The NBA and Nike are taking fans on a nostalgic trip this season with a “greatest hits” approach to the City Edition uniform program. For the 2025-26 campaign, teams across the league will revisit some of their most beloved City Edition looks, bringing back fan-favorite designs that helped define the early years of the series. While a few franchises will debut alternate color versions or slight updates, most are opting to “run it back” with their most iconic versions, and in Houston, that means the highly popular “dunkstronaut” set is making its return.
First unveiled during the 2023-24 season, the Rockets’ “dunkstronaut” uniforms quickly became one of the most talked-about City Edition designs in the NBA. The look pays tribute to Houston’s basketball legacy and the city’s deep connection to space exploration. The concept was part of Nike’s “Hometown Heroes” storyline, celebrating each franchise’s relationship with its community.
Across the chest, “H-Town” is displayed in a flowing script font, a nod to the name embraced by Houston players during the 1982-83 season, inspired by local legends Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler. The duo’s high-flying days as members of the University of Houston’s Phi Slama Jama cemented Houston as a basketball city, and this uniform celebrates that legacy with style.
The jersey blends retro and modern design cues, featuring a clean, contemporary layout paired with bold, collegiate-style names and numbers. But the true standout detail and what made this look so iconic is the dunking astronaut logo running down the side of the shorts. Known affectionately as the “dunkstronaut,” the emblem perfectly captures the city’s “Space City” identity while honoring the explosive, above-the-rim energy of Phi Slama Jama.
Adding to the tribute, the shorts also include silicon print signatures from Olajuwon and Drexler, subtly placed near the bottom corner tag. The attention to detail even extended to the court design when the Rockets wore the “dunkstronaut” set, Toyota Center featured a matching court with the logo displayed prominently at midcourt, tying the entire theme together.
With the “dunkstronaut” look returning for 2025-26, Rockets fans can once again relive the perfect blend of basketball history and Houston pride. A uniform that celebrates the city’s heroes, its culture, and its cosmic connection, this one truly soars above the rest.
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