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Players wiping their sneakers during deadball periods is ubiquitous now. I remember hearing somewhere that Larry Bird started doing it, but not for any particular reason.
Is he the first to make this action during a game? Was there another player to have done it sooner?
If you are referring to the bottom of sneakers, it is to remove any dust, dirt, etc., that would cause the shoe sole to have less of a grip on the floor. Once something that is rubber-like gets dust on them, it can become slick. This can cause a player to slide when unwanted, and can potentially cause injury if unexpected.
