Buying Basketball Shorts for Your Kid? Check These 5 Things Before You Order
Most pairs look the same online. Five checks tell you which ones will fit the first time and still get worn in March.
By the Bigger Than Basketball team
Updated October 2026, 5 min read
The last pair came from a bin by the checkout. They looked fine on the hanger.
By the third week of practice the waistband had started to roll. Then a seam went at the pocket. Then the drawstring slid inside the waist, and no amount of fishing with a safety pin got it back out.
So now you're shopping again, scrolling through a hundred pairs that all look the same in a thumbnail: mesh, a drawstring, a logo.
Why the last pair didn't make it
It's rarely one big flaw. Three small things decide it, and none of them show up in a product photo:
- Mesh
- Small parts
- Size
The mesh was too thin. Hold a cheap pair up to a window and you can see straight through it. That mesh snags, stretches out at the seat, and looks tired after a couple of months of drills and the dryer.
The small parts were plastic. Fabric usually outlives the hardware. A cracked plastic tip frays the string, and one hard pull sends it into the waistband.
The size was bought by age. “He's ten, so Youth Medium” is a guess. In our reviews, an 8-year-old wears a Youth Small and a 9-year-old wears a Youth Large. Buy by age and a pair ends up too tight by spring or falling off by the second game.
Get those three right and the next pair has a fair shot at lasting the season. Here's how to check, pair by pair.
The 5 checks
Check 1: Hold the mesh up to the light
If you can read through it, keep scrolling. Thicker mesh still breathes, since the holes do that job, and it keeps its shape longer in the wash and the gym bag. Look for reviews that talk about how the material feels.
“Material was thick and looked exactly like picture”
Check 2: Buy by waist size, not age
Measure around his waist where the shorts sit. Then use the chart and pick the waist range he falls in. If he's between two sizes, go up: he'll grow into it.
| Size | Waist | Length | Inseam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Youth S | 20 to 22 in | 14.25 in | 3 in |
| Youth M | 22 to 24 in | 15.25 in | 3.5 in |
| Youth L | 24 to 26 in | 16.25 in | 4 in |
| Youth XL | 26 to 28 in | 17 in | 4.5 in |
| Adult S | 28 to 30 in | 18 in | 5 in |
| Adult M | 30 to 32 in | 18.5 in | 5.5 in |
| Adult L | 32 to 34 in | 19 in | 6 in |
| Adult XL | 34 to 36 in | 19.5 in | 6.5 in |
| Adult 2XL | 36 to 38 in | 20 in | 7 in |
Inches, around the waist where the shorts sit.
“My son is 12 & i got him the YXL, it fits him very well.”
Check 3: Check the hardware
Metal drawstring tips don't crack and won't fray the end of the string. Check for pockets too: a kid with nowhere to put his phone hands it to you at every game.
Check 4: Make sure he'll actually want to wear them
The sturdiest pair in the drawer does nothing if he reaches past it for the old black ones every morning. Pick something he'd choose himself.
“Now he wants all of the shorts haha.”
Check 5: Check who's behind them
If the size is wrong, you want a store with a 60-day return window and an email address printed on the page.
The pair that passes all five
Our Game Face shorts pass all five.
- Mesh with some weight to it. Reviewers call it “thick” and “not cheaply made.”
- True to size, with the waist range and inseam listed for every size from Youth Small to Adult 2XL (the chart above).
- Metal drawstring tips and pockets that hold a phone or a wallet.
- A print kids pick out themselves: orange basketballs with smiley faces, stars and hearts over a black-and-white checkerboard. Loud on purpose.
- 4.8 stars from 42 reviews of this exact pair.
They're $48. That's more than a bin pair. The point of paying it once is not paying again in March. Standard shipping is free on US orders over $100, so three pairs ($144) ship free and two ($96) don't. First order? Sign up with your email on the store and you get 15% off, plus a free wristband and sticker pack.
What parents say about Game Face
★★★★★
“Wants to wear them to every practice! Absolutely loves these shorts!!!”
★★★★★
“Got them for my 9yrs old he love them so much they are very nice shorts n not cheaply made!!!”
★★★★★
“I purchased these for my grandson. He loves them because they are comfortable and unique!”
★★★★★
“Grandson loved these fit true to size”
Reviews from customers on biggerthanbasketball.co, quoted as written. 4.8 average from 42 Game Face reviews; 4.8 from 398 across all our shorts.
Skip them if...
- He only wants paper-thin dry-fit shorts. These are thicker than a team practice short. One reviewer wished they came in dry-fit.
- You need them tomorrow. Orders usually leave in about 2 business days and most arrive 5 to 8 business days after that. For a birthday or the first day of a season, order early.
Returns, if the size is off
You've got 60 days from delivery to return or exchange unused shorts. Email biggerthanbball@gmail.com with your order number and the size you need.
Pick his size
Game Face - Shorts
4.8 (42 reviews)
$48
First order: 15% off plus a free wristband and sticker pack when you sign up with your email on the store.
Tap a size to open the shorts with it selected.
Questions parents ask
How do I know which size to get?
Measure his waist and use the chart. They run true to size; between sizes, go up.
Are they too hot for practice?
The mesh is thicker than a dry-fit practice short, but it's still open mesh. One review: “Wants to wear them to every practice!” If he only wants ultra-light shorts, pick another pair.
Do they have pockets?
Yes, pockets that hold a phone or a wallet.
What if the size is wrong?
Return or exchange unused shorts within 60 days of delivery. Email the order number to biggerthanbball@gmail.com.
Do they work for girls?
Yes. One review: “Daughter loves pattern.” Same print, youth and adult sizes.
How long does delivery take?
Most orders ship within 2 business days and arrive 5 to 8 business days later. Standard shipping is free on US orders over $100.
Is there a first-order discount?
Yes. Sign up with your email on the store and your first order gets 15% off, plus a free wristband and sticker pack.
Back to that bin pair
Measure his waist tonight, match it to the chart, and order that size. If it's off, you've got 60 days to swap it.