Copyright cleveland.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The unveiling of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 2025-26 Nike NBA City Edition uniform was overshadowed by one unnamed brave soul on Tuesday morning. The team launched the jerseys and partnership with the Cleveland Metroparks on a more-than-brisk day at an Edgewater Beach pavilion. As temperatures hovered in the mid-30s with a bitter wind off Lake Erie, one guy surfed. “If you haven’t noticed, we’re giving free surfing lessons,” said Ahmaad Crump, in-arena host for the Cavs. The partnership highlighted the jerseys, a remix of the 2022-23 City Edition uniform. This year, the team will wear orange jerseys, symbolic of sunsets, alongside a specially designed City Edition home court. Related: The latest Cavs NBA City Edition has arrived: Grab this unique orange look in 2025-26 “It honors the inherent bond behind court, community and culture,” said Bill Fagan, the Cavaliers’ president of business operations. The jersey’s design was meant to focus on Northeast Ohio’s natural beauty, reflective of the hues of Cleveland’s sunsets and fall foliage. The Cavaliers and Cleveland Cliffs, whose name is adorned in a logo on the jersey, partnered with a $10,000 donation to the Metroparks’ Trails Fund. The Metroparks Leaf Man logo will be imprinted within the three-point arc on the themed court at Rocket Arena. Normally, the league is restrictive regarding on-court logos and partnerships in part because of the space allotted for virtual signage, said Chris Kaiser, executive vice president and chief marketing officer of the Cavaliers and Rock Entertainment Group. “They described it to us as making a major exception just because they (Cleveland Metroparks) are such a civic asset to Northeast Ohio,” he said. For the jerseys, “The Land” is displayed on the chest and accented with the Cavs’ “C.” It also has a Nike swoosh logo on the upper right. The player numbers harken back to the Cavs’ 1980-83 block-style numerals. The Cavs’ “C,” outlined in orange frost, is displayed in an Amarillo sunspot circle, the team said. The City Edition uniform and themed court schedule: • 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 17, vs. Milwaukee Bucks • 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, vs. San Antonio Spurs • 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 22, vs. Charlotte Hornets (national broadcast) • 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26, vs. Orlando Magic (national broadcast) • 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, vs. New York Knicks (national broadcast) • 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 24, vs. Orlando Magic (national broadcast) The primary color found on both baselines and as the design progresses to midcourt is Amarillo yellow, which transitions into a soft brown on the sidelines. It’s meant to represent where sun meets land. The same sentiment is displayed within the paint on both sides of the court. A lighter color hardwood is used within the three-point arc with the rest of the court covered in a darker hardwood. “The Land” logo is displayed at halfcourt, aimed at complementing the design on the uniform. “Cleveland” is featured on the left baseline, with “Cavaliers” on the right. The Cavaliers’ LET EM KNOW mantra is found on the west sideline, and “City Edition” is written in the center of both baselines. Kaiser described the players’ reception as “super enthusiastic.” “They love ’em,” he told cleveland.com. “I know specifically Evan (Mobley) lives near a Metropark, and he wanted to be involved in the shoot, he thought it was so cool.”
