GLENDALE, Ariz. — While the Final Four was being played at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Saturday, you may have noticed many players wearing a leg sleeve or tights, but do you know they do that?
It turns out there are multiple reasons for this.
The first is fashion, according to Dick's Sporting Goods. As the saying goes, "If you look good, you play good." Many professional players, including Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker and Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray will play with just one leg sleeve. Other players, including Suns forward Kevin Durant, Nuggets center Nikola Jokic and Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving will play with sleeves on both legs.
Many younger players will play with the sleeves so they look like their favorite players.
The leg sleeves are also compression sleeves, which can help with blood flow and moving oxygen to a player's muscles, according to CompressionAthlete.com. This can help boost muscle endurance and even help with recovery from injuries.
Many of the sleeves are also padded, which can help reduce the impact on a player's body when colliding with another player or when they fall to the ground on the hardwood court.
The sleeves are also moisture-wicking, which can help keep players cool and dry on the court, helping them feel more comfortable in high-pressure moments.
These are the same reasons that man players, including Alabama's Mark Sears, will wear sleeves on their arms.
Arm and leg sleeves became popular in the early 2000s, thanks to NBA players like Allen Iverson and Kobe Bryant. The New York Times looked into the fad in 2013.
If you want to start wearing a sleeve on your arms or legs when playing basketball, Dick's Sporting Goods says it should feel "snug but not tight."
Arizona sports
The city of Phoenix is home to five major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks and NHL's Arizona Coyotes.
The Cardinals have made State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers play at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale. The Coyotes play at Mullett Arena on ASU's Tempe campus.
Phoenix also has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC, who play at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium in Phoenix.
The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events on a yearly basis, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the WM Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall, including Championship Weekend in November; and Cactus League Spring Training for 15 Major League Baseball franchises.
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