Why do some NBA basketball players wear those plastic masks on their face?

Intimidation. Hah.Why do some NBA basketball players wear those plastic masks on their face?
usually, it's because they have suffered broken bones in their faces, especially cheek bones.Why do some NBA basketball players wear those plastic masks on their face?
that is to protect their faces against a further injury towards their face. i think that mask might work , but i am not sure
I think their nose might be broken and its acting as a cast. I could be wrong, but thats what i saw o tv when florida won. Go florida! Ne who thats what i think, im not sure but ya
its to protect their face. but those things are so ugly.
They've broken their nose or something else before. It so they don't break things anymore when they get elbowed in the face or something.
To protect their faces from further injury.
After fracturing bones the masks allow them to play without worying about re-injury. Richard Hamilton of the Pistons broke a bone in his face twice. He is headled now but re injury could threaten his career, so he wears the mask every game. Lebron James wore a similar mask last year I believe, as did Joe Johnson last season w/ the Suns due to a broken orbital bone around his eye.
Usually, the mask protects their noses (in general) if they have broken it. Although, you can't imagine the plastic mask being that protective.