Okay so last week my buddy asked me for tips on buying NBA jerseys after he totally bombed his first order. Got me thinking – this sizing thing is way more confusing than it needs to be, especially shopping online. I decided to just go deep down the rabbit hole myself since people kept asking.
Starting Point: Utter Confusion
First thing? I pulled up like five different team stores and Nike’s official stuff. Just stared at those size charts, man. Men’s, Women’s, Swingman, Authentic… the numbers and letters felt totally random. S, M, L for women but numbers for men? And Nike’s M sometimes felt like Adidas’s S? My head was spinning.
Right then I knew I had to grab actual jerseys. Hit up three stores locally, which honestly sucked ’cause some folks just don’t stock much these days.
The Actual Trying-On Mess
For Men’s Jerseys:
- Tried a Swingman size Medium first (Steph Curry, obviously). Felt okay in the shoulders but the damn thing was down to my thighs! Like, way longer than I expected.
- Grabbed a Large next – same jersey style. Shoulders got weird, kinda boxy. Length was basically the same as the Medium. What?!
- Switched to a Youth XL out of pure desperation. Shockingly? Actually kinda fit my shoulders decent, and hit just below my belt. Weirdly perfect length. But the cut was… kid-like. Narrow.
- Found an Authentic jersey in a 44 (Medium equivalent supposedly). Felt tighter across the chest and arms than the Swingman M. Seriously felt like an Armpit Masterpiece.
For Women’s Jerseys:
- Tried a Women’s Swingman Small. Okay, the length was shorter – cool. But the shoulders? Felt tight and the sleeves dug in big time. Really restrictive for raising my arms.
- Looked at a Women’s Large. Shoulders relaxed but now it looked like I was wearing a sack everywhere else. No shape.
- Got desperate again. Grabbed a Men’s Small Swingman. Boom. Shoulder freedom, looser fit everywhere but not tent-length. Length landed a bit lower than the Women’s Small but way comfier overall.
- Tried a Youth XL too. Fit closer to the Women’s Small in the body but shoulders were actually better. Material felt cheaper though.
What Actually Ended Up Working (For Me)
After sweating through all this, here’s the basic guide I figured out for myself and most average folks asking:
- Guys Wanting a “Jersey-Look” Fit (Not Baggy): Forget your usual shirt size. Grab a size DOWN from your normal tee size if you don’t want it crazy long and baggy. Love a super baggy look? Go your usual size or even up one.
- Guys Who Hate Sleeve/Bicep Tightness: Seriously try a Youth XL or XXL if you’re average build. It’s shorter, less baggy around the waist, but surprisingly roomy enough in the chest/shoulders. Huge savings too.
- Women Wanting Comfort/Movement: Skip the official Women’s cut for Swingman jerseys. Grab a Men’s Small Swingman instead. Shoulders free, sleeves better. Looks cooler. Women’s fits are weirdly restrictive for cheering.
- Women Wanting a Fitted Look: Okay, fine, try the Women’s version, but size up at least one size compared to your top size. Small feels like an XS. Medium fits more like a Small elsewhere. Or try that Youth XL again.
- Authentic Jerseys ($$$): Just know they fit smaller and tighter than Swingman in the same size. Order up or be ready for the gym fit.
The biggest shocker? Nike, Fanatics, Adidas – they all feel slightly different even in the “same” size. You absolutely gotta know which brand you’re buying that specific jersey from. Total pain.
Now? I just tell people straight up: if it’s your first jersey, don’t trust your normal size. Borrow a buddy’s in different sizes or find a store first. Saved my other buddy from his second disaster order. Messy process, but at least I got my own Giannis jersey fitting perfect after three tries!
