AUTHOR=Russell Jennifer L. , McLean Blake D. , Stolp Sean , Strack Donnie , Coutts Aaron J. 

TITLE=Quantifying Training and Game Demands of a National Basketball Association Season

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.793216

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2021.793216

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Purpose</bold>: There are currently no data describing combined practice and game load demands throughout a National Basketball Association (NBA) season. The primary objective of this study was to integrate external load data garnered from all on-court activity throughout an NBA season, according to different activity and player characteristics.</p><p><bold>Methods</bold>: Data from 14 professional male basketball players (mean ± SD; age, 27.3 ± 4.8 years; height, 201.0 ± 7.2 cm; body mass, 104.9 ± 10.6 kg) playing for the same club during the 2017–2018 NBA season were retrospectively analyzed. Game and training data were integrated to create a consolidated external load measure, which was termed <italic>integrated load</italic>. Players were categorized by years of NBA experience (1-2y, 3-5y, 6-9y, and 10 + y), position (frontcourt and backcourt), and playing rotation status (starter, rotation, and bench).</p><p><bold>Results</bold>: Total weekly duration was significantly different (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001) between years of NBA playing experience, with <italic>duration</italic> highest in 3–5 year players, compared with 6–9 (<italic>d</italic> = 0.46) and 10+ (<italic>d</italic> = 0.78) year players. Starters experienced the highest <italic>integrated load,</italic> compared with bench (<italic>d</italic> = 0.77) players. There were no significant differences in <italic>integrated load</italic> or duration between positions.</p><p><bold>Conclusion</bold>: This is the first study to describe the seasonal training loads of NBA players for an entire season and shows that a most training load is accumulated in non-game activities. This study highlights the need for integrated and unobtrusive training load monitoring, with engagement of all stakeholders to develop well-informed individualized training prescription to optimize preparation of NBA players.</p>