The Lakers already own one of the most recognizable looks in sports. Now their purple-and-gold uniform set has earned the top spot in Sports Illustrated’s ranking of all 30 NBA teams for the 2026-27 season.
Sports Illustrated ranked the Lakers No. 1, placing them ahead of the Chicago Bulls at No. 2 and the Boston Celtics at No. 3. The Clippers landed at No. 23.
Lakers gold still sets the standard
The ranking centered on the Lakers’ primary gold uniform, a look that has become inseparable from the franchise’s history. Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Luka Dončić have all worn versions of it, giving the jersey a visual connection across multiple generations of Lakers basketball.
Sports Illustrated writer Blake Silverman called the Lakers’ purple and gold “truly iconic” and wrote that the franchise could continue wearing its main gold uniform indefinitely without needing a major change.
That is the advantage of a uniform with this much history. The Lakers do not need to chase every design trend or reinvent their identity every few seasons. The gold jersey, purple lettering and familiar side panels immediately identify the team before a viewer even sees the word across the chest.
Not every Lakers uniform received praise
The No. 1 ranking did come with a few criticisms. Silverman suggested the purple alternate should move closer to the style worn during the Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal championship era. He was also less enthusiastic about the black City Edition uniform and its lettering.
Those complaints will sound familiar to Lakers fans who prefer the franchise’s traditional identity. Alternate uniforms can be useful, but the strongest Lakers designs usually work because they preserve the core elements that made the originals famous.
A uniform built by Lakers history
The Bulls and Celtics joining the Lakers in the top three reinforced the larger theme of the ranking. Championship history matters. Certain uniforms become classics because fans associate them with the biggest players, moments and eras in league history.
Few franchises can match the number of unforgettable images attached to the Lakers’ colors. From the Showtime era to Bryant’s five championships and the current Dončić-led group, the uniform has remained a constant even as the stars and playing styles changed. That continuity is part of what makes the Lakers’ place atop the ranking feel earned.
The complete story behind those eras can be found in LakersBeat’s history of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Uniform rankings are subjective, of course. But putting the Lakers at No. 1 is not a difficult case to make. The purple and gold does more than look good. It represents generations of stars, championships and a basketball identity that remains unmistakable.