Basketball's latest fashion trends

[Patty O'Furniture]

I might know the answer to this if I ever watched it, but why have the uniforms worn by basketball players changed so much in ten years (which is about how long it's been since I saw the game until recently)?

I remember the style used to be short-shorts that were fairly form-fitting, athletic style jerseys that looked like the A-shirts that many men wear under their dress shirts nowadays.

This style seems most reasonable- you need to be unencumbered by baggy clothing in most any kind of sport. As an avid bicyclist, I understand this all too well. If I were to try biking in any kind of marathon event with loose fitting clothes, I would probably end up sweat soaked & overheated (for the benefit of those of you who aren't aware, the form-fitting outfits & materials favored by cyclists helps keep you dry & cool by wicking moisture away from your skin).

Other sports styles haven't changed (that I've noticed): football players still wear form-fitting spandex, tennis players still wear white shorts & skirts, anglers still wear hip boots & golfers still wear ugly pants. Why are basketball players wearing shorts that are so long & baggy, and what looks like jerseys on top of shirts over top of something else? I also notice that sweatbands on the forehead & wrists aren't worn any more- I guess they've learned how to stop sweatting?

Any ideas? Are basketball players just more fashionable? Do they sometimes go to sports clothes fashion shows, wherein supermodels parade up & down the runway showing off next year's fashion trends?

[TheUnforgiven]

That's all it is, fashions. There can't be any other reasons to become less aerodynamic by wearing baggier shirts and shorts. I also think it has to do with the market of selling NBA jersies and other sports paraphenelia. They have become more and more popular among fans and it is (I think) a large source of revenue. If the league wants to sell shirts, they're going to have to keep up with current fashions. I know I wouldn't buy one of those skin tight shirts nowadays.

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"The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents."
-H.P. Lovecraft, "The Call of Cthulhu"

[Satan]

Michael Jordan is credited for helping spread the baggy shorts look.

When I look back at the tight little panties that basketballers wore in the past, I can't help but giggle.

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Yer pal,
Satan

[Zor]

It could be as much for fashion as it is for comfort. Being an amatuer basketball player, I can confirm that short-shorts and tight jerseys can be a real pain when they stick to your skin as you sweat all over the place, not to mention the bad ones can easily rub your skin off too...

[Mullinator]

Around 8th grade (1988 for me) is when the true uniform changes started happening. Before that I was too young to have much of a clue what I was wearing. We started wearing baggier shorts because of Jordan, and eventually to a lesser extent because of teams like the Fab 5 at Michigan.

I believe it is much more comfortable. But, i also didn't wear shorts that looked like pants. Mine were baggy but still normal looking.

As for caring about aerodynamics, that isn't exactly the greatest concern on the court. Last time I checked the game started with a tip-off, not a time trial.

Baggy jerseys do help in playing post defense though.

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Actually the uniforms worn by basketball players have changed and evolved over the years. I will admit they seem to do so along the lines of public's taste in fashion, depite and quite frankly in spite of the comfort level involved in playing in the unis. As everything in fashion tends to come around again, perhaps by 2010 the small shorts and skin tight unis will be back. Ugh. Oh and by the way - NBA stinks. Who cares ?

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"Solos Dios basta" . . . but a little pizza won't hurt.

[Mojo]

I can personally attest from high school that the tight John-Stockton style shorts are not comfortable and give you no advantage other than its harder for the other team to take you seriously.

Actually they have one advantage- its much easier for a ref to tell if someone's holding you by grabbing your shorts.

[Zor]

Oh, I remember that nasty trick. Just pinch your fingers on the end of your opponents shorts, and see if they dare to make a jump shot :)