The NBA is known for tracking nearly every stat imaginable, from shooting percentages to player movement. In the 2016–17 season, even Kelly Olynyk’s hairstyle was monitored — specifically, whether he wore a man bun or a headband — and how it might have affected his performance.
The results suggested that Olynyk played better when he tied his hair in a bun. He reportedly shot more accurately from three-point range without the headband, which is a crucial skill in today’s game. Before his first season with the Miami Heat, a reporter even joked that the team should add a hairstyle clause to his contract.
Although no specific hairstyle stats were tracked during his time with the Heat, Olynyk made a strong impact on the team. He played a key role in their run to the NBA Finals, regardless of his hairstyle.
Olynyk, however, downplayed any connection between his performance and how he wears his hair. In an interview with ESPN, he said he never wore a man bun during his college career at Gonzaga but still had strong numbers. “I don’t think so, because all throughout college, I never wore a man bun once,” he said. “If you look at the college numbers, I would say [the hair] wasn’t in the way.”
He added, “There isn’t a lot of science behind it,” when asked about his hairstyle choices.
Olynyk doesn’t appear to be superstitious, unlike some athletes such as Michael Jordan, who famously wore his University of North Carolina practice shorts under his Bulls uniform for good luck. For Olynyk, hairstyle is simply a matter of comfort — not a performance enhancer. Whether it’s a man bun, a headband, or a new look entirely, what matters most is playing his best basketball.
