Orlando Magic players grow playoff beards

ORLANDO, Fla., March 24 (UPI) -- Members of the Orlando Magic basketball team have pledged not to shave their facial hair until the end of their NBA playoff run.

Small forward Quentin Richardson said he and his teammates decided after Monday night's victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers to grow out their beards from the mid-April start of playoffs season until the end of the team's season, the Orlando Sentinel reported Thursday.

"It's one of those team things," Richardson said. "Togetherness. It's something fun at the same time. It's going to definitely look funny, I know."

The beard growing pledge may be unusual for a basketball team, but hockey players have a long tradition of growing playoff beards, the Sentinel said.