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Why Do Basketball Players Wear Masks?

Publish Date: 16.07.2024
Fact checked by: Emily Carter

There are many important accessories that players wear in professional sports. Some are for recovery, some help with flexibility, and some are aimed at protection. One of the biggest examples of that is a sturdy face mask.

While many associate masks with sports like football, clear ones have been used in basketball for a long, long time. They protect the face, cut down on the chances of reinjury, and can even be used as a fashion statement. There are psychological benefits to them as well.

Though the accessories aren’t terribly common, many big-name players have used them over the years. That includes the likes of Rip Hamilton, LeBron James, and Russell Westbrook. Once a fringe accessory, that mainstream push made them acceptable by all players at all levels.

Primary Reasons for Wearing Masks

There are several reasons players put on masks before an NBA game, but the biggest is for protection. While not an extremely dangerous sport, basketball is a game with a lot of incidental contact like collisions, thrown elbows, and hard falls.

All of that means it’s easy for accidents to happen. Though an errant hit might not be the end of the world for those without a long injury history, athletes who have suffered facial injuries in the past need to cut down on how much damage can happen during a game.

A broken nose takes a while to heal, and the risk of it getting damaged during that healing process is quite high. That also goes for any face lacerations, which are particularly susceptible to infection or bacteria in close quarters environments like a basketball court.

The face is an extremely sensitive area, especially for those who have suffered major injuries like facial lacerations, fractured cheekbones, or broken noses. Most of the time, such ailments will sideline a player for an extended period of time.

A mask, however, creates a strong barrier and allows those athletes to get on the court much earlier than they would if they were healing with no help. That then allows masks to cut down on the risk of future injuries while also enabling athletes to get back into the game as soon as possible.

Without a mask, some players wouldn’t be able to play for weeks or months until they got doctor’s clearance that they weren’t putting themselves at extreme risk. With them, they can practice or play in a fraction of that time.

Medical and Performance Benefits

There are many ways someone can get hit in the face during a basketball game. While it’s not something players try to do, it’s not uncommon for a player to make contact without someone’s else’s nose, cheek, or skull. Even one such impact can then cause permanent or severe damage.

When a player has a mask on, it takes the majority of that hit and greatly softens the impact. So much so that collisions that could lead to broken bones might not cause anything at all. Even if some pressure or damage occurs, it’s almost always lessened.

In that way, masks typically also provide a lot of confidence for players who might not be entirely comfortable returning after an injury. Going back into a game after suffering a laceration or break can take some getting used to, especially if the injury has a long recovery period.

Many players might get squeamish, and big men who need to bump and grind down on the block may shy away from contact they would normally push through. That affects all levels of play and can create a worse performance out on the court.

A mask can break that cycle by making the player wearing it much more confident and not as worried about reinjury. The accessory can totally get rid of any fear and help someone go from being trepidatious to confident just by the nature of the inherent protection.

That’s also backed up by the fact that clear masks give a full view of the court at all times. By affording visibility, they stay out of the player’s way and allow them to shoot, dribble, and defend just as they would normally without anything on their face.

Psychological and Team Benefits

When asking the question “why do basketball players wear masks?” it’s important to consider their symbology. They aren’t just accessories. Sometimes, especially during big games or postseason runs, they can serve as important rallying points too.

Anyone willing to go out and play with a hurt face is clearly extremely committed to their team. They also are obviously willing to put the organization first, which sends a message to both teammates and opponents alike that nothing is going to stop them.

That can then cause their teammates to play much harder than they normally would. Everyone wants to win, but when someone comes out in a mask it can inspire others to go the extra mile. They might try harder or push themselves beyond what they normally would do.

Masks may also be intimidating to opposing teams. It’s already hard to play defense at the highest level, but having to face down someone (especially a big man) who isn’t afraid to make contact can be tough for many players to deal with over the course of a game.

It’s a confidence boost, something that might rally the team, and an accessory that could cause other players to think twice during a game. Though protection is always the ultimate goal, those benefits are great bonuses that come with the accessory.

Controversies and Challenges

While masks are incredibly important and used in a multitude of ways, the NBA has cracked down on them in the past. Clear ones, or ones that don’t have any color, have always been allowed (and they still are), but that’s not true of non-clear options.

That precedent was set back in 2014, when LeBron James wore a black face mask to protect himself during a game. After the contest ended, the NBA came out and said he was no longer allowed to wear a black mask due to defenders not being able to clearly see his eyes.

They felt that by hiding where he was looking LeBron gained a distinct advantage, which made it easier for him to score or pass. That then led to all players who needed masks only suiting up with clear or minimalistic options.

In today’s NBA, the ban has been lifted. A few players, including both Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid, have worn black masks that need to be dark due to their crafting material. The league has not made an official statement about such options, but they haven’t shut them down either.

Modern masks are more effective than ever, and they have come a long way since Gerald McHale first invented the new design back in 1990. At that time, he created a molded mask that adapted to a player’s face.

That was a stark contrast to the original face masks, which were uncomfortable and didn’t fit in the right way. They were bulky and much closer to something a hockey goalie might wear than the smaller, less intrusive models that exist today.

In the current world, masks are tough, resilient, and as light as possible. Having a strong face mask is important, but it’s only important if the mask doesn’t get in someone’s way. Early models certainly did, which made many athletes just sit out rather than try to use them.

That’s why the shift from large to small has helped so much. The more comfortable a mask is, the more it will be used. The more it will be used, the better general protection and safety will be across the NBA.

Conclusion

Masks are almost always worn for protection, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have any other strong benefits. The accessories come with a wide range of unintentional pros, ranging from toughness and recovery to intimidation and confidence.

Wearing a mask is not something players want to do, as it means they are recovering from a tough incident. That being said, there are much worse accessories that keep players off the court rather than letting them get back on it as quickly as possible.

Masks are another example of modern sports safety, and a good example of how medicine continues to evolve. It’s not just a way for athletes to play while hurt, it’s something that changed the very nature of recovery (and the game) itself.

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