It’s more like a headbang.
Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs recently learned from the NBA that he can’t wear his headband around his neck anymore—a ritual he began this season.
“Jalen mentioned he got notified by the league to wear his headband only at tipoff,” Magic reporter Kendra Douglas said, pointing out that he spoke up after Orlando’s 121-114 loss to the Chicago Bulls.
In his game routine, Suggs puts a headband around his neck at the start and then shifts it to his head as the game goes on.
The 24-year-old referenced that this habit originated from his football days, though he also mentioned there wasn’t any significant meaning behind it. “It’s amusing. Honestly, I can’t say why I do it. That’s just me,” Suggs explained.
He reminisced, saying, “Back when I started, we’d put it on our neck in training camp before warm-ups. It sort of started as a football thing, and here we are.”
He added, “If I’m in the zone, I’ll move it to my head and secure it. It’s actually funny how much attention it’s received.”
But yes, “I just do my thing, being J-Suggs.”
Interestingly, Suggs wasn’t even wearing the headband on his neck when Knicks guard Josh Hart inadvertently grabbed him by the throat during a game against New York in November.
Injuries have become quite a topic for him lately.
Just after the headband ruling, Suggs sustained a Grade 1 MCL sprain in Friday’s game versus Chicago, and he’ll be out indefinitely, as announced by the team.
This follows a recent return after missing seven games due to a left hip contusion. Last season was challenging too; he played only 35 games after undergoing left knee surgery.
So far this season, Suggs is averaging 15.0 points and 4.7 assists through 23 games, contributing to the Magic’s current seventh-place status in the Eastern Conference with a record of 19-16.
