Jarrett Allen x American Tall Lookbook

One year after partnering with American Tall, the professional basketball player reflects on confidence, leadership, and the quiet routines that keep him grounded.

The first time Jarrett Allen understood that being tall meant something, he was a kid at school during Lunar New Year. The teachers needed someone to lead the dragon. Everyone wanted the spot. The choice was simple: the tallest kid in the class. That responsibility fell on him. And he remembers wearing it with pride. “I’ve always just gone about my life as a normal person,” he says.

For someone whose presence is impossible to miss, Jarrett has never been interested in leaning into stereotypes. Growing up, he didn’t feel pressure to act a certain way because of his height — and that mindset followed him into professional basketball. On the court, expectations are loud. Off it, attention comes whether you ask for it or not. Jarrett's response has always been the same: just be yourself.

Jarrett’s Top Picks

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The Essential Modern Fit Crewneck Tee for Tall Men

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Flex Nylon Collared Jacket for Tall Men

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When the stakes are high, he looks for joy. Pressure doesn’t push him into performance mode — it grounds him. “When things get crazy… I take a step back and enjoy it.” He finds the fun in the moment and lets that clarity guide him forward. It’s how he stays calm when the noise gets loud. And it’s one of his quiet strengths.

“When things get crazy, I take a step back and enjoy it.”

“Leadership is being myself — but at the most exemplary level.”

Leadership, isn’t about being in the spotlight. “It’s about being myself,” Allen says, “but at the most exemplary level.” He knows people are watching — teammates, younger players, people navigating pressure for the first time. The responsibility isn’t to change who he is, but to show up fully as himself, consistently. That steadiness has become his signature.

Off the court, that confidence has started to show up differently. Over the past year, Allen’s personal style has evolved alongside everything else. He’s more comfortable trying new combinations, stepping away from default sweats, and dressing with intention instead of habit. “I feel different walking into rooms now than earlier in my career,” he says. “Just more confident, more comfortable with who I am.” And people have noticed.

“I didn’t have to worry about anything fitting— I could just move.”

That ease mattered most on his wedding day. American Tall outfitted Allen for the occasion in a custom tux designed to fit and move with him. When it came time for the first dance — a choreographed routine that required full commitment — he didn’t have to think about sleeves, hems, or restriction. “I didn’t have to worry about anything fitting — I could just move.” Everything fit. The dance landed. The day unfolded exactly as it should.

When he’s not playing, Allen’s world stays refreshingly simple. A cat that refuses to let him sleep in. Long naps on game days. A book club. Pokémon. A monthly challenge to play more video games, read more books, watch more movies. These things matter. They keep him grounded. They remind him that confidence comes from knowing who you are when no one’s watching. One year after partnering with American Tall, not much about Jarrett Allen has changed. He’s still the kid who wore the dragon head with pride. Now, his confident style matches the part.

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