Have you ever wondered how basketball players are so tall? Have you ever noticed just how tall basketball players are? There is a reason why tall players tend to dominate the game. Taller players are quicker to reach the goal, better at blocking shots and tend to take care of rebounds easier. Overall, taller players have quite a lot of advantages over shorter players.
While most basketball players are born with tall genes and tend to grow taller than most as they age, some basketball players take part in certain exercises that are thought to help them grow taller. Some of these most common sports include swimming and yoga.
Are you interested in learning more about how basketball players are so tall and what the advantages are of being tall in this sport? This guide will tell you everything you need to know about the importance of being tall in the game of basketball.
How Tall Are Basketball Players?
The average height of a basketball player in the NBA is around six feet and six inches tall. This height is around eight inches taller than the average American male. Many basketball players are often seven feet or even taller.
When it comes to basketball, taller players are usually favored as these players tend to be more capable of reaching the goal and blocking shots from the other team.
Exercises That Help Basketball Players Grow Taller
There are some exercises that shorter basketball players can take advantage of that can help slightly with increasing their height. Stretching regularly and working on good posture is a great start. However, you can’t expect to achieve any growth results overnight.
In order to gain some height, the player will need to be patient and put in the work. Below is a list of exercises that basketball players take part in to help them grow and improve their posture:
Swimming
One of the best exercises for stretching is swimming. Swimming allows you to naturally move your entire body with ease. It stretches both your arms and legs simultaneously and is a great low-impact type of exercise for the entire body.
Yoga
Yoga includes a lot of stretching and this can be extremely beneficial for posture and growth. One of the best stretches for supporting posture and growth is the Cobra position. This stretch involves lying on the floor on your front and then using your arms to lift your chest away from the floor, bending your back in the process. This is a great stretch for the spine and can greatly improve posture.
To see the best results from your exercises, you will need to be consistent. Try to do a little bit of stretching each day. Always be sure to warm up before your workouts and cool down after your workouts. This will help to ensure that you avoid any potential injuries during your workouts.
Does The Basketball Sport Make You Grow Taller?
The regular stretching that basketball players do can help to improve posture which can help with growth. When it comes to the actual game of basketball, regular jumping may increase the secretion of growth hormones which can assist with height. However, this will only be a small amount of growth that will have very little effect on the overall height of the player.
The regular running and jumping that basketball players do during their games and during training will increase blood flow. This increase in blood flow will lead to increased muscle tissue growth and will increase bone density.
How Can I Increase My Height as a Basketball Player?
If you are interested in becoming a basketball player, you may be wondering the best ways to grow taller. There are some things that you can do to help improve your posture and help to encourage growth. Check out the list below for some ideas on what you can do to help you grow taller:
- Intensive, well-planned training schedules
- Lots of exercise
- Healthy diet
Intensive, well-planned training schedules
Professional basketball players will always stick to a strict training plan to help them maintain optimal health and improve their skills in the game. Most basketball players will train daily with regular rest days for recovery. This regular training regime helps to improve muscle quality and will increase muscle mass. This helps the player to improve their physical stamina and will also improve their performance.
Since basketball players need height to play the game well, their professional training will usually include many exercises that aim to improve posture and height. By maintaining a regular exercise program with these types of workouts incorporated, you can increase your chances of potentially adding some growth to your height.
Lots of exercise
Exercise is a very important factor in stimulating growth. The more exercise you do, the better you can expect the results to be. It takes a lot of hard work and consistency to see results from exercise. However, any type of exercise will help you to grow muscle and a lot of exercises will help to improve your posture, making you taller.
Healthy diet
A healthy diet is also an important factor when it comes to stimulating growth. A good well-balanced diet that is rich in protein will help to ensure you meet your goals. Protein helps with muscle growth and can also help you to recover much faster after your workouts.
Many professional athletes take advantage of protein supplements and protein shakes to help increase the amount of protein in the diet. Other great sources of protein include lean meats and eggs.
Below is a list of things that you should include in your diet:
- Fresh vegetables
- Fresh fruits
- Protein
- Dairy
- Whole grains
What Are the Best Ways to Increase Height?
As you can see, there are a number of things that you can do to help improve your height and ensure that you grow as tall as possible. Below is an overview of the best ways to ensure that growth is stimulated as much as possible:
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet
- Exercise regularly
- Do a lot of stretching
- Get enough sleep
- Maintain good health
- Avoid smoking
- Be patient
What Factors Contribute to Height?
There are several factors that contribute to a person’s height. People tend to grow at the quickest rate during the time between puberty and adulthood.
It is thought that genetics account for around 60-80% of a person’s final height. The rest is down to environmental factors. These can include things such as your diet, nutrition, and the amount of exercise that you do.
You tend to stop growing once you’ve completed puberty. This means that you’re unlikely to grow any taller once you hit adulthood. However, you should continue to eat a well-balanced diet and exercise as an adult to ensure that you retain your height.
Final Thoughts
Many basketball players are tall by chance as a person’s final height is mostly down to genetics. However, maintaining a healthy, balanced diet and completing regular exercises that stimulate growth can help to ensure you grow as tall as you possibly can.
The time between puberty and adulthood is the most important time for your growth, so you should ensure you do everything you can to stimulate growth as much as possible during this time if you are really serious about becoming a basketball player.
The bottom line is, there isn’t much you can do about your height as an adult. However, if you stick to exercising, getting plenty of sleep, and eating well, then you’ll be able to grow as tall as you possibly can and retain your height through adulthood.
If you liked this post, be sure to check “Can Basketball Increase Height After 21?” & “Can Basketball Players Smoke?“.
