Allen Iverson, a sore elbow, and a league wide movement: The story of how the shooting sleeve came to be

It all started in 2001 with a case of elbow bursitis. 

According to this New Yorker piece, Allen Iverson’s shooting elbow was swollen and sore, and he needed something to fix it so he could finish the season without having to undergo surgery. That’s when then 76ers trainer Lenny Currier cut out a tight tube of spandexy material and asked Iverson to wear it during that night’s game. A.I. agreed, went off for 51 points, and introduced the NBA to what has become one of the more ubiquitous on-court accessories in today’s league: the shooting sleeve.

Lebron James wears one and Carmelo Anthony wears two. Kevin Durant wore one for a while that made his arm look even skinner than it is, and Dwyane Wade wears one, though his should just be called a sleeve since he doesn’t do a whole lot of shooting anymore. And even Dwight Howard wears two, proving they’re not just for guards, that look like they’re ready to snap and explode at a moment’s notice.

Let’s set the record straight: shooting sleeves are strictly for swag purposes. People say they are meant to keep shooter’s arms warm. That’s baloney: the NBA isn’t played in arctic conditions and half of the players wear the sleeve on their non shooting arm anyways. Other say they’re meant to prevent injury. *Buzzer sound that is made when contestants on the Family Feud say a stupid answer.* Also wrong: it’s a very thin piece of spandex. The only injury you’re preventing wearing one is a bug bite or being cut by a defender with long fingernails. 

However, none of that matters. Shooting sleeves ARE FREAKING SICK. Bradley Beal matches his with his home and away jersey. SWAG. John Wall wore a blue and white striped one while at Kentucky. SWAG SWAG. Kobe Bryant wears a purple one. THERE IS NOTHING ON EARTH SWAGGIER THAN A PURPLE SHOOTING SLEEVE.

Since 2008, when an NBA spokesperson said that shooting sleeves were the most popular accessory sold on the league’s website, the movement has grown. Sleeves are not just limited to the Association anymore. NFLer’s wear sleeves, like this gorgeous camo piece worn by Robby Three Sticks last year. Even baseball players, who are definitely the most boring, un swag professional players we have today, wear sleeves. Are you an athlete and want to make yourself look fresher? Put on a sleeve. Instant swag upgrade.

Wearing a sleeve is not for everyone, though. You have to be good. You can’t be a benchwarmer and wear a sleeve. You can’t be a bad at shooting a basketball and wear a sleeve. You can’t have little baby toothpick arms and wear a sleeve. If you wear a sleeve, you’re bound to draw attention to yourself; the crowd’s eyes will be on you. There’s a reason people like Brian Scalabrine and Kendrick Perkins aren’t sleeving it up. It’s because they suck and they would be harassed endlessly. In fact, I wouldn’t mind seeing the NBA and other leagues mandate who is sleeve eligible and who isn’t, so people like Tiago Splitter stop embarrassing themselves. 

Looking back, we have a lot of things to thank Allen Iverson for. He’s responsible for the greatest sports rant in history. He’s also responsible for the illest, most disrespectful post on-court-action in history. But Iverson doesn’t get enough credit for his role as a pioneer in on court NBA fashion. 

99.9999% of us will never play in an NBA game. Yet, thanks to A.I., we can do something that makes us feel like we’re in the NBA. I myself have a shooting sleeve (I was wayyyyyy too scared to wear it for high school basketball, it’s strictly for pick up games) and when I put it on, I feel like anything’s possible. Pull up three’s from thirty feet. Nailing shots and holding my follow through. Taking people off the dribble. All of that feels easier when I wear a sleeve, which is the true beauty of it.

There’s no proof linking increased performance to wearing a sleeve, and there likely never will be. It’s a piece of tight fitting cloth. Let’s be real here.

But that really doesn’t matter. People put on a sleeve because it makes them look good. And when you look good, you play good. The confidence that comes from wearing a sleeve is its secret sauce, its special ingredient. NBA stars, college players, high school starters, and scrubby pick up guys all wear them for one reason: They believe in the sleeve, and the sleeve makes them believe.