The Atlanta Hawks brought a new sense of energy and team play to the 2014-15 NBA season, as they ascended to the top of the Eastern Conference with the second best record in the entire league. The return of center Al Horford was a big reason why, and the Hawks made their way to this year’s Eastern Conference Finals before bowing out to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
As a small reward for their efforts, the Hawks have given their players new “mix and match” uniforms for the upcoming 2015-16 NBA season.
“I was talking with Al Horford,” Atlanta Hawks CCO Peter Sorckoff told SI.com, “and walking him through this idea of mix-and-match uniforms. Horford asked ‘When are you going to have us do that?’ I’m not going to have them do it. The reason I built this is so the guys, as a team, can decide if they ever want to mix and match. It is cool to put it back in the hands of the athletes.”
There just might be a tiny snag. It’s debatable whether or not the uniforms, mix or match, go together at all.
On the surface the new Hawks uniforms look refreshing and somewhat current, while the idea of mixing and matching the jerseys and shorts depending on the mood is at worst interesting and a little creative. However, the Hawks boast an arguably ugly neon green numbering, in addition to a a questionable triangle pattern littered across the jersey.
The red jersey is passable, but the NBA’s first gray jersey may leave something to be desired. Atlanta may have nailed it with the shorts, as the colors are solid with limited patterns. But that neon, though.
While the new look isn’t all bad, it’s at least curious and many Hawks fans will admit the old uniforms were plenty fine. That being said, Sorckoff said that the team kept the players involved in the discussion the entire way, so if the players love the new uniforms, fans might in time, too.
Think the new Hawks uniforms are awesome? Terrible? Let us hear about it in the comments below.
