Private sale basketball shorts

From short shorts to long shorts: an evolution over thirty years

The length of basketball shorts has changed dramatically over a few decades. Until the mid-1980s, players wore very short shorts, with an inseam of just a few centimetres. In the early 1990s, the trend reversed: NBA stars lengthened their shorts, and the University of Michigan team known as the Fab Five pushed the movement to the extreme with baggy shorts that fell below the knee. By the early 2000s, almost the entire NBA had adopted long shorts. Today, most models stop just above the knee, like the Joma Nobel Long or the Spalding Hustle, cut loose to allow free movement of the legs.

The rest of the outfit

Basketball private sales also include:

• Jerseys.
• NBA.
• Shoes.
• Balls.

All basketball private sales can be found on the basketball page.

Mesh, waistband and slits: the construction of a basketball short

The mesh, a polyester perforated fabric, is the historical material for basketball shorts: its micro-perforations allow air circulation during intense play and it dries in minutes. The mesh logo short of the San Antonio Spurs is an example of this. The wide, elastic waistband, often lined with a drawstring, keeps the shorts in place during jumps and contact under the basket, without compressing the stomach. Side slits at the bottom of the legs add room for lateral movements and defensive stance, and discreet pockets, on leisure models, serve off the court.

Lakers, Spurs, Paris Basketball: wearing the colours of a team

NBA franchise shorts reflect the colours and logos of the teams. The Los Angeles Lakers shorts, in purple and gold, recall a franchise born in Minneapolis in 1947 and established in Los Angeles in 1960. The black and silver of the San Antonio Spurs evokes the Texan team that won its first title in 1999. In Europe, the Paris Basketball shorts, from a club founded in 2018, EuroCup winners in 2024 and based at the Adidas Arena at Porte de la Chapelle, are available in home and away versions, alongside those of the Real Madrid, the basketball section of the Madrid club.

Reversible shorts, women's shorts and club shorts

The reversible short Spalding offers two colours in one garment: simply turn it inside out to form two teams during practice. Women's shorts, like the Spalding Jam, are cut closer to the hips and slightly shorter, maintaining the comfort of basketball without floating around the thighs. To equip a club, team models from Proact, Kappa Dumpo, Puma teamJaws or Macron Oxide Hero typically come in several colours, to match the shorts to each category’s jersey. It’s important to check that the range is available in all necessary sizes, from youth to senior.

Frequently asked questions

What size is an NBA short?

NBA franchise shorts often follow American sizing, which is looser than a European cut. One should choose their usual size for the expected comfort of a basketball short, or one size down for a closer fit.

What length of basketball short should I choose?

A short that stops just above the knee is the most common: it allows the knee to move freely during bends. Longer shorts may hinder running; shorter ones give a retro 1980s look that some players seek.

Which basketball short should I choose for a girl?

Women’s or girls’ shorts are more fitted at the hips and slightly shorter. For a young player, choose based on her height in centimetres and check that the drawstring allows for a snug fit at the waist.

How do I wash a mesh basketball short?

Wash at thirty degrees, inside out and in a laundry mesh bag to prevent the perforated fabric from catching on a zipper. Dry naturally: mesh dries quickly and can be damaged by the heat of a tumble dryer.

Why are basketball shorts so baggy?

The bagginess gives the thighs freedom for jumping, lateral steps and defensive positioning. The fabric doesn't stick to the skin during exertion, and air circulates between the legs and the shorts.