PERFORMANCE CHANGES IN NBA BASKETBALL PLAYERS VARY IN STARTERS VS. NONSTARTERS OVER A COMPETITIVE SEASON

    Authors

    A. M. Gonzalez; J. R. Hoffman; J. P. Rogowski; W. Burgos; E. Manalo; K. Weise; M. S. Fragala;J. R. Stout

    Comments

    Authors: contact us about adding a copy of your work at STARS@ucf.edu

    Abbreviated Journal Title

    J. Strength Cond. Res.

    Keywords

    sport; overtraining; strength; reaction time; power; Sport Sciences

    Abstract

    Gonzalez, AM, Hoffman, JR, Rogowski, JP, Burgos, W, Manalo, E, Weise, K, Fragala, MS, and Stout, JR. Performance changes in NBA basketball players vary in starters vs. nonstarters over a competitive season. J Strength Cond Res 27(3): 611-615, 2013-The purpose of this study was to compare starters (S) with nonstarters (NS), on their ability to maintain strength, power, and quickness during a competitive National Basketball Association (NBA) season. Twelve NBA players were assessed at the beginning and end of the competitive season. However, because of trades and injury, only 7 (S = 4, NS = 3) players (28.2 +/- 3.4 years; 200.9 +/- 9.4 cm; 104.7 +/- 13.9 kg; 7.2 +/- 1.9% body fat) participated in both testing sessions and underwent analysis. Anthropometric performance (repetitive vertical jump power [VJP], squat power [SQT power], and reaction time) and subjective feelings of energy, focus, alertness, and fatigue were recorded during each testing session. Results were interpreted using magnitude-based statistics to make inferences on true differences between starters and nonstarters using the unequal variances t-statistic. Starters played an average of 27.8 +/- 6.9 minutes per game and nonstarters played an average of 11.3 +/- 7.0 minutes per game. During the course of the season, changes in VJP indicated that starters were likely to increase VJP (Delta = 77.3 +/- 78.1 W) compared to nonstarters (Delta = -160.0 +/- 151.0 W). There also appeared to be a possible beneficial effect on maintaining reaction time in starters (Delta = 0.005 +/- 0.074 seconds) compared with nonstarters (Delta = 0.047 +/- 0.073 seconds). In addition, no clear differences in Delta SQT power were seen between starters (Delta = 110.8 +/- 141.4 W) and nonstarters (Delta = 143.5 +/- 24.7 W). Changes in subjective feelings of energy indicated that starters were very likely to maintain their energy over the course of a season. It also appeared possible that starters were able to have a more positive response to subjective measures of fatigue and alertness than nonstarters, with only trivial differences between starters and nonstarters in regards to maintaining focus. Results of this study suggest that NBA players may enhance lower-body power, repetitive jump ability, and reaction during a competitive season, which appear to be enhanced with the stimulus of playing time.

    Journal Title

    Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research

    Volume

    27

    Issue/Number

    3

    Publication Date

    1-1-2013

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    611

    Last Page

    615

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000315596500012

    ISSN

    1064-8011

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