The NBA has a checkered history with alternate uniforms, to put it lightly. While throwbacks and retro-inspired designs often strike the right chord between nostalgia and innovation, many of the recent designs aimed at pushing on-court fashion forward feel like a miss. It feels like an absolute shame that the greatest moment of LeBron James’ career happened in sleeved jerseys back when Adidas had the NBA contract. Nike took over as the league’s official jersey maker two years later, and it’s hard to say it’s been any kind of improvement. There have been some good Nike City Edition NBA jerseys through the years, but lately it feels like there are more and more misses. It’s hard to maintain optimism for the future of the league’s alternate uniforms after Nike’s latest release leaked this week. Eight teams are getting new looks for the 2026-27 season with Nike’s Specter Edition uniforms, which “reimagine team identity for the league’s oldest franchises through their history, culture and the energy of today’s game.” It’s a good idea in theory, but the execution is currently getting panned all over the internet. Here’s the leak of the new uniforms for the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers, and Sacramento Kings. 🚨BREAKING 🚨@Nike & @NBA are unveiling new Specter Edition unis!! Nike’s new NBA Specter Edition uniforms, created for the teams who trace their roots back to the earliest chapters of the league. Kings, Pistons, Hawks, Warriors, Knicks, 76ers, Lakers and Celtics! pic.twitter.com/UAxb763Bva — Kings Uni Tracker (@SacKings_Unis) September 10, 2026 Here’s another look at some of the details and features that inspired the new looks: Details of Specter Edition @NBA X @Nike — The designs are pulling in logos from the teams logos. pic.twitter.com/9wC94LrGxS — Kings Uni Tracker (@SacKings_Unis) September 10, 2026 The Lakers’ jersey in particular has some brutal feedback under the comments: A look at one of the new alternative Los Angeles Lakers jerseys by Nike (via @LADEig) pic.twitter.com/aRdLfD5gUk — Dave McMenamin (@mcten) September 10, 2026 Here’s a closer look at the Pistons’ alternates: The #Pistons will be one of eight teams to display Specter Edition jersey during the 2026-27 season. The jersey will be released in November. Fans can learn more about the launch at https://t.co/mDYPBzWa8W. pic.twitter.com/a0En0ak3Xj — Coty M. Davis (@CotyDavis_24) September 10, 2026 Nike says these looks are “inspired by the next generation of hoopers,” and there are plenty of young people in the press photos. I’m not going to tell a teenager what’s cool and what isn’t because I’m twice their age. All I know is that from the reaction I’ve seen online so far, just about everyone hates these. Nike ruined NBA jerseys. — Wes Goldberg (@wcgoldberg) September 10, 2026 Extremely low effort and unimaginative Congrats to whoever secured the bag to design these but this is disgusting https://t.co/GCD3Sw32Ip — ᗩᑎT ᗯᖇIGᕼT (@itsAntWright) September 10, 2026 After almost 10 years of Nike constantly putting out new NBA alternate jerseys that people strongly dislike, here’s a wild idea: why not pick the best ones for each franchise and stick with them? I really loved the Bulls’ City Edition look from 2018. The 2017 look was great, too. Everyone loves the Miami Heat’s “Vice City” alternate. The Timberwolves’ “Purple Reign” look would be fantastic on LaMelo Ball. Pick out the good ones, and stick with them for a few years. Radical idea, I know. It really feels like the public has fully turned against Nike’s NBA uniforms. After years of complaining about Adidas’ sleeved jerseys, these feel just as poorly thought out. Making new NBA uniforms doesn’t have to be so hard. Maybe take a few years off and get back to the drawing board.