New list proves how badly the Rockets need a uniform change

The Houston Rockets have been wearing the same jersey for too long. A new list by an NBA insider proves it.

Fine. The word "prove" is being used liberally here. This is no more than one man's opinion. CBS Sports' Sam Quinn just ranked the Rockets' uniforms 20th in the NBA. Here's the rub:

He was being generous.

Aesthetic is inherently subjective. Perhaps you disagree. You may love the Rockets' uniform. That's perfectly fine:

But it's still time for a change.

Rockets need to overhaul their look

When you look at the Rockets' current jersey, who's the first player that pops into your mind? Does he happen to have a beard? Is he giving you the universal signal for "I am cooking"?

That's the problem. These are the James Harden era jerseys. This is not the James Harden era.

It made sense for the Rockets to avoid a rebrand while they were tanking. Changing their look while they were intentionally losing games would send mixed signals. The post-Harden era was about weathering the storm until it was time to compete.

It's time to compete. The Rockets aren't tanking anymore. This is the Kevin Durant era. The Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson era. We're in the Ime Udoka era:

It's time for some new duds.

Some will argue for the preservation of tradition. It's too late for that. The last time I checked, the Rockets don't don the ketchup-and-mustard. This is a franchise that changes its look periodically, so it needs to usher in a new era.

What could it look like?

Rockets could consider multiple new looks

The 2023-24 City Edition jerseys were wildly popular. The Dunkstronaut is a ready-made mascot. The Rockets could switch to that look permanently, and nobody would bat an eye.

Alternatively, they could hark back to the ketchup-and-mustard. Even if they incorporated that color scheme into the current design, it would satisfy a lot of fans. A fusion of tradition and modernity could be the way forward.

They could also take an entirely different direction. The Rockets could design something that doesn't reference anything they've done in the past. It could be argued that a new era deserves a new look.

In any event, something has to give. The Rockets have been wearing these uniforms for too long. It may not be a serious issue, but it matters to some of us.

We'd like to see them sport a top-5 jersey in the NBA.