Like many other NBA fans, Houston Rocket fans have been patiently awaiting this season’s update to the City Edition jerseys that Nike makes for each NBA team. The wait is over as pictures of the “Auspicious Clouds” edition of the Rockets jerseys just leaked.
With ornate cloud patterns on the front and back of the jersey, Chinese lettering for the Houston Rockets logo, and an Asian-influenced Rocket detail on the side of the shorts, it is clear that Houston and Nike are embracing the Chinese fans that the franchise has had ever since they drafted Yao Ming in 2002.
Although some fans on Twitter were upset that Nike chose to emphasize Houston’s rich multiethnic tradition over other cultural staples of Rockets fandom (Clutch City, NASA and Houston hip-hop/drank being a few themes that Houstonians have requested), the painstaking detail on these jerseys ensure that they will be a hot collector’s item.