Magic Johnson and Danny Ainge argue while Larry Bird looks on

In high school in the late 1960s/early 1970s, the only thing I really liked about basketball was the sight of the players in their tiny, little uniforms. Plus, those bouncing balls. Basketball shorts started out short, but got longer and longer. Even now, the logo of the National Basketball Association shows a guy wearing a pair of basketball shorts that are basically a loincloth.

1921

Michael Jordan brought a major alteration to basketball shorts when he asked for a longer and baggier cut. Then a group of freshmen players at the University Of Michigan known as the “Fab Five” became a national sensation in the early 1990s with their sartorial swagger, wearing shorts that dropped below their knees. After that, fans of the short inseam were left to fret: How low will they go? Then, they went to mid-calf.

Jameer Nelson and Jamaal Tinsley in 2005

But, now that hemline seems to be creeping back up. Superstar LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers began wearing skinnier, shorter shorts this season, his 13th in the league. He claims that he wants to present a more professional appearance. He may be the highest-profile player to go with to the shorter short, he isn’t the first. This is what we want. The new generation of pro basketball players, who came of age wearing tighter clothes off the court, were already there.

LeBron James

It seems we will be seeing more leg from our basketball players, from neighborhood dudes having a pick-up game at the playground, to pro teams, and we won’t need to look on eBay to get this look from vintage stock. We think this is a good idea. Don’t you agree?

1934

Magic, 1979