The Nutrition Plan of an NBA Player

Basketball is a hugely popular sport across the US, only behind football and baseball in terms of wealth and fans – and the NBA is the home of the best players in the world.

If you are interested in the players behind the game, especially when you are deciding which team are your pick for winning the NBA playoffs and being declared champion in 2023, then knowing more about how they fuel themselves for a win will help.

What makes a basketball player a really positive addition to the team? Of course, natural skill and passion are one part of it, but as athletes they need to be a step above in terms of fitness and nutrition.

While the NBA Championship odds come together from all sorts of sources, you can find out about the type of diet that your favorite player has below – and some of the different food sources that they swear by to give them the best playing ability, energy, and nutrition.

Basic NBA Nutrition Rules

Like many professional athletes, basketball players are dedicated to their sport, and they want to be on top of their game – which means they will spend the time needed to get their food intake perfect. In many cases, they also rely on a professional chef to create their meals, so they can focus on their fitness and their skills.

Professional basketball players are looking for the right combination of nutrients that will provide enough energy, help with muscle growth and development, and also help them to recover quickly too. This means a reliance on proteins in particular, with carbs used mainly when training heavily or to prepare for game day.

Many NBA stars will keep it simple with lean sources of protein like turkey, chicken, and white fish alongside lots of fruit and vegetables. Carbohydrate sources might be rice, wholegrain pasta, or something like quinoa or couscous.

The mental side of the game – the strategy creation that takes players to the next level in terms of skill and ability – is fueled by the addition of healthy fats like fish oil, avocado, and nuts.

LeBron James

The King of pro basketball has reached the pinnacle of his playing career through a combination of unbelievable talent – and the drive to fuel himself better.

LeBron James has had the benefit of a private chef for more than four years – a professional called Dena Marino, who knows exactly how to fuel the basketball powerhouse in the right way, depending on whether he has a game, is training, or is enjoying an off day.

His focus on health is part of the reason that he ended his endorsement deal with McDonald’s – because they didn’t share core values.

When he isn’t playing matches, he avoids dairy, sugar, and carbs – focusing on eating lean proteins, fruit, and vegetables. On match days, choosing complex carbs helps him with long-lasting energy, so he’ll enjoy chicken and vegetables with the addition of pasta.

LeBron James also enjoys a glass of red wine every night – studies have shown that red wine contains certain antioxidants that are good for the blood, and he believes he is doing the best for his heart health by drinking a ‘beautiful’ glass of red.

Kevin Durant

Another exceptional player, Kevin Durant has become a bit of a spokesperson for the benefit of a diet rich in seafood.

Kevin Durant has had the same personal chef for more than 6 years. Ryan Lopez is a well-known name when it comes to feeding some of the biggest professional athletes in the world – and Durant is one of them.

There is fish on the menu for Kevin at least six times a week, and he particularly enjoys salmon, sea bass, shrimp and scallops.  According to his personal chef, seafood is an excellent choice for an athlete because it is light and easy to digest, with plenty of Omega-3 for healthy brain development. Seafood is also said to reduce inflammation.

Kevin tends to favor gluten free carbs and other foods, with oats as a breakfast staple. He eats lean meats like turkey burgers and chicken as well as his seafood, with steak once a week and all served with vegetables – and he adds wild rice, chickpea pasta, or couscous on game days.

Some More ‘Strange’ Food Choices

Giannis Antetokounmpo turns to his Greek roots when he needs some comfort food, although he swears by a celery juice smoothie that features fruit and protein powder.

Trae Young drinks five protein shakes a day, while Ja Morant lets his parents feed him (as they’ve done such a good job for him while he was growing up).

Of course, winning the NBA Playoffs isn’t about just one player – and there are so many superstars in each conference this year, it is shaping up to be an awesome playoff.