Speaking of team uniforms, let’s talk about basketball uniforms. From the 1930s to the 1980s, the pants on professional team uniforms were cut at mid-thigh. Then for some reason they got long, knee-length, and very baggy. They still look to me like they stepped out of a photo from 1915.
Was this longer pants change a mandate from the NBA?
No mandate. Just style.
[QUOTE=Walloon]
Speaking of team uniforms, let’s talk about basketball uniforms. From the 1930s to the 1980s, the pants on professional team uniforms were cut at mid-thigh.
[QUOTE]
Mid-thigh, my ass. 
Jordan’s NCAA winner
The “long shorts” era really started with the “Fab Five” at Michigan in the early 90s.
And saying the old ones hit at mid-thigh is rather generous; they were more like hotpants.
The NCAA allows longer shorts than the NBA also.
I thought it had more to do with Jordan, who wore his UNC shorts under his Bulls uniform.
Yeah, thought so
from the link
How would that make the shorts longer?
They were called “Marilyn Monroes”.
Assuming you’re asking me – to cover up the “under shorts” whcih, if veiwable, would be a violation of the NBA’s “uniformity of uniforms” rule. But the link says it had more to do with comfort.
Recent thread in IMHO on the same topic.
For the ladies: A line of NBA jersey style dresses, sometimes worn as prom gowns.