Timberwolves Bring Back Prince-Inspired Jerseys With New Purple Court
The Minnesota Timberwolves celebrated the legacy of Minneapolis music icon Prince by reintroducing their City Edition uniforms inspired by the artist during their home game against the Denver Nuggets on November 15. This season marks the first time the Timberwolves have paired these striking purple jerseys with a matching court design, featuring a Purple Rain-inspired decal at center court, enhancing the tribute to the late legend. The jerseys, which originally debuted in the 2018–19 NBA season through a collaboration with the Prince Estate and Nike, have returned for the 2025–26 campaign with updated features. The new design includes a paisley pattern on the right shoulder, reminiscent of Prince’s famous Purple Rain jacket, while the shorts showcase “MPLS” lettering, reflecting the artist’s deep connection to Minneapolis and its vibrant music scene.
The Timberwolves did not stop at uniforms; they created an immersive Prince-themed experience for fans attending the game. As attendees entered the Target Center, they were greeted by the sounds of “When Doves Cry” and a mesmerizing light show that bathed the arena in purple hues. The team took this tribute a step further by incorporating various visual elements throughout the game, ensuring that fans felt the presence of Prince’s spirit in every corner of the arena. This season, the Timberwolves plan to honor Prince with these uniforms during seven games, with the matchup against the Nuggets being the inaugural event. Fans can look forward to more theme nights, including a special event in December against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Prince, who passed away in 2016, left an indelible mark on the music world, with five No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and a staggering 24 weeks at No. 1 for his landmark album *Purple Rain*. His influence continues to resonate, evidenced by the Timberwolves’ heartfelt homage, which not only celebrates his music but also reinforces the strong ties between the artist and the Twin Cities community. As the Timberwolves embrace this cultural legacy, they invite fans to join in commemorating an icon who transformed the landscape of music and left a lasting impact on Minneapolis.
The
Minnesota Timberwolves
brought back their
Prince
-inspired City Edition uniforms for the first time this season during Saturday’s (Nov. 15) home game against the Denver Nuggets, debuting a matching on-court design and arena programming that paid tribute to the Minneapolis icon.
The return of the purple uniforms also marked the first time the team has paired the jerseys with a Purple Rain-inspired decal at center court inside Target Center.
Timberwolves honoring the late legend Prince with their City Edition uniforms and court tonight!
All in the details 👀
Watch on NBA League Pass:
https://t.co/wDXqPzcHiR
pic.twitter.com/U2WXhgqONC
— NBA (@NBA)
November 16, 2025
The Wolves originally introduced the Prince-themed look during the 2018–19 NBA season in collaboration with the Prince Estate and Nike, a partnership that returned for the 2025–26 campaign. The updated uniforms feature a paisley pattern over the right shoulder in reference to Prince’s
Purple Rain
jacket, while the “MPLS” lettering on the shorts nods to the artist’s close ties to the Minneapolis sound and the Twin Cities community.
Inside the arena, fans were greeted with a full Prince-themed presentation. “When Doves Cry” played ahead of tip-off, arena lighting cues shifted to purple, and the Wolves incorporated additional visual tributes throughout the home-game experience. The team also rolled out a Purple Rain-inspired motif on the court, expanding the tribute beyond uniforms and into event production for the first time.
The organization previously announced that the Prince-inspired uniforms would appear seven times during the season, with Saturday’s matchup against Denver marking their first outing. Additional theme nights will follow throughout the regular season, including a December home game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Over his career, Prince earned five No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including “When Doves Cry,” “Kiss,” “Let’s Go Crazy,” and “Cream.” His landmark 1984 album
Purple Rain
spent 24 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, while 19 of his albums have reached the top 10. Following his passing in 2016, Prince became the first artist to simultaneously occupy the entire top 10 of the Billboard Digital Songs chart.
