NBA Players in the weight room

[Juan Montoya]

I would like to know what some of the players are able to bench press, squat, there standing vertical jump etc. Is there a place where this information got recorded. Maybe from before they got drafted or after that. How much weight can James, Howard or Nate Robbinson squat I would like to know.

[Luigi]

There's the bench press from the combine (pre-draft workout).

They press a certain weight as many times as they can. I can't remember how much it is, but it's like 30 lbs less than the NFL combine press test...

Anyway, it's hard to get a feel for how strong an NBA player is from that test. First of all, guys coming out of high school get destroyed by 4 year NBA players. Age just makes a huge difference, and the other guys naturally catch up later. Second, there's so much more to strength than bench press. Being able to keep someone out of the paint is really a lot more about leg strength and being able to use your body the right way. Third, you never really know if a player is stronger or weaker than they were as a rookie. Some guys slim down and focus on finesse. Other guys bulk up. Height can change some, but strength changes a lot throughout a player's career.

I'd be interested though. A lot of those combine numbers can be surprising.

[spudwebb]

It is a LOT HARDER to bench press when you have 7' to 7'4 wingspans some of these players have.

Short stubby arms makes it easy for you to bench a lot because you have limited range of movement. But short stubby arms aren't attributes that are an advantage in the NBA.

[D.Brasco]

Guys with long arms like wilt, shaq and dwight have all been pretty good at the bench press.

[Juan Montoya]

I have found some numbers here: http://www.nbadraft.net/node/6301

Blake Griffin able to bench press 185lbs 22 times. Taj Gibson only jumping 25 inches from a standstill. Roddy almost a 40inches maximum jump. And I'm stronger then Austin Daye

[J-Mezzy]

Hmm. I'm stronger than a lot of these guys and bench press is not even my best lift. I'm an average bench press guy so I was surprised that I lift more than a lot of these guys. Now having said that, these guys do have long arms and I am sure their legs are where their strength is.

[King-]

Was not expecting Johnny Flynn to have a higher vertical then Blake Griffin and Chase Budinger

[mitrandil20]

I'd like to know how much they squat

[hironimus]

someone got the whole chart for the last draft? i think crowder led all with 20 press repetitions

[sir G Wallace]

Guys with long arms like wilt, shaq and dwight have all been pretty good at the bench press.

are you arguing with physics? Yeah some guys are ridiculous but doesnt negate the fact that longer arms make it tougher to bench more

[bledredwine]

Ditto on "I want to know how much they squat"


just because I squat an insane amount, played soccer and other sports (used legs a lot, and to run around) and want to see if they're the same way.


Benching is practical for contact sports, martial arts, rock climbing... etc. But squats and lower body training are more important for the NBA

[Ignitowsky]

This thread should be merged with the Steroid/HGH thread

[Jase]

Guys with long arms like wilt, shaq and dwight have all been pretty good at the bench press.

are you arguing with physics? Yeah some guys are ridiculous but doesnt negate the fact that longer arms make it tougher to bench more

He just named the three main exceptions. For every one Howard, there is ten Shawn Bradleys. Heck, even Tyson Chandler is subpar with bench.

[Frank Mulely]

hand strength ftw. most overlooked element of strength for a hoops player.

[ItBeBrianYo]

Do NBA players even lift?

[JellosJigglin]

InBeforeIbakasOiledUpBody

[Gmen]

Do NBA players even lift?

Are you serious? Of course they do. Weight training is implemented on basketball players since high school.

[King-]

Ditto on "I want to know how much they squat"


just because I squat an insane amount, played soccer and other sports (used legs a lot, and to run around) and want to see if they're the same way.


Benching is practical for contact sports, martial arts, rock climbing... etc. But squats and lower body training are more important for the NBA

Huh? I have no idea about rock climbing, but you do realize punching power and technique comes from your lower body? Lower body strength is far more important in MMA, boxing, and other combat sports.....then bench pressing...

[bledredwine]

Ditto on "I want to know how much they squat"


just because I squat an insane amount, played soccer and other sports (used legs a lot, and to run around) and want to see if they're the same way.


Benching is practical for contact sports, martial arts, rock climbing... etc. But squats and lower body training are more important for the NBA

Huh? I have no idea about rock climbing, but you do realize punching power and technique comes from your lower body? Lower body strength is far more important in MMA, boxing, and other combat sports.....then bench pressing...

Dude, I said benching is PRACTICAL for Muay Thai (which is what I practice btw). I wasn't saying that you shouldn't do legs for martial arts as well. Legs are extremely important.

Benching for basketball is only helpful to go up against tougher guys than you, but obviously working the legs is infinitely more important. Kevin Durant couldn't bench **** coming into the NBA.

But are you telling me Ramon Dekkers can't bench a ton? Obviously legs are the most important thing, esp. for Muay Thai, but if you don't think that upper body strength significantly helps your jab, you're kidding yourself. Throwing a punch comes from the ground, manipulating your bodyweight. It's your mass and speed combining... the more mass, the better the punch. Back is INCREDIBLY important for throwing a good punch, and of course strong arms help, esp. for the jab.

Everyone who has the sickest knockout punches has sick strength (fast twitch fiber = explosiveness = working out)

[High0ctane21]

Do NBA players even lift?