A familiar favourite in Toronto Raptors folklore, the Dino jersey is finally back in the spotlight. Where does it rank as one of the best jerseys in the NBA this season?
Nothing feels fresher than new uniforms. One of the nuances that make the NBA one of the best leagues in the world is the style that comes with a uniform. Unlike the NFL – whose uniforms feel a bit plain and drag sometimes – teams in the NBA mix up their threads on the regular. This season, the Toronto Raptors have done just that, bringing back one of the all-time great jerseys in sports.
The Dino jersey. First worn in the Raptors inaugural season back in 1995, the white Dino jersey was cartoonish – larger than life in some respects – and for a team that knew the next few years would be challenging, it brought a sense of style to the NBA.
Day 1 fit, 25 years later. pic.twitter.com/rGFwh0Zxrw
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) August 30, 2019
Sure, uniforms can just be uniforms, but sometimes they can be more than that. They can be symbolic, representing the future or giving props to an era in the past. Or they can just be an ode to the city the team resides in, using the colours of the city to fashion a jersey that you want to see on the court and in the street.
Every year, we see more throwback jerseys, more creative and quirky designs that stand out amongst the norm – but also some designs that just don’t work. That, however, is entirely subjective and up to personal preference.
But still, the season is fast approaching and fans will want to purchase their teams newest jersey with their favourite player on the back. It’s representing your team, your player, and your city. The NBA, as a collective, has enough style in its locker for any of the 30 teams that reside in it to drop something hot.
Sometimes, the best jerseys are the ones that we’ve seen long before. The throwback jersey. A jersey that commemorates a historic season from a team’s past, or – like the Raptors – just an incredibly sexy jersey.
That’s the Dino jersey in abundance. But is it the nicest alternate jersey in the NBA?