The 2022 Uni Watch NBA Season Preview

Everything you need to know about this season’s new uniforms, logos, patches, court designs, and more.

(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

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Now then: Believe it or not, the start of the NBA season is now just a few days away. And that means it’s time for the annual Uni Watch NBA Season Preview, your go-to guide to all of the new uniforms, logos, court designs, and related items you can expect to see this season.

Let’s start with the the league’s salute to the life of Bill Russell, who died over the summer. Russell’s No. 6 has now been retired on a league-wide basis (players who already wear that number can keep wearing it), and all teams will wear a “6” memorial patch on the right jersey strap this season. (There was some initial talk of the Celtics wearing a different patch, but it turns out that they’re wearing the same one as all the other teams.)

Good view of the Bill Russell memorial patch, as worn during a Thunder/Nuggets preseason game. (Photo by Aaron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

Some coaches are also wearing the Russell memorial as a pin, although its use has been inconsistent during the preseason:

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle wore the Bill Russell memorial “6” during a recent preseason game, while Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau did not. (Photos: Eakin Howard, Getty Images [left] and Sarah Stier, Getty Images [right])

Meanwhile: As usual, almost every team will have a new City uniform this season. Also as usual, the City designs won’t be unveiled until after the start of the regular season, reportedly in early November (just in time for holiday shopping season, don’tcha know). But a slew of purported City designs for this season — for 22 of the 30 teams — leaked way back in February. SportsLogos.net’s Chris Creamer helpfully arranged them into this graphic:

(Graphic: SportsLogos.net, via Twitter users @skunwong32 and @caseyvitelli)

At least 10 of these designs — the ones for the Bulls, Celtics, Hawks, Heat, Mavs, 76ers, Spurs, Suns, Warriors, and Wizards — have been corroborated by subsequent leaks or announcements, which suggests that the others are probably legit as well. Either way, we’ll find out soon enough.

In addition, half of the league’s 30 teams have unveiled new Statement alternate uniforms. Toss in 11 new throwbacks and we have a very uni-eventful season. So let’s get to it! With the regular season set to tip off with two games next Tuesday, Oct. 18, and then a full slate of games the following day, here’s our annual team-by-team rundown of what you can expect to see on the court.