The Lakers have made a series of prominent moves over the past few weeks, including, most notably, landing Luka Doncic.
Yet, for all the fanfare that erupted following Los Angeles’ epic trade deadline, the decision that made the most impact on the Lakers’ ability to win games very well could have been a jersey swap.
Take a glimpse at any Los Angeles win since the start of February. All had one thing in common — the Lakers weren’t wearing their City Edition jerseys.
Based on recent reports, such results appear somewhat deliberate. Here’s what you need to know about the Lakers’ move to ditch their scorned “Lake Show” kits.
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Why are the Lakers getting rid of their City Edition uniforms?
The Lakers’ decision to dump the “Lake Show” uniforms — as confirmed by the NBA’s LockerVision website —appears at least somewhat linked to the team’s relative futility when sporting the strip.
Los Angeles wore the ensemble — defined most clearly by the purple gradient that sprawled across the surface of both the jersey and the shorts — on 10 separate occasions. It lost nine of those matchups. For comparison, the Lakers are 33-12 in any other kit they’ve worn this season.
Now, it’s worth noting a classic tenet in the world of statistical analysis: correlation doesn’t equal causation. The livery, while arguably offensive on the eye, likely isn’t the only reason to blame for Los Angeles’ toils.
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But it was always going to be hard for the garment to survive a cull, especially after the organization opted against donning it twice — and winning both times.
The Lakers were initially set to rock the lush purple garb on six more occasions. Now, it seems they’ll settle for their yellow Icon Edition or standard purple Statement Edition pieces instead.
Lakers record in City Edition uniforms
| Jersey | Record |
| City Edition jersey | 1-9 |
| Any other jersey | 33-12 |
What are the Lakers’ City Edition uniforms?
Los Angeles’ City Edition kits, better known as the “Lake Show” jerseys, represent a reimagined version of the classic Lakers look we all know and love (or hate). The offering, officially dubbed the “California Destiny” uniforms, was crafted in part to reflect the organization’s praxis: being “a world-class show that wins basketball games on the brightest stage.”
“Ooooooh Lake Show!”
California Destiny | @bibigoUSA pic.twitter.com/zwoMQXfK4M
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) October 8, 2024
The uniforms were drenched in amethyst, although one of their most defining traits was their gradient pattern. The jersey swapped black for purple, while the shorts reversed that trend.
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Even the team’s name got a reworking. Lakers was replaced with a “LakeShow” wordmark etched across the chest — a term that first came to prominence in the 1990s. The jersey’s numerals matched were similarly deliberate, matching the shape of uniform numbers the franchise employed from 1999-2017.
