Nike unveiled its “city edition” jerseys for all 30 NBA teams this morning, and their chosen design for the Phoenix Suns this year looks quite familiar, even despite its attachment to this landmark season for the league.
Running things back from a year ago, the Suns once again plan to rock with their “Valley” uniforms, featuring a jet black base with blotches of yellow, orange, and purple around the chest area. The words “The Valley” extend out across the front as well.
Having worn these same uniforms during their season opener vs the Denver Nuggets, this reveal lacks surprise and intrigue for the Suns, at least compared to most other NBA teams, who all got new designs. The Utah Jazz appear to be the only other team with a recycled jersey from the year before, sporting their creamsicle-like threads once again.
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Most teams touched on their franchise’s past with their new design’s this year, including the Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, Toronto Raptors, Dallas Mavericks. With the Suns owning such a rich history as a franchise, the choice to not partake in this feels like a missed opportunity, even with the popularity of the “Valley” jerseys understood.
However, a few teams also released “classic edition” jerseys last year, so the Suns might be able to dig deep into their roots with another design later on down the road. The Brooklyn Nets drew heavy attention last year with those threads last year, throwing it back to the 90s with some light blue and red coloring.
Additionally, every team that made the playoffs during the 2019-20 season was awarded “earned edition” jerseys last year. The Suns were ineligible for those extra uniforms last year, but if the league does this again, they will be this time around, having made the postseason last year.
At this point though, the Suns move forward with their home/away purple and white uniforms, as well as these “new” city edition threads.