So, how does the new $150 NBA City Edition uniform, by KAWS, celebrate "the spirit of Brooklyn"?

A Nov. 14, 2024 press release, Brooklyn Nets Unveil 2024-25 Nike NBA City Edition Uniform, Created With Renowned Artist KAWS, told us:

The Brooklyn Nets have unveiled their 2024-25 Nike NBA City Edition Uniform, created with renowned artist and Brooklyn resident, KAWS. The Nets remain the first and only professional sports team the Brooklyn-based artist has collaborated with. Year two of the partnership further expands upon the Nets’ commitment to highlighting local tastemakers and leading creators from Brooklyn to celebrate the unique culture found within the borough and is an example of how the team continues to elevate their retail offerings to reflect the fanbase’s growing interest in fashion and style, including launching a private label, premium merchandise line, bǝrō.

KAWS is the third icon from Brooklyn that the team has paid homage to through the NBA City Edition program after previously celebrating the lives and legacies of The Notorious B.I.G. and Jean-Michel Basquiat.

What's interesting/intriguing about that is that KAWS is paying homage to, um, KAWS. (Are they running out of icons?)

The uniform design is said to inspiration from his 10-part artwork, “TENSION.” OK, take a look at Tension, which has similar shapes but is a lot brighter and more colorful.

From team store

"As with all Nets uniforms, the jersey will feature the GetYourGuide patch on the top left chest," the press release says, though the version sold in the team store, for $150, does not seem to have it.

The "spirit of Brooklyn"

The team stated:

KAWS, who lives and works in Brooklyn, engages audiences beyond the museums and galleries in which he regularly exhibits. His work straddles the worlds of art and design to include paintings, murals, graphic and product design, and large-scale sculptures. 

...“We’re excited to expand our partnership with KAWS, whose work pushes artistic boundaries and allows us to continue to connect with fans all over the world,” said Andrew Karson, Executive Vice President of Marketing at BSE Global, parent company of the Nets. “Our latest City Edition collaboration continues the Nets’ commitment to cultural innovation, and its fresh and expressive vision represents the borough we call home. These uniforms reflect our connection to the community, and KAWS’ distinctive artistic style perfectly captures the spirit of Brooklyn – bold, vibrant, and full of energy.”

The spirit of Brooklyn? 

As I wrote in March 2024, discussing the expected investment in BSE Global by the family of notorious right-wing funder David Koch and the fear that the investment would tarnish the spirit of the Nets, to me, Adam Chasseur’s comment was on point: “And what is the spirit of the Nets, other than making lots and lots of money?”

That's what a $150 jersey points to, right? Note: several standard jerseys also cost the same.

 

You want to pay $52, though, there's a 2022-23 Ben Simmons jersey on discount, from $120--though, bizarrely, there's another Simmons jersey for $150. Given that a Simmons contract buyout is imminent, maybe all his jerseys will go on discount--or vanish.