The Nets, Nuggets, Pacers, and Spurs unveiled Classic Edition uniforms and courts to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1976 ABA-NBA merger. The throwback designs feature iconic elements from the teams' original American Basketball Association eras.
The Brooklyn Nets, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, and San Antonio Spurs officially unveiled their new Classic Edition uniforms and specialty courts on Monday, October 12, 2026. The coordinated reveal marks the 50th anniversary of the NBA’s merger with the American Basketball Association (ABA) in 1976. As the four original ABA franchises that joined the league through that historic merger, each team has designed a throwback aesthetic to honor its specific heritage.
The Indiana Pacers’ Classic Edition is inspired by the team’s 1971–74 road jerseys, featuring the iconic royal blue synonymous with the franchise’s ABA era. According to theScore, the uniform includes the franchise's original 1967 logo and an asymmetrical racing stripe that became associated with two of its three ABA titles. Indiana will also utilize a unique court design for 10 throwback-themed games during the 2026-27 season.
The Denver Nuggets’ jersey is primarily orange, featuring “Denver” across the chest in black lettering with a white-and-black trim. The team will also wear the original Rockets logo on its shorts. The Nuggets plan to rock the uniform in seven games this season and have revealed a corresponding throwback court to complement the look.
The Brooklyn Nets are sporting a red, white, and blue uniform similar to the one worn by Julius Erving during the team’s ABA beginnings. Becky Kimbro, the Nets’ senior vice president of marketing, stated that the elements honor the franchise's roots while continuing to write the next chapter of Nets basketball in Brooklyn.
The San Antonio Spurs’ all-silver threads recreate the team's original home uniform worn in 1973 following their move to San Antonio. The jersey features the arched “Spurs” wordmark in its initial form, along with an ABA anthem tag above the jock tag. Jordan Mandelkorn, the Spurs’ vice president of marketing, creative, and retail, noted that the season-long celebration aims to connect generations of fans to the team's past while carrying that legacy forward.