The Indiana Pacers have been around in ABA or NBA form since 1967. The Nike NBA uniform contract only started in 2017. Why ignore 50 years of history? The same reason everyone ignores history: it’s inconvenient.

2017 & 2018 Classic Editions: I don’t care that they’re red. I don’t care that they’re not Pacers-branded. I don’t care that they’re based on a fictional version of a high school.

In 49 other states these would suck, but this is Indiana.

Pinstripes are classic Pacers. So are slanted side panels. Each of these jerseys updates those elements in its own compelling way.

2020 Earned Edition: The pinstripes take on a tilt inspired by the “We Grow Basketball Here” motif established with the new Nike uniforms in 2017. A great blend of new and old.

2020 City Edition: The bright blue calls back to the Pacers’ ABA-era colors while the angled cut in the side panels place the jersey firmly alongside the modern set.

2019 Statement Edition: That same We Grow Basketball Here print pulls the Reggie-era slanted panels into the future. The Pacers wear these almost exclusively in the playoffs and they’re a perfect combination of the team’s history and present.

2017 Association, Icon, and Statement Editions: As mentioned above, 2017 saw an across-the-board uniform update for Indiana. The team name-around-number chest layout is unique in the NBA, and the full-print back panel on the yellow Statement edition is a confident application of a core motif.1

It’s important to get the basics right, and the Pacers largely do.

2017 & 2019 City Editions: The “finish line” graphic with the tonal checkered flag motif is rad. The number-in-circle and vertical PACERS are best left to the eye of the beholder.

2021 City Edition: A twist on the Reggie-era panels, turned 90º to go across the chest rather than down the flank. They’re just novel enough to be interesting but feel a little stuck in the past.2

2018 Earned Edition: A less-successful twist than the 2021 Citys. Some pinstripe elements, some panel elements, a different take on the wordmark. Not quite right in the end.

2022’s City Edition: Inspired by the… iconic(?) roof trusses of Gainbridge Fieldhouse, paired navy blue and black which is always a bad idea and let down an otherwise-cool color blocking concept.

2023 and 2024 City Editions: These jerseys have one thing going for them — INDY across the chest is inspired. Unfortunately the graffiti theme is generic and the gray court paired with them is a real bummer. No more gray courts in basketball. We’ve tried it a lot and it doesn’t work. Speaking of gray…

2018 City Edition: What the fuck, Nike.