2. The lack of travel will further help LeBron James
Piggy-backing on what I said on the last page, the fact that teams won’t be jetting back and forth across the country will minimize the fatigue that players will experience and aid in their recovery.
The NBA lifestyle and travel schedule is grueling, to say the least. Players are constantly hopping on a plane from city to city, to the point where they may wake up in the morning in their hotel room and momentarily forget what city they’re in.
The constant travel translates into less sleep, which means less opportunities for their bodies to recover from games and practice.
Any competent personal trainer or doctor will tell you that 7-9 hours of sleep is imperative to maintain a healthy body, mind and spirit. It’s even more imperative if you’re a pro athlete or even if you’re simply a fitness enthusiast.
Last October, ESPN’s Baxter Holmes wrote an expose about just how bad sleep deprivation is in the NBA and its negative effects on player health.
With all games being held in a bubble at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla., the biggest obstacle to getting a full night’s sleep has been removed, at least for the time being.
Add to that the stringent bubble restrictions, and players won’t have any excuse to not get a full night’s sleep on a regular basis.
This can all translate to better performance on the court for everyone, especially guys like James who are up there in age and mileage.
It also may make it easier for him and others to fully recuperate once their season is over and before training camp starts up in November.