Masks are an unusual but not unheard of sight on an NBA court
A NUMBER of NBA stars have worn masks for a portion of their careers, adding an interesting look on the court.
Some fans, though, may be left wondering why they opt for the headgear – here’s everything we know.
Why do NBA players wear masks?
A mask is an unusual sight on an NBA court, but certainly isn’t unheard of.
Top stars across the league’s different eras have worn them over the years.
Masks are not usually a fashion choice, instead they are mainly worn by players who have suffered some sort of facial injury.
It’s not uncommon to take a blow to the face while contesting for rebounds or making a jump for the basket.
The mask helps to avoid minor knocks aggravating an existing injury and forcing players to miss more time.
In games where every point counts, it can be devastating for a team to be without its top stars for a long run.
Everything from broken noses to fractured cheek bones have been the reason behind stars strapping on a range of protective face wear.
Which NBA players have been wearing masks?
The major example of mask-wearing in 2023 came from Boston Celtics shooting guard Jaylen Brown, who debuted a sleek black number in the All-Star game.
Brown was coming back after suffering a facial fracture when he collided with teammate Jayson Tatum a few weeks before.
Historically, though, stars from Kobe Bryant to LeBron James to Wilt Chamberlain are among those who have worn masks in games.
Kobe played part of the 2012 season with one after a broken nose, while LeBron had a similar issue in 2014.
Chamberlain was one of the first to wear a mask, again after a broken nose, debuting it in the 1964/65 season, though it was a little less elegant than its successors.
Speaking of which, perhaps the most unusual mask to be worn on court was when Curtis Perry decided against going the custom route and simply pulled on a full-face hockey mask for a game in the 1975-76 season.
It didn’t seem to affect him too much though, as he made 17 points, 13 rebounds and four assists as the Phoenix Suns beat the Houston Rockets 124-115.
