I think of it as more of a physiological tool versus a fashion statement,” Zettler said. “I don’t think it’s going to be a fad that’s going to go out with parachute pants or anything like that. – Jazz assistant trainer Brain Zetter
SALT LAKE CITY — There was a time in the NBA when short-shorts were the rage. John Stockton has been retired for more than a decade, and people still make jokes about the critically acclaimed author’s revealing trunks.
Glance at the lower extremities of athletes on the court of any particular NBA game nowadays, and you’ll quickly notice a diverging trend.
Players are covering their legs up more than ever, and not just with baggy shorts that might have more material on them than Stockton’s entire uniform.
Tights — leg sleeves, leggings or meggings, whatever you want to call them — are more popular than ever in the professional basketball ranks. The Utah Jazz are no exception, as eight of the 14 players now regularly sport tights as part of their game-night ensemble.
If you haven’t been keeping a tights scoreboard at home, Jazz players who wear them every night include Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors, Enes Kanter, Trevor Booker, Rodney Hood, Ian Clark, Jeremy Evans and Toure’ Murry.
Guards Trey Burke and Dante Exum have experimented with leggings, and are no longer wearing them. And don’t expect to see them anytime soon on Joe Ingles, Steve Novak, Alec Burks or Rudy Gobert (in part, Brian Zettler, the Jazz’s assistant trainer and equipment manager, joked, because you can’t find XXXXXL tights for the 7-foot-1 Frenchman).
The NBA decided to allow players to wear tights again a couple of seasons ago after banning them for a while after players like Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James made them popular.
“They (NBA officials) started seeing some of the research and some of the evidence that supported guys wearing them from a physiological standpoint,” said Zettler.
The league does require players to wear black or white tights, ranging from knee-length to below the calves. The Jazz team rule, by the way, only allows black tights, mostly for consistency purposes.
Just as there are varying names for the lycra-based legwear — different than the popular yoga pants there are a multitude of reasons for the increased implementation of tights. The two most common purposes: improved circulation and lower-body temperature stabilization.
Of course, some style-conscious players think they look cool, too.
“That’s just perception, isn’t it?” Jazz small forward Hayward said, smiling.
“I think of it as more of a physiological tool versus a fashion statement,” Zettler said. “I don’t think it’s going to be a fad that’s going to go out with parachute pants or anything like that.”
The Jazz inform players of the benefits, especially the better blood flow and leg-warmth boost (keep in mind, some hardwood courts are placed on ice sheets for hockey and ice-skating events). But the choice is an individual one.
“I prefer to just leave it up to the individual. I don’t want to press that on them if they’re not comfortable wearing it from the equipment standpoint,” Zettler said. “If you think it helps you, I’m all for it.”
Hayward, now in his fifth NBA season, started wearing them last year for two reasons: 1. The compression and extra layer help keep muscles warmer, preventing legs from getting cold and tightening up while on the bench, and 2. His knees have a tendency to smack the ground and get floor burns. He wore kneepads last year to remedy the painful raspberry issue, but he’s only sporting the tights this season.
“I think it feels better, for whatever reason,” Hayward said.
The 24-year-old, who's affectionately called "Captain America" by some NBA fans, laughed when it was suggested that he wears tights to feel more like a superhero on the court.
"I need a cape and I'll be good to go," he said, laughing. "Or a big shield."
Booker occasionally wore tights for the first time in his five-year NBA career last season with Washington, but the power forward’s worn them consistently since joining the Jazz because they “feel good” on his legs.
“I think it helps you recover quicker,” he said. “It keeps your legs warm during the game.”
Hood likes that they keep his legs at a comfortable temperature, when the Duke rookie’s cool or hot. He adopted the habit on a road trip earlier this season and put the tights back on after his 10-game injury absence.
“You feel a difference,” Hood said. “I don’t really worry about the looks. I’m more of a feel type of guy.”
Burke has gone back and forth on wearing the tights this season, but Saturday’s game against the Clippers was most likely the final time. He liked the added warmth. He didn’t like how big of a hassle it was to put them on all the time. He’s also ditched the pads he wore his rookie season to protect his shins.
“This is how I used to play (without tights). I’m trying to go back to how I used to play and how I used to look on the court,” he said. “I think that’s what I’m going to stick with, just playing regular.”
Murry, who's worn tights since becoming a pro three years ago, said keeping warm is his main motivation, but has a couple of other reasons.
"It looks cool, yes," he admitted. And? "I got little legs, so I like to cover them up, too."
Ingles, who laughed when he heard his locker neighbor say that, is among the players who wear compression shorts underneath the uniform but not longer leggings.
“I’m kind of boring,” Ingles joked. “I like as little (on) as possible.”
The 27-year-old rookie, who’s played professionally around the world, smiled when asked if he’s considered going to the extreme on that point. The Stockton short-shorts extreme.
“If we have a throwback (game), I’ll definitely wear them,” he said, only half-joking.
The Jazz issue compression tights to players and staff members who travel on the team charter to road games. Improved circulation helps prevent soreness and swelling when you’re sitting motionless for hours.
Zettler joked that he’s not going to pull anybody’s pants down for a tights check, but he said a majority of the Jazz crew has taken that advice to heart, including him.
“I wear them all the time,” Zettler said. “They do help with circulation quite a bit, but they also keep you warm.”
Zettler won’t push players either way when it comes to wearing tights, but he said some athletes feel like they get a performance boost when they use them.
“I’m a traditionalist,” he said. “Then again, it’s all about the players. If they like it, and it helps them play better and there’s no detriment to the league, the team or to them individually, then let’s do it.”
The equipment manager did give one tight-related endorsement, though.
He smiled and ended the interview with this glowing film review: “ ‘Robin Hood: Men in Tights’ was a great movie.”
If the team is lucky, “Utah: Jazzmen in Tights” will be a successful sequel.
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