Do basketball players need to lift weights?
While the BEST basketball workout is actually playing basketball, all great athletes also use weight training.
How Michael Jordan bulked up to outmuscle Pistons, win first NBA championship with Bulls
If you don’t believe me, ask one of the greatest basketball trainers out there —>.
Truth: You must do resistance training (i.e. weight lifting) to be an elite player. The BEST players at every level are great athletes. Now, the freaks have freakish genes, BUT they also train hard, AND anyone can improve their athleticism by correctly adding weight lifting to their training.
Resistance training offers numerous benefits for basketball players, contributing to improved performance and injury prevention.1 Here's how:
Increased Power and Explosiveness: Strength training helps players jump higher, accelerate faster, and generate more force for powerful shots and passes.2 This likely resonates with your interest in plyometrics and basketball workouts.
Enhanced Strength and Stability: Resistance training builds muscle strength, making players better at defending their position, rebounding, and finishing through contact.3 Your searches on dumbbell exercises and back exercises are relevant here, as these can contribute to overall strength.
Improved Endurance: Stronger muscles are more efficient, allowing players to maintain peak performance throughout the game and reduce fatigue.4
Injury Prevention: By strengthening muscles, tendons, and ligaments, resistance training helps the body better absorb the impact of jumping, running, and changing direction, reducing the risk of common basketball injuries like sprains and strains, which you've researched in relation to ACL anatomy.4 A strong core, which is often a focus in resistance training, also improves stability and reduces stress on the spine.5
Enhanced Body Control and Coordination: Strength training can improve proprioception, which is the body's awareness of its position in space. This helps players react more quickly and make better adjustments during movements, crucial for skills like dribbling and defending.4
Several great basketball players have significantly benefited from incorporating weight training into their routines. Here are a few examples:
LeBron James: Widely known for his dedication to fitness, LeBron James utilizes a combination of weightlifting, bodyweight exercises, and band work to maintain his incredible strength, power, and longevity in the league. You've shown interest in high-level athletes like the "world’s fittest man" Mat Fraser, and LeBron's commitment to physical conditioning aligns with this.6
Michael Jordan: While initially relying more on his natural athleticism, Jordan notably added muscle mass throughout his career.7 This helped him evolve his game, particularly in the post, and maintain his dominance.8
Kobe Bryant: Kobe was renowned for his relentless work ethic, which included intense strength training.9 He reportedly incorporated exercises like squats, reverse hypers, and board presses to enhance his performance.
Giannis Antetokounmpo: Often cited for his incredible athleticism, Giannis has visibly developed his strength over the years through consistent training, contributing to his dominance on both ends of the court.
These examples highlight how resistance training has become an integral part of high-level basketball, allowing players to maximize their athletic potential, prevent injuries, and sustain long and successful careers. Your own research into specific exercises and workout routines suggests you understand the value of this type of training for athletic improvement.
References:
Effect of core training on athletic and skill performance of basketball players: A systematic review
LeBron James Commitment to Health and Fitness is his Secret to Longevity
How Michael Jordan bulked up to outmuscle Pistons, win first NBA championship with Bulls
3 Ways Kobe Bryant's Insane Work Ethic Can Transform Our Business