Spurs show off new jerseys

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Danny Green and Kawhi Leonard model the Spurs’ new alternate jerseys. At least they’re not the Silver Saturday edition. (Photo credit: D. Clarke Evans/NBAE/Getty)

The San Antonio Spurs unveiled their new alternate jerseys on Wednesday. San Antonio plans to wear these gray uniforms during select home games this season. These new alternates are, in a word, “unique.”

The main feature of the news duds is that the words “San Antonio” or “Spurs” are nowhere to be found. In fact, on the front of the jerseys there are no words anywhere. According to the Express-News‘ Jeff McDonald, that took some negotiation with the NBA league office. I appreciate trying something new, I really do, but I think that in this instance it backfired.

According to the press release sent out by the Spurs, “The new design simply features our iconic ‘spur’ logo and it is positioned over the heart as it has such enormously deep roots with our team, fans and the entire community.” I can understand that. Soccer teams in Europe have their team crest located over their hearts for that very same reason. They also have advertising front and center on their jerseys, something the NBA has talked about doing (Note: I’m fine with that, I could care less about the “advertising on jerseys” issue).

The problem with the Spur is that it’s too big. It’s all good to have it over the heart, even if you don’t have an ad front and center, but the Spur is simply too large for that location. I’m not a design guy, but the balance feels off. With the Spur so large, it looks like there was only one place available to put the numbers on the front. I’d rather see the Spur shrunk and the number slightly larger, lowered and more centrally-located.

Otherwise, I think these jerseys are good. I do appreciate the novelty of not having the city or team name on the front and the team simply represented by a symbol. I also like the color, it’s a major improvement over the Silver Saturday jerseys of yesteryear. I’m also a fan of the SA logo on the shorts and the stripes running down each side. Basically, everything except the size and location of that Spur.

In the end, though, it doesn’t matter. It’s about the players in the jerseys and what they do while wearing them. What are your thoughts on the new unis? Why is Kawhi Leonard actually smiling? Leave us a comment below, just be nice.

  • Alfonso Jaime

    You are crazy…these uniforms are fantastic!

  • Garett

    these look like summer league unis

  • John Alexander

    It’s like they combined elements of the Toros, Rampage and Summer League, into one uniform. It’s not a good look at all.

  • http://twitter.com/benryyip Benry Yip

    You just made my day with the link to (other) Spurs. LONG LIVE THE KING.

  • http://48minutesofhell.com Andrew A. McNeill

    Had to.

  • zainn

    This is different, but I like the old ones better. I don’t like the logo being that big, I like it over the U like it’s been for a while now. Oh well, like you said I won’t be looking at the jerseys all that much anyways!

  • http://www.facebook.com/youngnwyldnfree Joshua Lambert

    Where can i get one?! Love ’em.

  • http://48minutesofhell.com Andrew A. McNeill

    If you’re serious (honestly not sure, sarcasm hard to tell in text), they go on sale October 6 at Academy, the Spurs fan shop and NBAstore.com

  • Hookem731

    I agree. It was a great touch.

  • ThatBigGuy

    It’s too amateur, too D-League-meets-4th-division-Polish-team-seeking-sponsor. It’s a practice jersey at best.

  • Hookem731

    What’s going on with Kawhi’s face? Nevermind, the kid’s just smiling.

  • andy

    i’d say that i wouldn’t like to see the numbers bigger and the logo smaller. sends the wrong message. team is bigger than the individual, and that logo to number ratio shows it. i’d rather have the logo up slightly higher, and then the number on the lower right side of the jersey, to be better balanced and without so much negative space. also reinforces the team over individual thematic.

    otherwise i like the uni.

  • antshrike

    Glad the Spurs went with a simple, elegant color combo and not one of the gaudy, ugly unis of some of the other teams. And Kawhi is smiling because he’s thinking about his next contract!

  • Graham

    Not bad as alternates I suppose. I actually like the no text touch, though I can see why some would have problems with the offset, though I think it works ok.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=677881337 Nathan Verney

    They look like the type of thing you could come up with when you created a team in NBA Live or NBA 2k - not the most recent editions, the older ones with less options. Do not like.

  • STIJL

    Like the workman attribute of the uniforms. Nothing flashy yet stylish. Will get used to it as time will always be needed to embrace something new. But my gosh!!! Always here it spoken but Kawhi’s arms and especially his hands are ginormous!!! Look at the comparison between him and Green though Leonard is not that much taller.

    And yeah…Kawhi should smile more…he’s got one of those “photogenic” types of faces when he does. Could land him extra cash by just being the face of a product.

    And not meaning to go on…but to go on…what’s with the mini goatee and thin mustache both are sporting. Is it a style thing now. Would be cool to see the entire team sport that look in a show of unison.

  • DorieStreet

    Is it the photo, or does the shorts color fades to an off-white at the black helmline? I like the vertical ribbed texture of the tops, along with the stripes. And you cannnot overlook the choices made to model the new uniforms - the future faces of the franchise=next generation of the Spurs.

  • http://48minutesofhell.com Andrew A. McNeill

    I’ve been trying to figure that out myself. It looks like there’s some sort of gradient to it, but I can’t tell if the camera/lighting is playing tricks on me.

  • Leben

    “The main feature of the news duds is that the words “San Antonio” or “Spurs” are nowhere to be found.” Isn’t there a “San Antonio Spurs” logo on the back of the jersey just below the neck?

  • http://48minutesofhell.com Andrew A. McNeill

    You’re right, there is a Spurs logo on the upper back. I should’ve said that it’s nowhere to be found across the chest.

  • Leben

    I thinks its the lighting, cuz it doesn’t look like that on spurs.com, unless you mean that white stripe at the hemline.

  • Leben

    “I like the vertical ribbed texture of the tops…” “What is that velvet”

  • DorieStreet

    You’re right—I looked at the uniforms there and a couple of other sights. I don’t see that fading color effect.

  • DorieStreet

    But hopefullly Leonard reverts back to his stoic demeanor on the court.

  • http://profiles.google.com/lordxar Ray Briggs II

    It looks like a practice jersey to me. I am not a fan of it.
    But in the end, it’s not really worth complaining about.

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  • Peej

    Kawhi Leonard got an extra 50k in his contract for smiling

  • GFoyle33

    I love the simplicity. I’m definitely getting one!

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  • Titletown99030507d

    Just don’t like the gray and the vertical lines and no “Spurs” (the word) on it. They seem like a 5 year old’s sleepwear. I’m sure they will sell just because they’re new and people want to be the first just to say they got one. Kinda like the iphone. Overated.