F or the 2025–26 season, the NBA debuted distinctive jersey patches honoring the award winners of the previous season. Each jersey features a special patch above the Nike swoosh on the front of the jersey, representing the players individual award. The design marks the first time in league history that on-court recognition for season awards has been embedded directly into game jerseys.
Worn once during each player’s season debut, these jerseys will then be offered exclusively through Sotheby’s, The Official Game Worn Source of the NBA.
Of the 43 awards, a total of thirty-five players wore the patches, reflecting the previous season’s major award winners as well as the members of the KIA All-NBA, KIA NBA All-Rookie, and KIA NBA All-Defensive Teams. If a player won multiple awards, the individual honor was worn over the All-NBA, Rookie or Defensive team award. Each patch was created for use in the player’s first game of the season, establishing a new and highly visible moment of recognition on the court.
Among the honorees were Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who wore the five-sided emblem inspired by the Michael Jordan Trophy for KIA NBA Most Valuable Player; Evan Mobley, whose design reflected the Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy for KIA NBA Defensive Player of the Year; and Stephon Castle, the KIA NBA Rookie of the Year, whose patch drew from the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy.
Additional individual award recipients include Jalen Brunson (KIA NBA Clutch Player of the Year), Stephen Curry (Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year), Payton Pritchard (KIA NBA Sixth Man of the Year), Dyson Daniels (KIA NBA Most Improved Player of the Year), and Jrue Holiday (Sportsmanship Award).
Each design draws on the iconography of the award trophy it represents, part of the visual system introduced by the NBA in 2022. The initiative is the most extensive uniform-based recognition project the league has undertaken.
As Christopher Arena, Head of On-Court and Brand Partnerships for the NBA, told ESPN, “We wanted to shine a little bit of a light on what those trophies are, what they look like, and give those players a little moment. Now, do I think at the first game of the year they're all gonna get out there and get a standing ovation? Maybe not. But they're gonna walk in that day, they're gonna see that trophy patch on their jersey and they're gonna remember that that's what they did, and maybe it's motivation for that one night.”
“We love our trophies. We love the tradition we've built. We love the consistency. The icons that we want them to become. And so we're hoping by giving them some front-facing exposure here, that people will start to connect the dots and they'll be as revered as any other trophy in sports.”
Arena explained that the goal was to create a visible moment of recognition for players who might otherwise receive their awards away from the spotlight, saying to ESPN, “We love our trophies. We love the tradition we've built. We love the consistency. The icons that we want them to become. And so we're hoping by giving them some front-facing exposure here, that people will start to connect the dots and they'll be as revered as any other trophy in sports.”
The sale offers collectors an unprecedented opportunity to acquire one-of-one pieces tied directly to moments of achievement and to the introduction of an entirely new recognition format within the NBA. Following the game, each jersey is authenticated and prepared for auction through Sotheby’s.
In one of the most exciting Tip-Offs in recent memory, players donning the patches delivered several performances showing off their award-winning talents. To name a few: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the defending champion Thunder to a thrilling double-overtime win over the Houston Rockets, spoiling Kevin Durant’s Rockets debut. Giannis Antetokounmpo dominated, tallying a game-high 37 points and grabbing 14 rebounds while leading the Bucks to an opening-night victory. Nikola Jokić was back to his old ways, recording a triple-double. Anthony Edwards dropped 41 points on the Portland Trail Blazers, setting a franchise record for points in an opening-night game. Chicago Bulls rising star Matas Buzelis poured in 21 points, helping the Bulls defeat the Detroit Pistons, 115–111.
Bid now on game worn Trophy Patch jerseys and more. The exclusive online auction is open for bidding from December 2 - 15, 2025, at Sotheby’s.
