Magic Johnson

This video surfaced following last month’s NBA Finals, in which oft-maligned LeBron James played arguably the best ball of his life—and finally saw his hard work pay off with a long-sought-after championship title (as well as MVP honors for the third time in four years).

Turns out, LeBron isn’t the only one who deserves a bit more respect. After viewing hour upon hour of game footage, we made a startling discovery: Sportscasters get a bad rap. You know the stereotypes: Gaudy shirt-and-tie combos. Quadruple-Windsor knots as big as your fist. And a lot of it’s true, as you can see below. But a select few know how to shoot the lights out, sartorially, night after night. So quit being ‘so disrespectful.’

A Bit Rusty
These three are legendary players (and often hilarious during halftime), but could benefit from brushing up on some style fundamentals.

Shaq’s sloppy shirt collar.

Barkley’s bad plaid

…and un-subtle stripes.

Magic’s abuse of bold colors.

The Wild Card
We took a peek into Craig Sager’s ungodly closet a few weeks ago. The truth is we don’t want him to stop. We just don’t recommend emulating him.

Hall of Fame
These last two don’t just avoid sportscaster clichés—they’re some of the best-dressed men you’ll see anytime, anywhere. Not bad, considering the challenges of fitting an NBA-sized frame.

1. Chris Webber. This five-time All-Star power forward kills it consistently with immaculate-fitting jackets, narrower shirt collars and the perfect, understated four-in-hand knot. Here, he nails a peak-lapel three-piece like it’s a free throw.

2. Reggie Miller. He’s clearly as meticulous with his sartorial choices as he was in perfecting his long-distance shot. Just compare this subtle windowpane plaid and deep-burgundy tie to Charles Barkley’s version of plaid + red, above.

Check back later this week for a full analysis of Webber’s and Miller’s sideline style techniques.
For now, shop: Suits | Dress Shirts | Ties | Big & Tall

[Video stills courtesy of ABC, ESPN, TNT. Individuals pictured do not endorse Nordstrom.]