Lakers Flop, Knicks Shine: Nike's 2025-26 City Editions

Nike’s 2025-26 city-edition jerseys landed and readers got a full worst-to-best pass — some teams played it safe, others flopped. Critics called the Lakers’ black rerun too “boring,” while clear winners include the Heat’s revived Vice, the Raptors’ flawless throwback (an easy A+), the Nets’ Bed‑Stuy splash, and the Timberwolves’ Prince‑purple. These designs matter: they shape team identity and drive merchandise sales. Merlin sees a split between comfy retreads that sell (Vice, Suns) and bold, place-driven concepts that win hearts — Portland’s jersey even leans into the airport carpet, a true “Keep Portland Weird” move. A few misses (Dallas, Celtics) prove color and story beat generic fonts every time.