2024-25 City Edition uniforms leaked: Hawks run it back with major twist

New year, new City Edition uniforms for Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks.

Since their inception in 2017, the jersey variations have been a polarizing source of intrigue over the years. From the “Volt and Black Collection” versions that had a futuristic look to them to the ever-popular MLK version of 2020-21 to last year’s “fly”-themed kits.

Leaks of the 2024-25 City Edition uniforms made the round on social media on Tuesday and the Hawks appear to be taking the “fly collection,” in a new direction.

The look features a white base rather than last year’s black backdrop.

The presence of “Heritage Blue” and “Buttery Brown” trim returns. But the lettering has changed significantly. Last year’s model featured a lowercase “atl” that “conveys ascension, familiarity, and our signature Southern hospitality,” per NBA LockerVision.

The new look has “Hawks” stylized with an upward swing at the end, which plays into the “fly” aspect of the collection.

In June 2023, the Hawks social media team asked fans which versions were their favorites.

An overwhelming number pointed to the 2020 “MLK” and 2021 “moments mixtape” look that featured yellow as the base color.  Their 2022 “Peachtree” variations also got plenty of love from fans.

Opinions of team uniforms are oftentimes strongly influenced by how the team performs while wearing them.

Coming off a season like the Hawks had, though, it does not matter much.

Fans react to Hawks City Edition uniform leak

The Hawks failed to make the top 10 of Covers.com’s Jon Metler’s Power Rankings of all the City Edition uniforms. They did manage to avoid being the bottom-feeder. That dubious honor went to the Boston Celtics.

Some fans were certainly on board with the look. A large swath was also staunchly against the look too, though, continuing the history of polarizing opinions about the City Edition uniforms.

“Hawks city edition jerseys have really fallen off,” Kicks’ Pat Benson posted on X in reaction.

Benson had reported on X hearing the new jerseys would feature the blue – and a fan chimed in with the upward, swooping look for the lettering – and even then the reaction to the palette was lukewarm.

As many pointed out, the uniforms often have a different look and feel when players wear them than they do in mock-ups.

The Hawks first donned their 2023-24 City Editions on November 10.

It could take getting deeper into the schedule before fans get the full experience. But there should be a fairly elaborate rollout complete with a backstory and players modeling the new duds well in advance of their on-court debut this coming season.