The NBA season may only last for a few months; however, the players do not really have all that relaxing time. Like any other professional athlete, basketball players have to retain their peak physical condition and to do this, they need to keep active and train all year round. Being a professional basketball player is a full-time all-the-year job. Keeping physically fit and mentally correct is of the utmost importance for the players to face another NBA season.
Each sport needs a different focus and approach. While some sports require the athlete to work on cardio and muscle building, basketball players must work on both aspects of the body. They also need to devise appropriate exercises to maintain and test their full range of motion. The latter part of the exercise regime is crucial to the players, given that basketball is fast-paced with lots of twisting, pivoting, and fast turns. To enable the players to effectively contribute to their team’s success and make it to the top of the best online casino reviews, they need to keep all their body joints strong and in good working condition. However, have you ever stopped and asked, “Who is the player behind the tee?” Today we delve into the word of your favourite NBA players, the good, the bad, and the crazy!
Sports on the court and players off the court
It comes as no surprise that many people who are athletes for a living are inclined to play other games. This is not limited to basketball players but is widespread across the sporting arena. Many NBA players are known to be serious gamers and spend a substantial amount of their relaxing time playing video games. Some may argue that playing video games keeps players active and sharpens their competitive edge.
Some NBA players have even ventured to double up their professional careers and play esports. Gordon Hayward of the Utah Jazz is crazy about esports, while Paul George of the LA Clippers and Damian Lillard of the Portland Trailblazers are keen on soft-spot basketball video games. Games like NBA Live and NBA 2K seem to be their favorite games.
Gambling whilst on the road
Professional basketball players have to travel across the United States to do their job, so they are often jet-lagged and awake at odd hours. The only virtual business outlets during those odd hours are many online casinos. Visiting casino sites or land-based casinos keeps the players active and out of mayhem whilst their biological clock adjusts to the new hours and time zones. This situation becomes a challenge when players visit land-based casinos, and the media takes advantage of this matter to blame and derange the players’ performance on the court. This happened some time ago, when the Raptors loss to the Cavaliers on two particular Raptors players who were seen attending a land-based casino late at night. Online casinos are today readily available all the time and visiting these sites rather than going to land-based casinos can assist basketball players from getting into trouble with the media as well as their coaching staff.
The good imaged athlete
Many NBA players are heavily involved in philanthropic work during their free time. This helpful activity is sometimes sparked by a specific issue or cause like a health situation in the family or a lifelong commitment to specific issues like being involved in a traffic accident or losing a close friend due to addiction. Some examples of NBA players involved in philanthropic work include John Wall’s donations to various hospitals and charities aimed at providing relief and assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic; Kevin Durant helping victims of the Oklahoma Tornado, and Steph Curry auctioning a pair of customized game-used sneakers to raise money for families of the Atlanta shooting victims. That said, James LeBron and Steph Curry are two of the most known charitable players. Both players helped set philanthropic foundations to help underprivileged children and young adults find their way in life and improve their opportunities to succeed. These foundations have significantly impacted the lives of children and young adults in places like Akron, Ohio, and Oakland, from where LeBron and Curry hail.
When NBA players take on Hollywood
Some NBA players opt to pursue an acting career during or after their profession in basketball. The movie Space Jam isn’t the only movie that features famous basketball players in leading roles. NBA players (present and past) also have cameos or parts in popular television series, on occasion appearing in animated form in shows like SpongeBob Square Pants and The Simpsons alongside Homer Simpsons and his son Bart. One of the busiest NBA players who is very confident in front of the cameras is Shaquille O’Neil. He has been in the acting business since the nineties and commenced his second career by playing parts in Kazaam; having cameos in Good Burger, the Bernie Show, the Tracy Morgan Show, Scary Movie, the House Bunny, and the Lego Movie. Not bad for a professional NBA basketball player!
Famous beards, pre-game mantras, and writing children’s books
James Harden of the Houston Rockets owns a closet stacked with some weird and wild stylish clothes, but he is more famous for his craziest beard in the NBA’s history. Harden has grown his beard long and has a successful career with it. It also helped the player land many lucrative endorsement deals, like the deal he concluded with Ferrara Candy’s Trolli brand. Apparently, the legends say he also stacks sweets in his basketball and digs in while he is driving towards the hoop.
J.J. Redick likes to stay organised all the time. The Philadelphia shooting guard plans his naps, meals, and what clothes he is going to wear. Redick’s pre-game plan includes eating roasted chicken, a baked potato, asparagus or broccoli and washing the lot with coffee.
Stephon Marbury had a successful career in the NBA, running from 1996 to 2009. He made it to the All-Star team twice and co-written a children’s book. In 2009, he live-streamed for his StarburyTV web taking questions from viewers. Asked whether he believed in aliens, Marbury replied that he did not know but believed in Jesus Christ as he had seen him in the shower the other day!! He also expressed his desire to meet Michael Jackson’s spirit and eat Vaseline during the live stream. Very odd but true. Does Marbury believe a return to the NBA is imminent?
Whilst some NBA players engage themselves in playing video games or doing philanthropic work, others prefer to continue their entertainment streak off the court with their strange behaviour and habits.
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