The Cleveland Cavaliers are turning back the clock to celebrate their 55th season, unveiling a nostalgic look that connects the franchise's storied past with its promising present.
In partnership with Nike, the Cavaliers revealed their 2025-26 Classic Edition uniforms, a faithful recreation of the deep navy blue, wine, and gold design worn between 2003 and 2010, the era that defined the first chapter of LeBron James‘ time with the team and ushered in Cleveland's first trip to the NBA Finals in 2007.
Cleveland’s Classic Edition uniform pays tribute to a defining chapter in Cavaliers history that included legends such as LeBron James, Daniel "Booby" Gibson, Žydrūnas Ilgauskas, and Anderson Varejão. This Classic Edition joins the team's current lineup of Icon, Association, Statement, and City Edition sets for the 2025-26 season and serves as a one-year alternate designed to connect generations of Cleveland basketball fans.
The front of the jersey proudly displays "CLEVELAND" in white lettering with a gold outline across the chest, framed by the Nike swoosh and a Cleveland-Cliffs logo patch. The shorts feature the Cavs' historic "C" logo with a sword piercing through, a familiar symbol from the mid-2000s. Both pieces include wine and gold striped trim that nods to the "Miracle of Richfield" uniforms of the 1970s.
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The Cavs will debut the Classic Edition uniform and accompanying court design at Rocket Arena, where fans will see the iconic wine basketball-and-sword logo return to center court. "Cleveland" and "Cavaliers" will line the baselines, and the team's LET EM KNOW mantra will stretch across the west sideline. It's a modernized version of a mid-2000s design that remains deeply embedded in Cavaliers lore.
Nine home games throughout the regular season will feature the Classic Edition look, along with three away contests, including a Christmas Day matchup at Madison Square Garden against the New York Knicks. Fans can expect to see the uniforms during several marquee games, including home dates against the Lakers, Celtics, Warriors, and Heat.
The Cavaliers will also celebrate their past in other ways this season. One highlight will be a special Anderson Varejão bobblehead giveaway presented by KeyBank when the Golden State Warriors visit Rocket Arena. Varejão, now a Cavaliers Global Ambassador, will be honored for his energy and dedication during the mid-2000s run that endeared him to Cleveland fans.
To further celebrate the launch, Cavs Legend Daniel "Booby" Gibson will make a special appearance at the Pinecrest team shop, giving fans the chance to meet one of the most recognizable players from the era that inspired this design.
The Cavaliers say the Classic Edition celebrates the team's "rich heritage and iconic visual identity," but this unveiling also carries a deeper message. It ties together the franchise's past, present, and future at a pivotal moment for a roster that believes it can contend for a championship once again.
Behind stars Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen, and under second-year head coach Kenny Atkinson, Cleveland enters the season with renewed confidence. The team has built one of its deepest rotations in years, combining elite talent with improved bench depth and defensive versatility. With Garland showing progress in his recovery and the team's chemistry steadily improving, optimism is rising throughout the organization.
So, while the Classic Edition uniform honors an era defined by the Cavaliers' first NBA Finals appearance, it also reflects the organization's belief that history can repeat itself. The last time these uniforms graced the floor, Cleveland was chasing its first title. This time, the pursuit continues with a new generation leading the charge.
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