There are certain indices of hard work. Certain things that tell you a player is of a certain type. They play a certain way and that you will have your work cut out for you.
Anyone can buy a headband, even if they are not sweating. Anyone can buy a sleeve, regardless if they are protecting against bursitis or not. Even the wristband gets more play, worn by weekend warriors on the tennis court as much as the basketball court.
Anyone can buy those. Anyone can wear them.
It may still say something if you wore them to a pickup game and did not live up to the hype and expectation that comes with it — you are picking the stranger with the sleeve and if he is not Allen Iverson he loses all credibility.