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NBA Rules Magic Guard Jalen Suggs Must Wear Headband on His Head
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The NBA has made a decision that Magic guard Jalen Suggs must use his headband for its intended purpose.
In Orlando’s 121–114 loss to the Bulls Friday, FanDuel Sports Network Magic reporter Kendra Douglas revealed that the league has informed Suggs that his headband must be on his head once games tip off. The fifth-year guard has worn a headband around his neck at the start of games, moving it up to his forehead as they go on.
Kendra Douglas mentions that the league told Jalen Suggs that the headband must be on his head to begin basketball games pic.twitter.com/ap3UqPKyKf
— The Magic Way (@MagicFilmRoom) January 3, 2026
The NBA ruled that Magic guard Jalen Suggs must wear his headband on his head, not as a choker, to begin games. pic.twitter.com/1rNIet7Lbz
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) January 3, 2026
Suggs said the unique style choice is inspired by football, although there wasn’t really much reasoning behind the move.
“It originates as football drip, that’s where it stems from,” he said in November via Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel. “But there really isn’t much else to it. I wear it on my neck and once I feel into the game, into the flow I put it on my head and we rock so it’s funny to see all the traction its gotten to be honest.”
I asked #Magic’s Jalen Suggs why he’s worn his headband around his neck in warmups and a few mins. into games. It stems from football:
— Jason Beede (@therealBeede) November 14, 2025
“I wear it on my neck and once I feel into the game, into the flow I put it on my head and we rock ... That’s just me being J-Suggs.”
More: pic.twitter.com/icHBKdU7R1
Suggs suffered a Grade 1 MCL contusion in his right knee during the loss to Chicago Friday and will be out indefinitely, per a report from ESPN. He returned to the court Wednesday after missing seven games due to a hip contusion. The Magic announced his timetable to return from the MCL contusion will depend on his response to treatment.
He’s averaging 15 points, 4.7 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game in 23 starts for Orlando this season.
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Blake Silverman is a writer at Sports Illustrated, primarily covering the NBA and WNBA. Before joining SI in November 2024 as a breaking/trending news writer, he covered the WNBA, NBA, G League and college basketball for numerous sites, including Winsidr, SB Nation and A10Talk. He’s an alum of both Michigan State and St. Bonaventure University, receiving a master’s degree from the Bonnies’ sports journalism program. Outside of work, he’s a husband, father, yogi and fairly mediocre tennis player who’s open to any tips on how to play defense in EA Sports College Football.