The Five Best Warriors Jerseys of All Time

There have been a myriad of iconic jerseys throughout NBA history. Just about every franchise has one that’s symbolic of an era in basketball where the league ran through their home court. The Golden State Warriors, obviously, are no exception.

Using their alternative jerseys to pay homage to the Bay Area hoop culture, from their roots in Oakland to the community around them, the Dubs jerseys have also symbolized iconic eras in team history: Their dynastic three-championship run in the late 2010s, the underdog win as an 8th seed over the Mavericks in the mid-2000s, and so many more.

While it’s impossible to set an objective list on what the best jerseys of all time for the Warriors are, we’ll try to rank them on a combination of how they look and what they symbolize, although mostly the ladder. There will likely be some misses in here, but no two people’s list would likely look the same anyway.

#5: The Beginning of Run TMC (1984-1989)
While Run TMC didn’t win a championship, they symbolize an era of basketball that served as a prototype for the run-and-gun Warriors - and even the league - that we see now. Coach Don Nelson, running his uptempo offense through the league’s second-highest scoring trio at the time in Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond, and Chris Mullin, was only short of the Denver Nuggets for the highest-scoring team in the league. The Run TMC era upset David Robinson and the Spurs in their only playoff appearance.

(Photo credit: John Green / Mercury News)

#4: The Wilt Chamberlain Era (1962-1964)
The legend of Wilt Chamberlain is one of craziest in NBA history. A giant for his time and possibly one of the most athletic humans in recorded history, Wilt dominated the center position for years. His two stints with the Warriors were no different, as he averaged an insane 44 points per game and 26 rebounds per game. While Wilt didn’t win a championship in Golden State, his seasons in the Bay were still all-time.

(Photo credit: Dick Raphael / Getty Images)

#3: The Second Championship (1971-1975)
When the Warriors moved to San Francisco in 1962, their biggest attraction was the superhuman Wilt Chamberlain. It wasn’t until 1975 that they secured their first championship for the Bay, led by one of the greatest to ever do it in Rick Barry. Barry returned after a 4-year hiatus in 1972, eventually leading the team to the championship three seasons later. Barry would retire as one of the best players in Warriors history, also sporting a pretty unique underhanded free throw as well.

(Photo credit: National Basketball Association)

#2: The Dynasty (2010-Present)
The most modernly-familiar jersey in the franchise’s storied history, these jerseys represent one thing above all: Winning. Three championships and five Finals trips in five season, the franchise’s all-time assist and points leader Stephen Curry won 2 (with possibly a 3rd on the way) MVPs, one unanimous, in these threads. The Warriors also drafted all-stars Draymond Green and Klay Thompson to complete the dynastic triad, eventually signing one of the all-time greats in Kevin Durant en-route to their second two championships. While the modern NBA is lined with alternative jerseys for every team, Warriors fans from the 2015 and 2016 seasons know these ones hold a special place in their hearts.

#1: We Believe (2002-2010)
While the 2007 We Believe team didn’t end up winning the championship, they represent two things: An iconic rallying of Oakland together as Baron Davis, Jason Richardson, Monta Ellis and Andris Biedrens led the Warriors to an iconic playoff upset over Dirk and the 1-seed Mavericks. Although the team went no further, many modern Warriors fans point to We Believe as the team of their coming-of-age. From current Warriors commentator Kelenna Azubuike to NBA mainstay Matt Barnes, Don Nelson and this squad have forever left their imprint on the Bay Area. Not to mention, these jerseys are so cool that the Warriors of today had to remix them as an alternate.

(Photo credit: Rocky Widner / Getty Images)

(Cover photo credit: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)