In order for the NBA to kick off its playoff series this year, the players traveled to Disney World Orlando to live in what has been deemed the ‘NBA bubble’. That basically means a month or two of less-than-appetizing food, no physical contact with those not involved in the playoffs, and a whole lot of competitiveness. But, with players not arriving off coaches and planes this year, we thought we’d be starved of the daily fits exhibited by the league’s stars. We thought wrong.
Despite all living in close quarters, the players have turned up the heat when it comes to arrival outfits this season. We’ve of course seen the usual suspects go hard, but new names like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jayson Tatum have been a pleasant surprise, showing that NBA style is going to be in the spotlight for the foreseeable.
This week we’ve seen more than a few '90s-style vintage tees on show, and we’re loving it. Dwayne Wade threw things back in time with an homage to Dennis Rodman while other players, such as Chris Paul — wearing a Florida A&M Rattlers top, a historically black college — have used the vintage-style graphics to convey a strong message. Jaylen Brown was spotted wearing a tee emblazoned with the slogan 'No justice, no peace' alongside an image of Malcolm X, and Jayson Tatum used his platform to continue the fight against the killing of George Floyd.
Shop our favorite vintage-style graphic tees below.
Urban Outfitters Poetic Justice Tupac Photo Tie-Dye Tee
Tupac takes center stage on this vintage-style graphic tee. Backed by a subtle grey-and-white tie-dye, this is an easy way to add a strong graphic lead to your fit without overpowering the peripherals.
Urban Outfitters Biggie The What Vintage Tee
We had to even out the ‘Pac selection with some Biggie, we wouldn’t want people to think we were picking sides.
Eazy-E Retro Homage Tee
Rap legend Eazy-E is the subject of this retro homage. A ‘90s-style font in eye-catching color sits above Eazy-E in his iconic black shades and Compton cap.
Ice Cube Good Day Vintage Tee
Referencing one of Ice Cube’s most famous projects — no, not 21 Jump Street — the ‘Good Day’ tee features a cracked graphic and overdyed fabric to give it serious retro credentials.
Ripple Junction Boyz N The Hood Tee
Arguably another of Ice Cube’s best-loved projects, Boyz n the Hood has remained a fan favorite and it’s now a staggering 30 years old. It doesn’t actually get much more ‘90s than this printed graphic.
Motley Crue Japan Tour Tee
From hip-hop to heavy metal, this Motley Crue Japan Tour Tee shows just how good retro band merch is. There’s a seemingly unending collection of amazing band graphics out there, and this Motley Crue piece features Japanese text alongside the band’s logo to stand out from an outstanding collection.
Metallica Justice For All Tee
Some bands get their logo so spot-on that it becomes part of modern culture in its own right. The Metallica text logo is up there with The Rolling Stones lips logo as one of the most recognizable stamps ever designed. This Metallica tee features rough hems and a faded texture to round out the vintage aesthetic.
MTV Leopard Print Logo Tee
Apparently MTV still exists, but there was a time when it was seemingly all that existed. Another of history’s most-loved logos, this leopard-print ‘M’ is just the right amount of extra.
Urban Outfitters Mickey Mouse Classic Tee
Keep things simple in this white Mickey tee. While some of the other graphics in this selection are impossible to miss, this Mickey tee is pared-back and easy to style.
Looney Tunes Marvin The Martian Tee
On the heels of a high-profile collaboration with Kith NYC, and with Space Jam 2 on the way, Looney Tunes has reentered popular culture in a decisive way lately. This faded graphic tee is a great way to show your allegiance to the roots.
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