Four longtime NBA franchises are leaning hard into their ABA roots for the 2026-27 season.
The San Antonio Spurs, Brooklyn Nets, Denver Nuggets and Indiana Pacers all unveiled Classic Edition uniforms on October 12, with each look tied to the 50th anniversary of the ABA-NBA merger.
San Antonio’s set is an all-silver recreation of the team’s original home uniform from 1973, back when the franchise had just relocated to San Antonio. The jersey brings back the arched “Spurs” wordmark in its earliest form.
“Honoring our ABA roots through this Classic Edition uniform gives us an opportunity to celebrate the history that helped shape the Spurs and our city,” Spurs vice president of marketing, creative, and retail Jordan Mandelkorn said in a statement. “From the original design worn at HemisFair Arena to the special court with the ABA 50th anniversary logo, this seasonlong celebration will connect generations of fans to our past while carrying that legacy forward into the future.”
Brooklyn’s Classic Edition goes in the opposite direction visually but the same direction historically, with a red, white, and blue uniform modeled after the one Julius Erving wore during the Nets’ ABA era.
“From our ABA roots to the generations of players who have worn a Nets jersey, these elements honor where we have been while continuing to write the next chapter of Nets basketball in Brooklyn,” Nets senior vice president of marketing Becky Kimbro said in a statement.
Denver’s version is mostly orange, with black text outlined in white to match the black-and-white trim. The Nuggets also revealed a matching throwback court, and the team will wear the uniform in seven games this season.
Indiana’s look pays tribute to its road jerseys from 1971-74. The Pacers’ uniform includes the franchise’s original 1967 logo and an asymmetrical racing stripe that became tied to two of the team’s three ABA titles. Indiana will also honor its ABA history with a unique court design for 10 throwback-themed games.
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