A basketball jersey is the longest jersey in the store and the widest at the shoulder. Both of those facts change how you should size it — and both are easy to get wrong if you are used to football or soccer. Here is the full picture, including the shorts.
The short answer
Take your true chest size for the on-court look, or one size up if you want to wear it over street clothes.
- Chest decides the size, shoulder explains the drape. The shoulder runs wide by design, so the jersey hangs from the shoulder rather than following the torso.
- The hem is long on purpose. It is cut to sit over shorts without riding up. A long hem is not a size too big.
- On-court fit = your true chest size. Streetwear fit = one size up, because the hem is already long enough to cover.
- Shorts are sized on the waist, not the chest. Elastic waistband with a drawstring gives roughly two inches of tolerance either way.
The two measurements that define a basketball jersey
Start hereAsk anyone who has ordered the wrong NBA size and they will usually describe the same two complaints: it was shorter than expected, or it hung off the shoulders. Both come from the same design decision. Basketball jerseys are sleeveless with a deep armhole and a wide, straight shoulder line, and the body is cut long so it stays tucked or sits over shorts through a game.
That combination means the jersey drapes from the shoulder instead of following your shape. A football jersey is boxy through the chest; a basketball jersey is standard through the chest and generous through the shoulder and hem. If you judge the fit by how the fabric sits around your waist alone, you will conclude it is too big when it is exactly right.
How to measure for a basketball jersey
Two minutesMeasure a jersey you already wear, laid flat. It is faster than measuring your body and it captures whether you like a snug or relaxed drape.
- Chest. Lay it flat and measure across from one underarm seam to the other, then double it. This is the column that decides your size.
- Body length — check this one carefully. From the highest point of the shoulder to the bottom hem. Basketball runs longer than any other league we carry, so compare this against a jersey you already own rather than against another sport.
- Shoulder. Measure straight across the top from one shoulder seam to the other. This is what tells you how the jersey will drape once it is on.
- Waist, for shorts. Measure the waistband flat with the elastic relaxed, then double it.
- Inseam, for shorts. From the crotch seam down the inside leg to the hem.
Men’s NBA jerseys
Chest and shoulderThe standard unisex basketball jersey. Read your chest band, then glance at the shoulder column — that is the number that determines whether the jersey looks deliberately oversized or accidentally so.
| Size | Chest (in) | Chest (cm) | Length (in) | Length (cm) | Shoulder (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | 37–39 | 94–99 | 28.5 | 72 | 17 |
| M | 39–41 | 99–104 | 29.5 | 75 | 18 |
| L | 41–43 | 104–109 | 30.5 | 77 | 19 |
| XL | 43–46 | 109–117 | 31.5 | 80 | 20 |
| 2XL | 46–49 | 117–124 | 32.5 | 83 | 21 |
| 3XL | 49–52 | 124–132 | 33.5 | 85 | 22 |
On-court or streetwear? For the on-court look, order the size your chest puts you in. For the streetwear look — worn over a t-shirt or a hoodie, with the hem left long — go one size up. Because the hem is already cut long, sizing up adds width without making the jersey look like a dress, which is exactly why this cut is popular as everyday wear.
Women’s NBA jerseys
Narrower shoulder, shorter bodyWomen’s basketball jerseys use a narrower shoulder and a shorter body than the men’s cut of the same letter. The chest band remains the deciding measurement; the difference shows up in the shoulder line and the hem length.
| Size | Chest (in) | Chest (cm) | Length (in) | Length (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | 33–35 | 84–89 | 26.5 | 67 |
| M | 35–37 | 89–94 | 27 | 69 |
| L | 37–40 | 94–102 | 27.5 | 70 |
| XL | 40–43 | 102–109 | 28 | 71 |
| 2XL | 43–46 | 109–117 | 28.5 | 72 |
If you want the long, oversized look that basketball jerseys are known for, take the men’s size closest to your chest measurement rather than sizing up in the women’s fit. Sizing up on the women’s block makes the whole garment roomier without adding the hem length you were actually after.
Basketball shorts
Waist decidesShorts are the one piece in this guide sized on the waist rather than the chest. Ours use an elastic waistband with a drawstring, which is forgiving — you have roughly two inches of adjustment either way before the fit changes character.
| Size | Waist (in) | Waist (cm) | Hip (in) | Hip (cm) | Shorts Length (in) | Length (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | 29–32 | 74–81 | 35–37.5 | 89–95 | 18–19 | 46–48 |
| M | 32–35 | 81–89 | 37.5–41 | 95–104 | 19–20 | 48–51 |
| L | 35–38 | 89–97 | 41–44 | 104–112 | 20–21 | 51–53 |
| XL | 38–43 | 97–109 | 44–48 | 112–122 | 21–22 | 53–56 |
| 2XL | 43–47 | 109–119 | 48–52 | 122–132 | 22–23 | 56–58 |
| 3XL | 47–52 | 119–132 | 52–56 | 132–142 | 23–24 | 58–61 |
Measure the waistband flat with the elastic relaxed, then double it. If you land between two bands and want a roomier short, take the larger one: the drawstring will hold it, and basketball shorts are meant to sit loose. Check the shorts length column too — that is where a longer and a shorter cut separate, not in the waist.
Sizing questions we get most
Should I size up or size down for an NBA jersey?
Neither, if you want the fit the jersey was designed for — order the size your chest measurement puts you in. Size up one step if you want to wear it over a t-shirt or hoodie, which is the look most people actually buy basketball jerseys for. Sizing down is almost always a mistake: the shoulder is wide by design and fighting it makes the jersey pull across the chest.
The hem hangs past my hips. Is the jersey too big?
No. Basketball jerseys are cut long so they sit over shorts. If the chest and shoulder measurements match the chart for your size, the length is the intended one.
Do I order the same size in a jersey and in shorts?
Usually not, and that is normal. Jerseys are sized on the chest and shorts on the waist, and the two do not move in step. Measure each separately against the chart in front of you rather than assuming one size covers both.
What is the difference between the men’s and women’s cut?
The shoulder line and the body length. The women’s jersey has a narrower shoulder and a shorter hem; the chest bands are comparable. If you want length, take the men’s size that matches your chest rather than going up a size in the women’s fit.
How do basketball jerseys fit over a hoodie?
One size up is the reliable answer. Basketball jerseys are standard through the chest, so a hoodie takes up real space. Sizing up adds width through the body and leaves the long hem doing its job.
What if the size is wrong?
Return it within 30 days of delivery with the tags attached and the jersey unworn, and start the return from your order confirmation email. See our Returns & Exchanges page for the full steps.
Pick your size, then pick your side
Free shipping on orders over $68 · 30-day returns
All measurements are taken flat across the finished garment. Production tolerance runs about half an inch either way, which is why we chart bands rather than single numbers — if your measurement sits on the edge of one, the next band up is the safer order.
