\u201cWhen (the agencies) would leave the pinstripes out of the conversation and out of the design, it really was a bit lackluster,\u201d Wilkes said. \u201cThis is what we think we need and we even looked at interesting takes and it was like, no, let\u2019s just do what works. This works. We know (fans) love the bold pinstripes. It was really based on a lot of fan feedback, a lot of social listening and honestly, looking at sales data and what makes sense for the fanbase.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Magic submitted its final uniform designs to the NBA in September of 2023. The results finally arrived for all to see last week when the team debuted a new trio of uniform options, none of which were lacking for pinstripes.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s the Association uniform, which is all-white with a \u201cMagic\u201d wordmark with a star replacing the \u201ca,\u201d the Icon, which is all-blue with an \u201cOrlando\u201d wordmark with a star replacing the \u201ca,\u201d and Statement, which is a blue\/black combo with a \u201cMagic\u201d wordmark and a star replacing the \u201ca.\u201d The latter draws inspiration from the Magic\u2019s classic Champion warm-up jackets of the \u201890s<\/a> and has a Jordan Brand logo instead of a Nike logo.<\/p>\n Left to right: Wagner, Suggs, and Banchero debut the new uniforms. (Photo: Orlando Magic)<\/p>\n The return of the bold pinstripes is a continuation of a trend the Magic helped start in the late \u201880s\/early \u201890s when it became the second NBA team to feature pinstripes on their uniforms in its expansion year arrival in the 1989-90 season. The Charlotte Hornets debuted pinstriped uniforms the year prior during its 1988-89 debut season. The look became a staple for both teams and led to later looks of the Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers during the \u201890s.<\/p>\n After so much time working on perfecting the look, Wilkes says her personal favorite is the jersey that has received the most \u201cmixed emotions\u201d \u2014 the Statement jersey.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it is going to be ranked as one of the best jerseys in the NBA once people start seeing it on court,\u201d Wilkes said.<\/p>\n Merchandising data showed that vintage Magic apparel, especially looks tied to the Shaquille O\u2019Neal<\/a> and Penny Hardaway<\/a> era, always sold well, according to Wilkes. It served as an indicator as to what the fanbase favored from the past, present and toward the future.<\/p>\n \ud83d\ude44\ud83d\ude2c\ud83e\udd74\ud83d\ude10\ud83e\udd13 #tbt<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/2d82459QJd<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) May 16, 2019<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cYou realize how much passion there is around those particular uniforms and that we are one of the only teams that has pinstripes and just a realization of: let\u2019s own that. Let\u2019s take it and build our identity today around those pinstripes again,\u201d Wilkes said. \u201cWe were successful as well in the late 2000s with Dwight (Howard) and Jameer (Nelson), but people still hold on to the Shaq and Penny years and those references. And that is the image that comes into their mind around the success of the Orlando Magic and the excitement of the Orlando Magic, are those years. It\u2019s not only necessarily being (one of) the first (with pinstripes), but I think it truly is something that we as the Orlando Magic can own as part of our identity.\u201d<\/p>\n So why didn\u2019t the Magic just go back to the exact same classic look of its \u201890s uniforms if they are so popular with fans? NBA rules forbid it. Once an NBA team stops using certain uniforms, the licensing of them (which is owned by the NBA) reverts to NBA partner and famed throwback jersey maker Mitchell & Ness<\/a>. The Magic can still wear its classic \u201cShaq\/Penny\u201d uniforms for anniversaries, but not on a regular basis.<\/p>\n Wilkes prefers it that way, though, saying that focusing on a new look for a new generation of stars that drew inspiration from the past was the Magic\u2019s priority. Along with having a look that matched their current roster and how they play basketball.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t just re-introduce the same exact direction. However, we also didn\u2019t want to. We knew it was a new time, a new era. This more modern, simple, clean design is where we were headed,\u201d Wilkes said. \u201cA lot of people have so much passion about our original wordmark, and so do I, and I love it. It can also be maybe considered a little bit, not as bold or competitive. It\u2019s almost playful. It has character in that way. But I don\u2019t know that that\u2019s the identity of our team today. Our identity is around toughness, grit, hard work, that defensive mindset. And to put something that\u2019s almost a little whimsical as the wordmark of our uniform, that didn\u2019t feel right for the direction that we\u2019ve taken on the court.\u201d<\/p>\n The team\u2019s new assortment of marks and logos. (Image: Orlando Magic)<\/p>\n While the nostalgia factor is strong with the Magic\u2019s new uniforms, Wilkes doesn\u2019t just want fans not faking the funk on a nasty dunk<\/a> or replaying Lil Penny commercials<\/a> in their heads when they see them. She wants the Magic fanbase to have an eye toward the future as well. Pinstripes and all. Every Magic uniform has represented an era. O\u2019Neal and Hardaway with the originals. Tracy McGrady and his pinstripeless stars. Howard and a new logo that followed the team into the Kia Center. And now these new uniforms representing the next generation of Orlando Magic basketball with Banchero, Suggs and Wagner.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know that I would say I want people to necessarily only think of Shaq and Penny. Sure they are going to. They are two of our biggest stars that have ever come through here. But, I think I want them to think about the success of the Orlando Magic and having the Orlando Magic in a pop culture conversation,\u201d Wilkes said. \u201cNow we\u2019re at a new phase of this team and this new team needs a new identity. So we think we\u2019ve hit the timing right. Because the only way (the new uniforms are) grabbing hold as much as it is is because we have built a team around Paulo, Franz and Jalen that people are excited about. You can see the future. You can see that we are building a winning team and that there is success on the horizon. And so I think that giving them their own era and their own identity is really core to making this successful.\u201d<\/p>\n Are bold pinstripes on the basketball court here to stay in central Florida?<\/p>\n Wilkes says the younger generation of the DeVos family, who owns the team, grew up with the Magic and was a part of the creation of the new uniforms. Combine that with a passionate fanbase and it points to a likelihood of permanent pinstripes.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I\u2019m here it\u2019s bold pinstripes from here on out,\u201d Wilkes said while laughing. \u201cI think with (the DeVos family\u2019s) leadership\u2026you\u2019ll continue to see bold pinstripes. It\u2019s part of who we are as an organization and I think it\u2019s important that we lean into that. And we can have fun with it. There\u2019s different ways that we can introduce pinstripes so keep your eyes peeled for future years and iterations of how we take this.\u201d<\/p>\n The Athletic maintains full editorial independence in all our coverage. When you click or make purchases through our links, we may earn a commission.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/combination-trio.png\")
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