Will the Bulls don uniforms inspired by the Chicago flag again?
Since the NBA and Nike introduced "City Edition" jerseys in 2017, the Chicago Bulls have consistently had some of the nicest uniform sets in the league. The combination of Chicago flag-inspired jerseys and uniforms based on the Windy City's characteristics has made for several aesthetically pleasing outfits over the years.
For the 10th season of the NBA and Nike's City Edition partnership, the league is rumored to be bringing back fan-favorite uniforms from the past nine years. Although it hasn't been confirmed yet, NBA Uniform Tracker on X (formerly Twitter) has reported that the Bulls are set to bring back their City Edition jerseys from the 2017-18 season in 2026-27.
The Bulls' inaugural City Edition jerseys were inspired by the Chicago flag, featuring a white, red and sky blue colorway. "Chicago" was spelled out in red script across the chest, outlined in blue, with a similar-font jersey number located in the lower-right corner. The piping on the players' necks and shoulders alternated among each of the uniform's three main colors.
Four six-pointed stars also lined the players' right sides, mirroring the same design across the Chicago flag. On the city flag, the stars represent significant milestones in Chicago's history: the Great Chicago Fire, the World's Columbian Exposition, the Century of Progress Exposition and Fort Dearborn. Chicago has had the same flag since 1939.
Mar 23, 2018; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Lauri Markkanen (24) defends Milwaukee Bucks forward Jabari Parker (12) during the second half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports Several of the Bulls' City Edition uniforms in the following years utilized a similar template and inspiration to the team's original set. In 2018-19, the Bulls adopted black uniforms with the Chicago flag across the chest. Their 2019-20 uniforms were entirely light blue with a giant Bulls logo on the front, and the franchise pivoted toward different designs after that.
Last season, the Bulls returned to a flag-inspired uniform with a version of their original jerseys in an alternate colorway. Chicago went with a black base instead of white and flipped the script and number colors from red to light blue.
Feb 22, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (14) drives to the basket against New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges (25) during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images If the rumors of Chicago's 2017-18 City Edition jersey returning are true, it'll mark two distinct eras of Bulls basketball wearing the same uniforms. The longest-tenured player on the Bulls' current roster is Patrick Williams, who entered the league in 2020. Behind him are Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey, who both arrived in Chicago in 2024.
Zach LaVine made his Bulls debut in 2017, along with Lauri Markkanen as a rookie. However, the team was led in scoring by Nikola Mirotic, who averaged 16.8 points in 25 appearances. The Fred Hoiberg-coached squad went 27-55 and finished 13th in the Eastern Conference.
At least they lost in style.
