When Kobe and the Lakers Brought Back Short Shorts (For One Half)

December 30, 2007

Eighteen years ago today, Kobe Bryant and the Lakers took the court against the Suns wearing throwback short shorts from the 1980s Showtime era.

Full Magic and Kareem-length shorts. Bright gold. High-cut. Everything that made the ’80s look like the ’80s. The kind of shorts that make you wonder how anyone played defense without constantly adjusting.

The best part? They only wore them for the first half. At halftime, the team switched back to their regular-length shorts. Apparently, there’s a limit to how much nostalgia professional athletes will tolerate when they’re actually trying to play basketball.

Kobe still dropped 31 points. The Lakers won 126-103. And for one half of one game, basketball looked the way a lot of people remembered it looking when they fell in love with the sport.

Looking back, this moment was early evidence of where the industry was headed. The NBA was figuring out that nostalgia wasn’t just about honoring the past… it was about creating moments. Giving fans something that felt special. Making people feel connected to the history of the game.

Eighteen years later, throwback culture is everywhere. Retro jerseys, vintage-inspired sneakers, “Classic Edition” uniforms. The NBA (and every other league) figured out that people love seeing echoes of the eras that made them fans in the first place.

But on December 30, 2007, when Kobe pulled on those short shorts for exactly two quarters? It still felt spontaneous. It still felt fun. Like something the team just decided to try, not a focus-grouped marketing initiative.

Sometimes the best ideas are the ones you don’t overthink… aaannnddd the ones you’re willing to change out of at halftime if you need to. 😆

Happy December 30th. Here’s to good ideas that don’t overstay their welcome.

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