Uniform mashups are nothing new on the internet. If you’ve been around long enough, you’ve likely seen pretty much every sports league have their uniforms or logos messed with by some fan or design buff re-designing to fit a certain theme, whatever it may be. With that being said, it takes a lot to impress us these days.
However, Bleacher Report’s The Lab, which has done some excellent work since its inception, created their own mockups of what it may look like if NBA jerseys were to be transformed into football uniforms. The results were absolutely tremendous. Not only did they flex their creative muscles while transferring the jerseys from the court to the gridiron, the quality of the actual Photoshopping is absolutely top-notch.
And while the creation of each of these designs is impressive as all hell, some of them work better than others. I have strong opinions on jerseys (stronger than any adult man probably should) which is why I’ve gone ahead and ranked the five best and worst of the bunch. I’m sure you will disagree with some of my rankings, but should know that 1.) fashion is based on taste, and 2.) you are wrong.
So, let us rank.
The Worst
5. Sixers/Eagles
This jersey isn’t bad, but it’s a little disappointing that the black/gold/red scheme was chosen considering the Sixers new (retro) uniforms are some of the best in the NBA right now. The helmet and logo stinks.
4. Cavaliers/Browns
There’s just way too much going on here. I may be able to get behind the metallic gold helmet and even the holstered sword that extends into the pant striping, but the shoulder pad blocking with the gigantic ‘C’ logo is a bit much to pull off…even for Johnny Football.
3. Nuggets/Broncos
The helmet and its decal are both great, but the jersey is pretty horrendous. Points for the pick-axe shoulder design, but the gold looks more like mustard yellow, which makes it seem like Peyton Manning is wearing a potato sack (he’s so old that it might not be out of the question) and it’s just not working. It would probably look a lot better if the colors were swapped.
2. Bucks/Packers
Again, kind of disappointed that they didn’t pull from the Bucks newer uniform design, which is one of my favorites in the NBA. Instead, here we have Aaron Rodgers looking like one of Santa’s reindeer.
1. Wizards/Redskins
I’m probably sounding like a broken record at this point but, again, why not use the Wizards’ newer Bullets-themed design? This color scheme and design is just so ‘blah’ (although the ‘W’ on the shoulder pads is pretty cool) and the helmet leaves a lot to be desired.
The Best
5. Celtics/Patriots
I love that they stuck with the Celtics’ simpler and historic uniform design rather than go for the flashier, newer jerseys. Instead of trying to do too much, they went for the throwback feel and nailed it.
4. Warriors/Raiders
The Warriors have some of my favorite jerseys in basketball right now, and apparently that translates to the football field as well. The logo on the jersey could probably be a little smaller, but it works well on both the helmet and the uniform. The numbers are great.
3. Pelicans/Saints
I’m quite surprised I like this one as much as I do considering I really hate the Pelicans basketball jerseys. However, I love the red jersey, the numbering, the underarm design is pretty great and the pelican works extremely well as sleeve logo. It’s hard to form an opinion on the helmet given we can’t see the decal, but the two-tone helmet/facemask with the striping is a good start. This has much more of a Mardi Gras feel to it than the Saints current uniforms, that’s for sure.
2. Mavericks/Cowboys
Green and blue might be the most underrated color scheme in all of sports (did somebody say Hartford Whalers?) so it’s no surprise that that Mavs’ throwbacks look pretty great as a football uniform. The helmet is perfectly simple and is a wonderful accent to the green jersey that a Cowboys touch with the numbers and striping.
1. Hornets/Panthers
This is just perfect. Seriously. The Hornets logo works well as a helmet decal and using honeycomb as both the helmet and jersey striping is just amazing. Purple and teal often work so well together, so it’s not such a huge shock that this was my favorite of the entire bunch.
You can check out the rest of the designs over at B/R’s The Lab.
