The Cleveland Cavaliers are turning back the clock while looking toward the future. To celebrate their 55th season, the franchise unveiled its blue Classic Edition Nike uniforms, a striking revival of the look that defined Cleveland’s first LeBron James era and one of the most memorable chapters in Cavs history.
The deep navy blue, wine, and gold combination returns as a direct homage to the jerseys worn from 2003 to 2010 by players such as Daniel “Booby” Gibson, Žydrūnas Ilgauskas, and Anderson Varejão. Designed in collaboration with Nike, the Classic Edition will serve as the team’s one-year alternate and join the existing Icon, Association, Statement, and City Edition sets for Cleveland’s 2025-26 season.
The Cavs say the uniforms celebrate the team’s “rich heritage and iconic visual identity,” marking a full-circle tribute to an era that brought Cleveland its first NBA Finals appearance in 2007. The look connects two generations of fans and players by blending the nostalgic energy of that golden age with the promise of a new one led by Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen.
The Cavs are honoring a defining era with this new look
Photo credit: Cleveland Cavaliers
The front of the jersey features “CLEVELAND” in white lettering outlined in gold, complemented by the Nike swoosh and the Cleveland-Cliffs sponsor patch. The shorts display the classic Cavs “C” logo with a sword piercing through, and both pieces carry the signature wine and gold striped trim inspired by the “Miracle of Richfield” uniforms from the 1970s.
To complete the throwback, the Cavaliers designed a matching Classic Edition home court at Rocket Arena, featuring the team’s mid-2000s logo at center court. The baselines read “Cleveland” and “Cavaliers,” while the organization’s “Let Em Know” mantra stretches along the sideline.
Photo credit: Cleveland Cavaliers
Fans will get to see the uniforms in action during 12 games throughout the season, including matchups against the Lakers, Warriors, Celtics, and a Christmas Day showdown at Madison Square Garden against the New York Knicks. The team will also honor the 2006-07 Cavaliers with themed nights and appearances by Legends program members, including Gibson and Varejão.
The Cavaliers describe the campaign as a “tribute to the legends and triumphs that built the franchise,” but the move also signals a belief in the present roster’s potential to build its own era of greatness. With a deeper bench, healthy stars, and a renewed focus under head coach Kenny Atkinson, Cleveland enters the season with legitimate aspirations to return to the NBA’s biggest stage.
The return of the navy, wine, and gold threads is more than just a nostalgic gesture. It symbolizes how far the Cavaliers have come and where they hope to go. What once represented the beginning of a championship dream now embodies a new mission to finish the job.
