Remaining in peak condition is the duty of every highly paid pro athlete, with fans expecting nothing less from their heroes.
This pressure can often lead to players being led down the wrong path and training the wrong way.
Here are some of the techniques and habits the best in the business use, and which amateur athletes can learn from to improve their own performance.
Making the Most of Downtime
It seems counterintuitive to talk about downtime when discussing how to stay in shape, but for many athletes the specter or over training is very much a problem, especially for those who are advanced in age.
Being able to recover after a grueling match or training session is key to a squad being able to make a deep run into the playoffs or get online NBA odds tipsters talking about them thanks to a hot streak during the regular season. Many players are turning to both mobile and console games to wile away the time the body needs to recoup.
Staying Supple with Pilates and Yoga
Only a few years ago it would have been sneered at for an NBA star to be seen at a yoga studio or Pilates class, but those days are long gone, with top players such as Andre Iguodala and Kevin Love swearing by yoga.
If you can’t reach your toes or touch your hands behind your back, perhaps it is time you got yourself a yoga mat and practiced your downward dog.
Yoga is the perfect way to stay supple and fend off injuries
Hitting the Track
Cardio is an important aspect of any NBA stars workout routine but running on a treadmill can get boring and even be bad for knee and ankle joints.
That is why many are choosing to do their running on tracks designed for the purpose, whose markings also allow athletes to stay abreast of how their times are coming down.
A running track is a useful tool to judge your progression
Shooting Hoops at Home
Of course, not everyone can just build their own court at home, like Bradley Beal has, but there is no doubt that one of the most fun and productive ways to stay fit at home is to practice your chosen sport there.
Whether you mount a basketball hoop in your driveway or erect a soccer goal in your garden, having some sort of way to play at home is always worthwhile.
Gloving Up
Boxing training has long been seen as one of the best ways to stay in shape, combining cardiovascular work with intense concentration and power exercises. The likes of Kyle Kuzma and Jusuf Nurkić are all converts to the sweet science.
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