We focused our analysis on twelve distinct types of touch that occurred when two or more players were in the midst of celebrating a positive play that helped their team (e.g., making a shot). These celebratory touches included fist bumps, high fives, chest bumps, leaping shoulder bumps, chest punches, head slaps, head grabs, low fives, high tens, full hugs, half hugs, and team huddles. On average, a player touched other teammates (M = 1.80, SD = 2.05) for a little less than two seconds during the game, or about one tenth of a second for every minute played.

That is the highlight from the paper “Tactile Communication, Cooperation, and Performance” which documents the connection between touching and success in the NBA. Controlling (I can’t vouch for how well) for variables like salary, preseason expectations, and early season success, the conclusion is:  the more hugs in the first half of the season the more success in the second half.