LeBron James sleeps 10-12 hours per day. The NBA schedule is brutal — 82 games, constant travel, back-to-backs. Studies show teams that travel east-to-west lose more often (circadian rhythm disruption). Some teams now have sleep pods on planes.
Gone are the days of pregame steak. Modern NBA players eat: lean proteins, complex carbs, anti-inflammatory foods. Some are vegan (Chris Paul, Kyrie Irving). Hydration is tracked by urine color charts in every locker room. Gatorade has a sports science institute dedicated to NBA hydration.
NBA players are bigger, faster, and stronger than ever. Giannis added 50 pounds of muscle since being drafted. Training focuses on: injury prevention, explosiveness, and mobility. Yoga is now common — LeBron, Kevin Love, and many others practice regularly.
Teams track "player load" — a composite of acceleration, deceleration, and direction changes. When load exceeds thresholds, players rest. The Raptors pioneered this with Kawhi Leonard in 2018-19. He played 60 games and won the championship. Now every team does it.
Cryotherapy, hyperbaric oxygen chambers, infrared saunas, float tanks, and NormaTec compression boots. Steph Curry uses sensory deprivation tanks. Some players spend $1M+ per year on their bodies. The NBA is a recovery arms race.