Let’s be honest, the start to this season has been abysmal for the Indiana Pacers. Actually, it’s been more heartbreaking than bad. Losing player after player to injury will obviously affect the win column. But on Tuesday, fans got a much-needed jolt of happiness from the team.
No, I don’t mean the sloppy game against the Utah Jazz. I’m talking about the release of the Pacers’ City Edition uniforms, and they did not disappoint.
city edition debut 🤩 pic.twitter.com/f7aRk2XRDn
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) November 12, 2025
The perfect shift for the team and fans
I was a big fan of the "This is Indy" City Edition uniforms the last two years -- a much-needed improvement from the lackluster “Built for Basketball” uniforms of the 2022-23 season.
The spray paint and neon combo were invigorating for a team whose designs have typically been pretty conservative. This season, the "Moments Mixtape" uniforms' play on the best retro Pacers uniforms is exactly the next step we needed to see - and they even utilize the "Boom Baby!" phrase, something we are big fans of here.
The uniforms themselves are sleek and clean. Bridging the combination of three eras of uniforms surely was difficult, but the result is something that is cohesive and a tie to Pacer tradition, while still being refreshing. And, can I say trendy, even now.
A reminder of a rich history
The best parts of the game against Utah were the return of T.J. McConnell and how good the team’s new threads looked on the court.
During such a trying time for the team, these uniforms serve as a reminder of how great this franchise truly is and how it is something to be proud of. From the retro logo on the shorts, which serves as a reminder of the ABA titles and pre-NBA dominance, to the blue and yellow triangles in the jersey front - a nod to the exciting days of Reggie Miller in the ’90s - the uniforms place this team in the center of a storied history of excitement and resilience.
A torch to carry this season
As the Pacers continue to struggle to field a full team and to win games, these City Edition uniforms can serve as inspiration and a torch for the guys to carry this season. Consistently written off - now and in the past - the current Pacers can play with that chip on their shoulder.
As fans, we can watch our team with a larger perspective. We may not be at the top of the world right now, and the fall from June until now has been a steep one, but we love this franchise and know that they carry a culture different from any other organization. It is going to take some work to turn this season around. Everyone knows that.
At least the team is going to look good as they do it.