These new City Edition jerseys are the same ones the Lakers wore a couple of seasons ago and are just as mediocre now as they were then.
Nike essentially just did a copy-and-paste job for the Lakers City Edition jerseys this year. They are bringing back the 2023-24 uniforms for the upcoming 2025-26 NBA season.
Fans have been complaining for years about Nike doing the same thing over and over, so why not lean into that by releasing a jersey from a couple of years ago that also wasn’t well received then?
At least the rehash saved the Lakers’ social team some time since they have plenty of footage of current Lakers players donning the “new” uniforms.
“The California Dream” returns. @bibigoUSA x City Edition pic.twitter.com/HvkFiXwBfC
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) August 1, 2025
On the plus side, these are better than the awful kits the Lakers wore last year. Not only was that City edition jersey an eyesore, but they were cursed.
Los Angeles went 1-9 with last year’s kit and then decided to stop wearing them on the dates they were scheduled to do so. The only time we saw those uniforms inside Crypto.com Arena for the rest of the year was when fans were wearing them.
So, sure, going back to the 2023-24 version is better than the “LakeShow” monstrocity, but a new idea would’ve been ideal. Or, at least go back to something fans universally loved like the 2020 Mamba jersey.
Those uniforms proved to be good luck as the Lakers won the vast majority of their games while wearing them en route to an NBA title.
Another positive is that if you are one of the fans who bought a LeBron James, Austin Reaves, or Rui Hachimura Lakers City Edition jersey a couple of years ago, you’ve just saved some money and can still stay hip and with the times.
It’ll be interesting to see if the Lakers also bring back the 2023-24 NBA Cup court. That floor certainly had a great look to it and was the court they played on during their run towards their NBA Cup win. So, there are some good memories with the City Edition jersey and winning games.
Maybe seeing skinny Luka Dončić rocking these uniforms will bring some excitement to this design, but right now it doesn’t feel like a good nostalgia play.
Instead, it seems like Nike has given up and will look for something in the back of its warehouse to sell at the front of the store.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.