NBA Strength & Conditioning (The “Malnourished” Athlete)

 With the no hand-checking rules today, the only time being thin really hurts guards is when they drive. Lavine will be effective right away as a ball-handler, distributor, and shooter. However, he will never be able to use his superb athleticism until he bulks up. Finishing in the lane requires core strength. More and more help-side defenders are learning to jump straight up and take contact from drivers. For skinny drivers, that amount of contact throws their shot off, especially if the defender is long and can keep his hands up to disrupt the shot. 

 With the no hand-checking rules today, the only time being thin really hurts guards is when they drive. Lavine will be effective right away as a ball-handler, distributor, and shooter. However, he will never be able to use his superb athleticism until he bulks up. Finishing in the lane requires core strength. More and more help-side defenders are learning to jump straight up and take contact from drivers. For skinny drivers, that amount of contact throws their shot off, especially if the defender is long and can keep his hands up to disrupt the shot. 

 Currently there are "skinny" dudes in NBA, Kevin Durant, Jamal Crawford, Monta Ellis plenty more.

If you can ball you can ball, whether skinny or not it shouldn’t make a difference.

 Currently there are "skinny" dudes in NBA, Kevin Durant, Jamal Crawford, Monta Ellis plenty more.

If you can ball you can ball, whether skinny or not it shouldn’t make a difference.

Strongly disagree. You cited two of the best jump shooters of the past 25 years, and to shoot 15-25 feet away from the basket you don’t need to be that strong. Reggie Miller only shot 5.1 free throws per game on his career, and Rip Hamilton only 4.1. In 2014, 5 attempts per game gets you in the top 25 in FT attempted, 4.1 gets you in the top 60.

I think maybe you’re misunderstanding Kobe’s comment on 217 lbs. That wasn’t his high school weight, he said he was in mid-season form. Kobe was around 200lbs as a rookie, and although combine records are tough to find from back then, you can look at his rookie card, and playing weight in 1996. 

http://www.smalltraditions.com/ItemImages/000001/5_1119b_lg.jpeg

LaVine has a unique blend of athleticism and he needs to put on 15-20 lbs to, not only, take the punishment of a slasher, but to aid in his finishing amongst the 275 lb rim protectors of the league. Sure, he could stay at 181 and fall in love with his jump shot, but IMO that wouldn’t do his potential justice.

You look at his FG% at the rim at the NCAA level, and it’s a pretty underwhelming 54.8%. Finishing at the rim in the NBA isn’t going to get any easier, and just for some comparison, other combo guards, and wings (also stronger) in the draft class shot much better at the rim percentages. Marcus Smart (64.9%) Markel Brown (67.4%) Nick Johnson (68.2%) James Young (61.6%) Andrew Wiggins (63.6%) C.J. Wilcox (70.9%).

Look no further than DeMar DeRozan. 6’5.5” in socks, 6’9” wingspan, 216 lbs and in the top 10 in Free Throws attemtped per game at 8 per game. LaVine ins 6’4.5” in socks, with a 6’8.25” wingspan and 181 lbs. He has room to grow, and has the long fram to bulk up to 195-200 lbs, if not more, and not lose his athletic ability. NBA trainers are flat out fitness guru’s and the guys that fail at bulking up and lose athleticism (Drew Gooden comes to mind ) are guys that don’t eat right and gain fat too. There’s not a doubt in my mind, a 195 lb Zach LaVine could still fly over a Great Dane with his knees straight. 15 lbs of lean muscle isn’t that much for a 6’5” guy with long arms, hell it’s not much for a guy a shade over 6′ like myself. 

Slashers in today’s game are strong, whether hand checking is extinct or not. I think to maximize his potential, LaVine would be wise to put on some weight. It might actually help him out a bit on his 2nd jumps, and when he’s greatly fatigued at the end of a game.

15 lbs on a frame as slight as Zach’s isn’t even going to be that noticable, but the strength he’ll gain will pay off immensely. Whether it’s taking a hit, posting up a mismatch who would normally push him off the block, or possible helping him jump higher. The best player in the league and most all around athletic guy in the league is 265 lbs and IMMENSELY benefitted from putting on 30 lbs since high school ( Lebron ). The 2nd best player in the league put on 20 lbs since his year at Texas and got MORE athletic. LaVine will benefit from hitting the weights, he may be a jaw dropping leaper now, but no one is asking him to play at 230, or eat McDonalds to get there. NBA trainers know what they’re talking about, and in that enviroment, I feel strength training is the best way to get the most out of LaVine’s potential. Yeah, he’s got a good enough shot, and is fast enough to develop into a jump shooter and transition dunker like Gerald Green, but he has the natural ability to become much better, well rounded player, and I strongly feel the weight room is just on element of him maximizing his potential.

Strongly disagree. You cited two of the best jump shooters of the past 25 years, and to shoot 15-25 feet away from the basket you don’t need to be that strong. Reggie Miller only shot 5.1 free throws per game on his career, and Rip Hamilton only 4.1. In 2014, 5 attempts per game gets you in the top 25 in FT attempted, 4.1 gets you in the top 60.

I think maybe you’re misunderstanding Kobe’s comment on 217 lbs. That wasn’t his high school weight, he said he was in mid-season form. Kobe was around 200lbs as a rookie, and although combine records are tough to find from back then, you can look at his rookie card, and playing weight in 1996. 

http://www.smalltraditions.com/ItemImages/000001/5_1119b_lg.jpeg

LaVine has a unique blend of athleticism and he needs to put on 15-20 lbs to, not only, take the punishment of a slasher, but to aid in his finishing amongst the 275 lb rim protectors of the league. Sure, he could stay at 181 and fall in love with his jump shot, but IMO that wouldn’t do his potential justice.

You look at his FG% at the rim at the NCAA level, and it’s a pretty underwhelming 54.8%. Finishing at the rim in the NBA isn’t going to get any easier, and just for some comparison, other combo guards, and wings (also stronger) in the draft class shot much better at the rim percentages. Marcus Smart (64.9%) Markel Brown (67.4%) Nick Johnson (68.2%) James Young (61.6%) Andrew Wiggins (63.6%) C.J. Wilcox (70.9%).

Look no further than DeMar DeRozan. 6’5.5” in socks, 6’9” wingspan, 216 lbs and in the top 10 in Free Throws attemtped per game at 8 per game. LaVine ins 6’4.5” in socks, with a 6’8.25” wingspan and 181 lbs. He has room to grow, and has the long fram to bulk up to 195-200 lbs, if not more, and not lose his athletic ability. NBA trainers are flat out fitness guru’s and the guys that fail at bulking up and lose athleticism (Drew Gooden comes to mind ) are guys that don’t eat right and gain fat too. There’s not a doubt in my mind, a 195 lb Zach LaVine could still fly over a Great Dane with his knees straight. 15 lbs of lean muscle isn’t that much for a 6’5” guy with long arms, hell it’s not much for a guy a shade over 6′ like myself. 

Slashers in today’s game are strong, whether hand checking is extinct or not. I think to maximize his potential, LaVine would be wise to put on some weight. It might actually help him out a bit on his 2nd jumps, and when he’s greatly fatigued at the end of a game.

15 lbs on a frame as slight as Zach’s isn’t even going to be that noticable, but the strength he’ll gain will pay off immensely. Whether it’s taking a hit, posting up a mismatch who would normally push him off the block, or possible helping him jump higher. The best player in the league and most all around athletic guy in the league is 265 lbs and IMMENSELY benefitted from putting on 30 lbs since high school ( Lebron ). The 2nd best player in the league put on 20 lbs since his year at Texas and got MORE athletic. LaVine will benefit from hitting the weights, he may be a jaw dropping leaper now, but no one is asking him to play at 230, or eat McDonalds to get there. NBA trainers know what they’re talking about, and in that enviroment, I feel strength training is the best way to get the most out of LaVine’s potential. Yeah, he’s got a good enough shot, and is fast enough to develop into a jump shooter and transition dunker like Gerald Green, but he has the natural ability to become much better, well rounded player, and I strongly feel the weight room is just on element of him maximizing his potential.

Lastly, do not forget about Kobe Bryant emphasising that he had to get back down to his HS playing weight, at 217 lbs. from the 230 lbs. he was carrying around the season before.
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I’m not sure if this anecdote supports the rest of your argument. If Kobe is playing at 217 lbs, and is about 6-4 bare foot, dude is jacked and probably much stronger than Lavine who is the same height and measured 36 lbs lighter at the combine. Lavine doesn’t have to become a monster but getting up to 195-200lbs would surely help his game.

Lastly, do not forget about Kobe Bryant emphasising that he had to get back down to his HS playing weight, at 217 lbs. from the 230 lbs. he was carrying around the season before.
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I’m not sure if this anecdote supports the rest of your argument. If Kobe is playing at 217 lbs, and is about 6-4 bare foot, dude is jacked and probably much stronger than Lavine who is the same height and measured 36 lbs lighter at the combine. Lavine doesn’t have to become a monster but getting up to 195-200lbs would surely help his game.

Allen Iverson was 150 lbs soaking wet

Allen Iverson was 150 lbs soaking wet

170 pounds with all his jewelry…

170 pounds with all his jewelry…

 Obviously Lavine isn’t going to become absolutely bolked up and lose athleticism. His wiry frame and length wouldn’t even let him if he tried. That being said this is a mans league, and adding 10-20 pounds of muscle can only help you in almost every aspect of the game of basketball. Don’t see any negatives to it.

 Obviously Lavine isn’t going to become absolutely bolked up and lose athleticism. His wiry frame and length wouldn’t even let him if he tried. That being said this is a mans league, and adding 10-20 pounds of muscle can only help you in almost every aspect of the game of basketball. Don’t see any negatives to it.