Miami Heat: AUCH roundtable on the best City Edition Jerseys in the game

Marcos Chisholm(@marcosgchisholm)

Miami’s white jerseys from its 2017-2018 City Edition campaign were integral in the launch of Vice Nights. Not only did the Miami Arena logo from the late 1980’s don a white background with a similar pink “Miami Vice” font that inspired its eventual recreation, but the franchise’s decision to pilot this retro concept paid homage to the iconic hotel architecture and design that graces South Beach.

Numerous NBA City Edition jersey rollouts have been abysmal, partially because of the fact that teams like the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Lakers have done a poor job of tying their local identity and heritage to designs. For the Heat to remain authentic as an organization, while simultaneously adding depth to their brand story is a testament to the fact that Miami has exceeded expectations that initially came with coordinating a simple, league-required City Edition campaign.

Just like other forms of great art, jerseys become as special as the moments we associate with their designs. And while the glory from Miami’s three league championships provides legitimacy to the franchise’s timeless home and away uniforms, Dwyane Wade’s final season — his #OneLastDance — brought countless Kodak moments in the Miami Heat’s black Vice jerseys.

Most notably, we will never forget the mayor of Miami-Wade County hitting last season’s game-winner of the year against the defending NBA champions in the American Airlines Arena. It’s easy to say the black Vice jerseys are symbolic of a farewell to a legend that fans could openly cherish for up to 82 more games, but how many goodbyes in the world — and City Edition jerseys — promote a sense of peace and self-actualization? We’ll wait.

Me(@ksaidwhat)

It’s as simple as this, the Miami Heat are running the jersey game. Whether its the sleek elegance of the all-black Vice Nights Jersey, the flamboyant exuberance of the Sunset Vice jerseys, the pure and unabashed Miami-ness of the original all-white Vice jerseys, or the cool blue vibes that the Vice Wave jerseys give off, they are all hits.

There is no other team in the Association that has one jersey in their City Edition bag that can compete with either of the Miami Heat’s from that perspective, nevertheless thinking there’s a team who’s collective City Edition uniforms are better. While there are a ton more things that could be said, it’s nothing that the guys above haven’t so elegantly stated.

For the record, the all pink Sunset Vice jersey is my absolute favorite, but they are all marvelous. They are, hands down, the best City Edition jerseys in the league and that’s taking our obvious Miami Heat bias out of it.