Ex-NBA Star Javaris Crittenton -- JAIL CLOTHES MAKE ME LOOK GUILTY ... Don't Make Me Wear 'Em In Murder Case!

Clothes make the man ... especially during a murder trial ... so says ex-NBA player Javaris Crittenton who's begging a judge not to force him to wear his JAIL UNIFORM in court so he won't look guilty.

The former Los Angeles Lakers player is facing murder charges in the 2010 drive-by shooting death of a Georgia woman ... and he just filed court docs because he believes his wardrobe will play a KEY ROLE in the hearing.

In fact, Crittenton wants to be allowed to wear "civilian garb" -- because he knows the media is interested in his case and pics of him sportin' orange (or stripes) could paint him with a guilty brush and damage his shot at a fair trial.

Crittenton's request isn't as crazy as it may seem -- our legal experts tell us this concern is not uncommon and sometimes the judge will grant the request.