe, but this was the pride they felt in that uni (also in an odd way, a symbol representing the death of the Barkley era, although, that’s probably not what they were thinking…)

To this day there is no other look in Suns history that is more fondly remembered. While the Suns did a bunch of throwback night’s wearing the 1968-92 uniforms during the Seven Seconds or Less era, and then again with the ugly grey ones a couple of years ago, the throwback uniform that was so often requested was finally granted with this black uni, which was worn several times in 2012-13.

Next: The Top-Ten Greatest Trades in Phoenix Suns History

When the Suns announced they were changing their look in 2013, many Suns fans clamored for them to bring this iconic look back. When they again announced this summer that they were changing their appearance, fans once again called for these to make a return.

Whether or not the fireball uniforms will ever be worn on the court for an extended period, we will just have to wait and see. But the reason that they are so widely loved, is simply because they look so patently, and unequivocally, Awesome.

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