NBA Teams Celebrate 50th Anniversary of NBA-ABA Merger with Classic Uniforms

On Monday, four NBA teams introduced ABA-inspired uniforms for the new season. The Brooklyn Nets, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, and San Antonio Spurs launched their Classic Edition uniforms to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1976 NBA-ABA merger.

Honoring History: San Antonio Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs’ uniforms faithfully replicate the team’s original home attire from their early San Antonio days. The arched “Spurs” wordmark on the chest is a nod to the team’s roots, with the design featuring as it did when players first represented the city in 1973 after relocating from Dallas.

Jordan Mandelkorn, Vice President of Marketing, Creative, and Retail for Spurs Sports & Entertainment, shared that this throwback uniform allows them to celebrate the city’s and team’s history. The season-long celebration includes a matching throwback court design with the ABA 50th-anniversary logo, linking fans to the franchise’s past while embracing its legacy.

The design became famous during George Gervin’s era at HemisFair Arena. The uniforms will debut on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, against the Dallas Mavericks at the Frost Bank Center, kicking off nine “Classic Nights” throughout the season. The shorts add to the retro appeal with a black diamond background framing the cowboy spur.

Falling Flat: Denver Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets introduced City Edition uniforms swapping traditional navy and gold for a dull orange to honor their 1960s and early 1970s ABA past. The new jerseys feature an arched “Denver” wordmark across the chest in black with a white outline and bold black Rockets logo on the shorts, echoing the team’s original Denver Rockets launch in 1967.

The team also announced a specialty throwback court at Ball Arena for these themed games. They’ll debut the uniforms on Sunday, December 27, 2026, against the Indiana Pacers. This game is the first of nine where the Nuggets will wear this commemorative look.

Classic Appeal: Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers’ 2026–27 Classic Edition uniform pays homage to their ABA era by replicating their 1971–74 road attire. Featuring vibrant royal blue with a clean “Indiana” wordmark and gold accents, including a gold racing stripe and vintage 1967 logo on the shorts.

The team will wear these uniforms for 15 games this season, including seven home games with a thematic throwback court at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Best in Class: Brooklyn Nets

The Brooklyn Nets revived the iconic New York Nets design honoring their ABA roots. The red, white, and blue color scheme pairs with a patriotic-colored basketball. The jerseys feature stars on the sides, echoing the look from the ABA championship era led by Julius “Dr. J” Erving.

A throwback court complements these classics at the Barclays Center, set to debut on Opening Night, October 21, 2026, against the Charlotte Hornets.

Overall, these designs honor the historic NBA-ABA merger. They contrast well with the much-criticized Specter Edition Uniforms unveiled in September.