Detroit – The Pistons’ historic teal jerseys are officially back.
The franchise announced Monday night at a launch party at the Renaissance Center that the teal uniform design, worn from 1996-2001, will serve as the team’s Classic Edition uniform for the 2022 season- 23.
Monday’s launch party featured an appearance by Pistons great Jerry Stackhouse, who donned Detroit’s popular retro jersey with his iconic horse logo in the middle of the design.
“Just happy to be back here,” Stackhouse said. “Happy to bring Teal back. It’s an exciting time for me and I think it was for the fans. I think they wanted her back, and now she’s here.”
The Pistons’ bold teal jerseys debuted in the 1996-97 season, when Grant Hill was in his third year with Detroit and Joe Dumars entered the final years of his Hall of Fame career.
The uniform was a complete overhaul of the team’s traditional red, white, and blue colors. The main design features a black, burning horse’s head and “Pistons” script that mimics a car exhaust pipe system.
The Pistons will wear the uniforms in approximately 10 games during the 2022-23 season. According to Pistons business manager Mike Zavodsky, the franchise will make a decision on the jersey schedule once the official game schedule is released.
“We’re going to wear it a lot because it’s the only year we’re going to wear it.” said Zavodsky. “As someone who grew up when this shirt was popular, I know the nostalgia it had and now I think it’s the perfect time to bring it back with this team that we’re going to put on the pitch. this year. The 90s are very trendy right now.”
Detroit hinted at a possible return to its retro look earlier this month when Summer League coach Jordan Brink and his coaching staff wore teal and maroon polo shirts during the Pistons’ stint in Las Vegas.
For the past few years, fans have been demanding a resurgence of the teal look. Some even rank them among the best uniforms in the franchise.
“Strangely, back in the days of the teals, I was a kid and I didn’t like them at all,” said longtime Pistons fan Jesse Bernstein. “Now I’m super excited for them to come back. Maybe (it’s) just nostalgia. I think they’ll look great on TV in 2022. Maybe I would have liked them more back then in 4K. I especially liked these polo shirts the staff wore in Vegas and will be jumping on them if they become available.”
Former Pistons forward Jerami Grant, who was traded to Portland in the summer, wore a gold and teal Hill jersey for a game in 2021. Former Pistons center Andre Drummond was a key defender in the classic jersey after wearing a vintage teal jacket in 2019. .
“When I came here from Philadelphia playing with Grant Hill, Joe Dumars, Lindsey Hunter … we had really good teams and I lost 57 (points),” Stackhouse said.
“It was a special time for me, a special time for this city. We felt like we were the bridge between the Bad Boy’s and the next era of great Detroit basketball teams. We helped bridge Obviously we weren’t able to win a championship during that period, but we felt like we had laid a good foundation and elements to help start the championship team.”
The Pistons compiled three winning seasons in the five years of the “teal era,” but some fans associate the uniforms with the team’s limited playoff success. Others say the franchise should embrace these teams.
“I think they’re an interesting alternative and it’s an era that had good teams that the organization doesn’t necessarily need to hide in the closet,” said Pistons fan Alex Berant.
Detroit’s City Edition red uniforms last season featured a hint of teal on the outside of the blue lightning bolts that lined the sides of the jersey and shorts. The vintage horse logo was also displayed on the front of the team’s shorts.
The NBA requires throwback uniforms to be used only as part of the Hardwood Classics program, which means they must drop on a franchise anniversary, which can be used every five years. The 2022-23 season marks the 80th anniversary of the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons’ debut in the National Basketball League in 1941 and the 65th anniversary of the Pistons in Detroit.
Considering the Pistons had to apply to use their new Hardwood Classic uniform, it’s safe to say that this new one has been in the works for quite some time now. The teal jersey gives Detroit five uniform options for 2022-23: Association (white), Icon (royal blue), Statement (grey) and City (red).
“I’m a big fan of alternate shirts, in general,” Bernstein said. “I think the teal will look cool on the young kids on this team. Plus, I think they’ll sell well and I’m a fan of anything that brings attention back to the Pistons.”
Twitter: @MikeACurtis2
