Playboi Carti has never been one to follow fashion rules. Instead, he flips them (literally). Last year, the Atlanta rapper made it a habit to wear NBA jerseys backwards, reviving a ’90s hip-hop trend for a new generation. Now, Carti’s love of throwback basketball style is culminating in a collaboration with the iconic Mitchell & Ness. Launched today, the limited-edition drop is the perfect linkup to showcases Carti’s style influence.
Back in August 2024, he lit up Instagram with photos of himself in a 1996 Allen Iverson Sixers jersey worn backwards. He upped the ante by rocking a white Penny Hardaway Magic jersey and even a custom “00” Atlanta Hawks jersey in the following weeks. Who could forget when he performed “Timeless” in Brazil alongside The Weeknd wearing a backwards Vince Carter Raptors jersey?
ComplexCon 2024 was where Carti’s latest fashion influence came to life. Diehard Opium fans ditched their usual all-black uniforms for reversed NBA jerseys. A year later, at Carti’s Detroit show this Halloween, concertgoers showed up in costumes. Of course, backwards jerseys were sprinkled throughout the sea of fans.
“I love everybody's costumes, Supreme T-shirts, backward jerseys, the clown face... I ain’t gon’ lie, I love you, I appreciate you,” Carti told the crowd. The moment captured how backwards jerseys have become a signature part of the Opium uniform.
All of that energy has now been channeled into an official collaboration between Playboi Carti, the NBA, and Mitchell & Ness.
The collection is a limited run of throwback jerseys from seven NBA teams: the Los Angeles Lakers, Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, New Jersey Nets, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, and Toronto Raptors. Arguably the best of the bunch, the Raptors will even be available in two colors, purple and white. Each jersey is stamped with Carti’s signature number “00,” a nod to his Opium collective, and “YVL,” short for Young Vamp Life.
Carti’s style knows no bounds. One day, he’s pairing throwback jerseys with extra-baggy jeans and classic Timberland boots to channel the hip-hop uniform of the 2000s. The next, he’s dressed in the all black, rap-meets-punk style that has become the calling card of the Opium hive. His ability to tap into nostalgia and various subcultures in an authentic way has made him an icon in both music and fashion.
The Playboi Carti x Mitchell & Ness NBA League Collection is now available exclusively on Fanatics.com, the Complex App, Complex.com, and MitchellandNess.com.