The Toronto Raptors showed off two new alternate jerseys on Tuesday, and hot damn, they look nice.
The first jersey is a slick Toronto Huskies blue throwback uniform. The new threads are an homage to Toronto’s basketball roots. The Toronto Huskies were part of the Basketball Association of America, debuting in 1946, before folding in 1947. 2016 will mark the 70th anniversary of the Huskies. The Raptors have honored the team before, but this is a more minimalist tone. It’s simple, yet eye-popping.
Raptors new Huskies inspired alternate jerseys pay homage to Toronto's first pro basketball team, 70 years later pic.twitter.com/4uBtjD9nK3
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) August 23, 2016
The Raptors will wear the jerseys in “a handful” of home games in the first half of the season, according to Dave Zarum of Sportsnet.ca.
Dave Freeman, MLSE’s Head of Brand Marketing said the design connects the new with the old in Toronto basketball history.
“We’re always trying to give our fans new and different things,” told Zarum. “But we also want it to come from an authentic place. Plus, it really connects to ‘We the North’. There’s no more cold-weather, wintery dog than the husky, so it still made sense with our overall creative idea.”
The Raptors also unveiled Chinese New Years jerseys, which are a fresh take on a familiar Raptors uniform. Toronto will be one of three team’s to represent Chinese New Years this season. The Raptors will wear the jerseys following Chinese New Year on Jan. 28, 2017.
The designs are great. Personally, I wish the Raptors would become the Huskies instead of keeping a name based off a movie, but wearing the jerseys in a nice consolation. The new duds look dope. I can’t wait to see them on the court.