By Cameron Lee
November 11, 2025
Photo: Sancho Smalls
The Hornets’ latest City Edition uniform pays homage to Queen Charlotte and connects the earliest roots of the city to a flower — the Bird of Paradise — tying that history to Carolina’s deep connection and passion for basketball.
The uniforms, which leaked early this year without context, turn out to be one of the team’s most intricate designs and storytelling motifs since 2020’s “Minted” concept that celebrated Charlotte’s history as home of the first U.S. Branch Mint and the Carolina Gold Rush of the early 1800s.
This design is far bolder, with bright orange, yellow, and blue hues that reflect the colors of the Bird of Paradise flower, also known as Strelitzia reginae — named in honor of Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, with reginae meaning “of the queen” in Latin and Strelitzia representing her family name. Queen Charlotte shared a deep passion for botany and helped expand Kew Gardens, supporting prominent botanists such as Sir Joseph Banks, who named the flower after her.
The uniform design connects the flower with Carolina’s passion for basketball. Officially named “Hoopers Paradise,” it threads together the state’s rich hoops history — from the ABA to NBA, from Tobacco Road to the WNBA, and from west to east — where some of the game’s greats, like Steph Curry and Michael Jordan, grew up and honed their skills.
“This particular uniform gave us an opportunity to tell a story that we believe connects with our fans across the Carolinas. And really, in some ways represents a passion that they have for the game of basketball,” said Seth Bennett, Chief Marketing Officer for the Hornets. “This is really an exciting opportunity to tell that story and have it show up in a bold way, unlike anything we’ve ever done before.”
The uniform “remixes” elements of the 2021-22 City Edition design, borrowing several nods to the past: an original Hornets logo on one leg and a script “Hornets” wordmark on the other; a waistband with the “H” logo that appeared on the original 1988 uniforms; and “EST. 1988” in the classic Hornets font above the jocktag. The “Charlotte” wordmark across the chest recalls the pennant-style backdrop used when the original uniforms were first unveiled.
𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐄
an ode to queen charlotte’s favorite flower – the bird of paradise 🌅🎶 music by @JColeNC
🎞️ WSSU Archives
🤝 presented by Judi Health
🔗 https://t.co/OaLAeUl8xd pic.twitter.com/sDVnSLbvus— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) November 11, 2025
Coach Mike Krzyzewski narrates the release video, saying, “What we wear isn’t just sewn fabric. It’s a reflection of who we are. From the rich soil of the Lowcountry to Tobacco Road, palmetto to the Tar Heel State — for those who live and breathe this game, it’s paradise reborn.”
The Hornets will only wear the new City Edition Remix uniforms for 12 home games this season, beginning Saturday, November 15, against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Additional games will include:
- Saturday, November 29 vs. Toronto
- Thursday, December 18 vs. Atlanta
- Wednesday, December 31 vs. Golden State
- Saturday, January 24 vs. Washington
- Saturday, January 31 vs. San Antonio
- Thursday, February 19 vs. Houston
- Friday, February 20 vs. Cleveland
- Friday, March 6 vs. Miami
- Saturday, March 21 vs. Memphis
- Thursday, March 26 vs. New York
- Friday, April 10 vs. Detroit
The games will also debut a new “Hoopers Paradise” court featuring the classic Hornets logo at center court and “Charlotte” on the sideline, mirroring the jersey’s wordmark. The color palette may feel reminiscent of the Bobcats era, but it is not intended as a direct callback. For the first time, the court will feature a map of North and South Carolina connected by a basketball. The themed games will include a new player introduction video, in-arena programming, and giveaways on select dates.
new hardwood 🏀
Presented by Judi Health pic.twitter.com/uA8AtcaLSp
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) November 11, 2025
As for the leaks, Bennett told us it remains a league-wide issue driven by social media and technology. “We’ve always stuck to the belief that even if there is a leak, that we will wait and tell our full story when it’s complete… It’s never a design contest, it’s a storytelling mechanism for us, so that’s kind of the approach we’ve taken.”
The City Edition jerseys and accompanying merchandise will be available at HornetsFanShop.com today, and at the Hornets Fan Shop at Spectrum Center beginning Wednesday, November 12. The shop is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and during home games.
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