Utah Jazz finally unveil audacious ‘City Edition’ uniform

The fourth and final Utah Jazz uniform kit for the 2017-18 season has finally been revealed. As expected, it’s a radical departure from the team’s norm.

For months now, jerseys have been one of the hottest topics around the Utah Jazz’s corner of the basketball universe. Specifically, the squad’s forthcoming City Edition uniforms. Although new unis can be a tough sell, Jazz president Steve Starks and others have been raving about them since before the season began.

Thanks to NBA 2K17 and well-sourced mock-ups, the cat was already out of the bag somewhat on team’s new duds. Nevertheless, the first official reveal on Christmas Day nevertheless made a splash.

When Nike, the NBA’s new jersey partner, first announced their new unis, they had this to say about the City Edition kits —

"The City Edition uniform is inspired by the community that each franchise represents. This edition gives each team the canvas to showcase the pride associated with its fans and the surrounding city, region or state."

In other words, the team had a blank slate to do something like nothing fans have ever seen before. Something that puts the Jazz part of the equation on the sidelines, bringing the state of Utah to the forefront in eye-popping fashion in its stead.

In that respect, the Jazz didn’t disappoint.

Behold, the team’s new threads in all of their red-to-orange gradient glory —

Admittedly, I’ve been skeptical of these jerseys since the design concepts began to leak several months ago. However, seeing them in full-motion video as opposed to guess-worked mocks may have made a believer out of me. I’m not fully on-board with the lack of a musical motif, but Utah’s natural beauty is represented like never before.

Especially in tandem with the team’s alternate court, which will accompany the City Jerseys. Check it out —

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Already, people are getting on-board with the red-rock themed jersey/hardwood combination. In his flowery write-up on them for ESPN, Zach Lowe said the whole concept is like nothing the Association has seen before. His appraisal: “It is beautiful — a home run, courage rewarded.”

Whether it’s really a home run, a ground-rule double or a foul ball down the left field line, one thing is certain — the Jazz and Nike swung for the fences.

It may take me seeing Donovan Mitchell cross someone over, then throw down a reverse jam in traffic while wearing it to fully appreciate the style, but even I have to give it up to them for the sheer audacity in play.