Charlotte Hornets reveal striking City Edition uniforms. Here’s the story behind the look
When Seth Bennett and the rest of the Charlotte Hornets’ brain trust were deciphering the design of the team’s 2024-25 NBA City Edition uniforms, there was only one option in their mind.
Be bold.
“Even though fans are loyal, and love your brand and they support it day-in and day-out,” Bennett, the Hornets’ chief marketing officer, said Thursday, “you have to give them something different from time to time, that will resonate with them, that they connect with that gives them another outlet and avenue to express their fandom and super for the team.
“And I think that’s what this City Series does, not just for Charlotte, but across the NBA.”
That’s why Bennett is excited about the uniform’s official unveiling Thursday. This latest rendition, which features a mint green silhouette along with granite and gold accents, is the final chapter of the series that was introduced during LaMelo Ball’s rookie season in 2020-21.
This year’s version continues telling the story of the first-ever mint in the United States, established in Charlotte in the early 1800s after the Carolina Gold Rush. The jersey has “Charlotte” emblazoned across the chest and boasts granite letters and numbers on the front and back of the jersey, outlined in gold trim.
Another unique feature is the 704 patch on the shorts, where zero resembles a hexagon pattern associated with honeycombs.
The Hornets will wear the City Edition uniform for 10 home games and seven road games this season, tipping off with Saturday’s game against Milwaukee at Spectrum Center. And there’s at least one person who’s pleased by the uniform’s overall design.
“It just gives the city a new look,” Brandon Miller said. “I know it’s a mindset of you look good, play good. I’m going to take pride in that one. Keep looking good and keep playing good for the home crowd.”
During the home contests, the Hornets will utilize the City Edition court debuted in 2020-21, completing the picture the organization wanted to portray when the idea for the uniforms were originally in May 2019.
“We talked about the gold that was harvested in Charlotte and how that really set off the craze, its own gold rush for people to come to this area,” Bennett said. “Just to follow the ascension and growth around the greater Charlotte area into the banking industry and all the other industries that are thriving here, it was figuratively and literally gold. So, it’s been now five seasons and four uniforms that we’ve been able to create.
“This one is special because it takes us back to that bold decision to the depart from our traditional teal, purple color scheme and take a chance in doing something that the original Hornet era did in being fashion forward and first of its kind with these unique colors and the pinstripes. … This one really says who we are.”
This story was originally published November 14, 2024 at 11:06 AM.
