A finger sleeve is worn by certain basketball players to support and protect their fingers, and for pain relief,^[1] as well as to enhance grip on the ball during a shot.^[2] It is the player's preference on which finger the sleeve is worn. Many, such as Reggie Miller, choose to wear more than one finger sleeve. The use of the finger sleeve is authorized and approved by the National Basketball Association (NBA).^{[citation needed]} In many cases the finger sleeve is worn for protection as an alternative to performing some sort of taping job on the digit.^{[citation needed]}

Notable people who have worn finger sleeves include:

• Kobe Bryant, who wore them to hold a protective gel pad on his arthritic fingers.^[3]
• Anthony Edwards, who began to wear finger sleeves in 2024 after he dislocated his finger.^[1]
• Kevin Garnett, who suffered an injury early in his career and wore finger sleeves for many years after.^[1]
• LeBron James wore finger sleeves in tribute to Kobe Bryant after his death.^[4][5]
• Doug McDermott^[6]

• Basketball sleeve
• Finger splint
• Leg sleeve