According to a report by Sports Illustrated, the NBA has officially banned Orlando Magic star Jalen Suggs from wearing his signature headband around his neck. The league’s front office stepped in to halt the look, which Suggs often styled as a ‘choker’ during pre-game warmups and the start of contests, citing a violation of the league’s strict uniform and wardrobe policies.
The ruling comes at a difficult time for Suggs, who is currently battling knee soreness after a loss to the Chicago Bulls. The NBA has a long history of regulating ‘non-traditional’ accessories, dating back to bans on double headbands and specific types of bandages used for marketing purposes. While fans on TikTok and Instagram celebrated the look as a bold style move, the league remains firm on its ‘on-court equipment’ regulations.
Validating coverage from Complex and SI’s Athlete Lifestyle section highlights the league’s focus on brand consistency. Complex noted that ‘the NBA cares about what is around his neck,’ while Sports Illustrated added that ‘the headband ban is a relatively small setback compared to the prospect of Suggs sitting more games’ due to his recent injury.
Echotitbits take: The NBA is famous for its ‘tunnel walk’ fashion, but they draw a hard line at anything that alters the official on-court uniform silhouette. Suggs’ ‘choker’ was a viral hit with Gen Z fans, and this ban will likely only increase its status as a ‘forbidden’ fashion icon. Expect Suggs to pivot his style energy into more elaborate tunnel outfits to bypass the on-court restrictions.
Source: Nytimes – https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6937739/2026/01/03/jalen-suggs-headband-ban-magic/ January 3, 2026
Photo Credit: Nytimes
