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Former NBA players and coaches are having a hard time figuring out the recent uptick in injuries.
Back in the day, teams and players had fewer conditioning coaches and staff members, played more back-to-backs, and practiced harder and more often.
Even so, players rarely missed games, and we’re talking about both superstars and role players.
Now, with all the science, new developments, strength coaches, fewer back-to-backs and practices, players are often sidelined with soft-tissue injuries and whatnot.
And according to former NBA player Gilbert Arenas, it all has to do with the players not being in top shape anymore.
Recently, the controversial guard stated that players aren’t practicing anymore, stating that they’re just doing light shooting drills and that they don’t even run that much in a game anymore:
“They’re not training at all,” Arenas said. “Man, I used to run 5 miles a day to get in shape. I used to do bleacher work. And now they’re saying the game is played faster.”
Is Gilbert Arenas wrong? pic.twitter.com/KEQnleJKBJ
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Arenas stated that he used to run at least two miles in a single game, whereas players nowadays only run half of that.
Notably, the data actually shows that players nowadays still run 2 or 2.5 miles a game on average, so Arenas’ assessment may not be exactly accurate.
Truth be told, it’s hard to realize why players are getting hurt more often now than back in the day.
The game has always been physical and has taken a burden on the players’ bodies, and one might argue that they don’t go as hard as they used to on the defensive end of the floor.
But from that to say that the players are out of shape, that might be a little too much.
The post Former NBA Star Explains Why Players Are Not In Good Shape Anymore appeared first on The Cold Wire.