Height/Weight: 6’0”, 175 lbs
Current team: New Orleans Hornets
Years in NBA: 4
College: Wake Forest
This past weekend I was fortunate enough to work the 2nd Annual Chris Paul Elite Guard Camp. I sat down with CP on the final morning of camp to ask him questions about his training. Please note, I have paraphrased his answers, these are not verbatim. I didn’t use a recorder; I merely scribbled notes as fast I could when writing down his answers!
Q: At what age (or grade) did you first start lifting weights?
A: I didn’t start to lift weights until I got to Wake Forest. Coach Prosser was a big advocate of it. I needed to get stronger to compete at that level.
Q: How do you feel like it helped your game?
A: Getting bigger and stronger helped me compete with the big time players in the ACC. It made me stronger with the ball and on defense. I only weighed 155 lbs in high school! I got up to about 175 in college, and although I am currently listed at 175 lbs; I am actually right around 190 lbs. I have worked hard to get stronger and put on some muscle to help me survive the rigorous NBA season. I feel so much more powerful now.
Q: Why do you think strength & conditioning for basketball players is important?
A: Strength and conditioning is not just about lifting weights and running sprints. While that is certainly part of it; so is stability training (for balance) and flexibility. All of these components help you move better on the court. Going from high school to college the game gets so much more physical. You go from playing with boys to playing with men. You need the extra strength.
Q: What does your off season training program consist of now?
A: Since this was my first summer off in a couple of years (because of the Olympics last year); I took more time off than normal after the season (about a month). My body and mind needed a rest. But now I am back in full force. If I am not working with my private trainer I follow the program set up by the Hornets strength & conditioning coach. My main focus is getting stronger (especially in my core), improving my flexibility (I used to not be able to touch my toes!), and maintaining my new bodyweight (+10 lbs.). I usually get up around 7am and eat breakfast, then do my dynamic flexibility and my strength work, then take a few hours off, and then come back and do my court work (ball handling, shooting, etc.). At night I spend about an hour stretching. That has helped me more than you know.
Q: What is the biggest difference between playing in college and in the NBA?
A: The speed of the game is certainly faster, but the biggest adjustment for me, since I play so many minutes every night, is how long the season is. 82 games plus pre-season plus playoffs is a grind! Your mind and your body have to be strong and durable.
Q: What did you learn from your Olympic experience?
A: I learned what it takes to be a true champion. I never won a state title in high school. I never won a national title in college. I haven’t won a national championship in the league yet; so this was my first time being a real champion. Luckily I got to do it on the biggest stage in the world! Being a champion is about details, hard work, and consistency. People forget we prepared for over 3 years to win that gold medal!
Q: What do high school and college players need to improve on the most?
A: They need to learn how to really play the game. They need to learn how to think the game. Many of the top players are just so athletic and talented; they never learn how to really play. They also rely too much on their athletic ability and not enough on proper fundamentals and footwork.
I would like to extend a special thank you to CP for taking the time to speak with me and for letting me work his prestigious camp.
Don’t forget to check it out and subscribe to www.YouTube.com/StrongerTeamDotCom and check out the latest exercise of the week. And if you want the inside scoop on the basketball training scene, as well as daily inspirational quotes, follow me on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/AlanStein and www.Facebook.com/AlanSteinJr.
Train hard. Train smart.
Alan Stein
www.StrongerTeam.com