The Minnesota Timberwolves revived their Prince‑inspired City Edition uniforms for the first time this season during Saturday’s home game on November 15 against the Denver Nuggets. The update included a coordinated on‑court design and arena presentation that paid homage to the Minneapolis legend.

For the first time, the purple jerseys were paired with a Purple Rain‑themed decal at center court inside Target Center, expanding the tribute beyond apparel to the playing surface itself.

The Prince‑themed uniform first debuted in the 2018–19 season as part of a collaboration between the team, the Prince Estate and Nike. That partnership returned for the 2025–26 season, with the updated kit featuring a paisley motif across the right shoulder — a clear nod to the jacket from Purple Rain — and “MPLS” lettering on the shorts as a tribute to Prince’s deep ties to the Twin Cities.

Inside Target Center, the tribute extended into the game‑night experience: the arena played “When Doves Cry” before tip‑off, stage lighting shifted to purple hues and additional visual elements were deployed throughout the venue. The team also introduced a Purple Rain‑inspired motif on the court, marking the first time the theme was rolled into the venue’s production.

The organization previously stated the Prince uniforms would be worn seven times this season; the Nov. 15 meeting with Denver was their inaugural presentation. The Timberwolves indicated more themed nights are planned, including a December home date against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Across his career, Prince landed five No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 — among them “When Doves Cry,” “Kiss,” “Let’s Go Crazy” and “Cream.” His seminal 1984 album Purple Rain spent 24 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, 19 of his albums have reached the chart’s top 10, and following his death in 2016 he became the first artist to occupy the entire top 10 of the Billboard Digital Songs chart.

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