Kevin Love truly believes that you are what you eat, and he counts every serving.

“It’s not 10 almonds, it’s not 18, it’s 14.” Trainer Rob McLanghan said of his most dedicated clients, “Whatever Kevin says is what it is. If the plan He eats every 2 hours, and he wakes up during the day to eat and sleep." Loew has almost completely changed his eating habits, and his teammates often make fun of him on social media. Since 2012, Loew has been basically vegetarian. Salmon and grilled chicken are the first choices for staple food, and he eats 5 or 6 meals a day. After Love joined the Cavaliers in 2014, he hired a full-time chef to prepare egg whites, beet juice, wheat flakes mixed with almond ox and protein powder.

At the team breakfast before Game 2 of the Finals, the Cavaliers players devoured pancakes, waffles and bacon, with the exception of Love.

"Kevin had two bran muffins, a banana and skim milk," Cavaliers forward Richard Jefferson said. "He was eating like an 80-year-old man trying to stay in shape. Mrs. ”

Love often brings his own food — kale salad and grilled chicken — on the plane instead of eating those high-calorie carbs after games. Love said teammates often joke about it.

“When I come in with a grocery bag, they look at me weird,” Loew said. “It’s not a good thing to have teammates who are always making fun of you.”

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But Loew knew he had to eat this way. Especially since the Cavaliers are playing their 101st game of the season. Many people misunderstand that NBA players can eat their favorite foods without restraint during the long, harsh regular season and playoffs. But all that sweat and training doesn't mean they can satisfy their cravings.

NBA players actually count calories just like us. They crave a late night snack, a drink, a margarita or a cold beer. When they crave delicious food to relieve stress, it doesn’t matter if it’s home-cooked meatballs or Love’s mother’s favorite chicken Alfredo pasta.

“People definitely think that athletes can eat whatever they want because they will burn all the calories,” said Dr. Mike Russell, a nutritionist who has worked with many professional athletes. home, including Lakers center Roy Hibbert. "Even in the front office, some people have this idea. I was surprised to see many NBA players buying chicken tenders in the arena before the game and going to Subway late at night after the game. They are just like ordinary people."

But players are now starting to embrace the idea that proper nutritional intake is good for the body. For example, Draymond Green fell to the 35th pick in 2012, partly because his body fat content, jumping and physical fitness were below average. But after his rookie season, Green lost 20 pounds. He ditched those "bad carbs." Including his favorite tacos from Vargas & Sons Tortillas in Saginaw, Michigan. Green said that after losing weight, his old knee pain has alleviated, and his physical strength and mental focus have improved.

Even the incredibly talented LeBron James has made changes in his diet. In 2014, he posted a photo of himself on social media after losing weight, which also aroused admiration. At the time he said it was the effect of a low-carb diet.

Warriors center Andrew Bogut stopped eating sugar after winning the championship last year and lost 22 pounds as a result. He said that a documentary called "Sugar is the New Fat" stimulated him, and he started to give up sugar and continued to train as usual. Bogut said he used to make fun of people who read ingredient labels on products.

"Now," he said, "I watch it too."

Charles Barkley said there is an ironclad rule in the NBA: "If you're fat or out of shape, you don't Probably supporting his family by playing basketball.”

Barkley is probably the only player in history who intentionally gained weight to avoid being drafted. Barkley graduated from Auburn University in 1984. His nickname was "Rebound Ball." Weighed in at 292 pounds while visiting the 76ers. 76ers owner Harold Katz, who holds the No. 5 pick, likes Barkley very much and is committed to drafting him. But Catez wants Barkley to be slimmer.

"Harold said, 'Let's see how hard you work,'" Barkley recalled. "Two days before the draft, you come to our weigh-in. I hope to get down to 284 pounds." ."

Barkley went to Houston to train hard every day, stopped eating sugar, drinking alcohol, and ate a lot of fruits and vegetables. He dropped to 280 pounds. But a few days before the draft, Barkley's agent, Lance Lachenik, informed him that the 76ers had exceeded the salary cap and could only give him an annual salary of $75,000 (there was no unified rookie contract at the time). Barkley panicked. He didn't want to suffer a loss in his first NBA contract.

"I decided not to let the 76ers draft me," he said.

For the next 48 hours, according to Barkley, he and Lachenik embarked on a binge eating plan. Super luxurious breakfast: two pancakes, two eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns and bread. In addition, Buckley ordered a stack of large pancakes. Buckley drank soda and milkshakes and feasted on lobster rolls throughout the afternoon. He ordered two more T-bone steaks for dinner.

"We did it all again the next day," Buckley said.

When he returned to the 76ers training facility, his weight soared to 301 pounds. "Katez was yelling at me," Barkley said. "He was furious. No one knew about the weight gain plan, but I thought, 'It worked.'"

On the day of the draft, a proud Barkley Sit back and wait to see which unfortunate player gets drafted by the Sixers. David Stern read: "With the fifth overall pick in the 1984 draft, the 76ers selected...Charles Barkley!"

"I was sitting there in shock," Barkley said , "I couldn't believe it. I told my agent, 'OK, now I'm fat and poor.'"

Fortunately, the 76ers cleared the salary cap and gave Barkley 2 million for 4 years. Dollar. Barkley found a lifelong mentor in Philadelphia, Moses Malone, who told him that being fat and lazy would make it impossible for him to make it in the NBA. The distressed Barkley dropped to 255 pounds and within two years was selected to the All-Star Game for the first time in 11 consecutive years.

Former Suns center Oliver Miller loves pizza the most.

Danny Ainge, who was Miller's teammate in the Suns, said he reached 375 pounds at his heaviest. Miller ate so much that the Suns had to take drastic measures and send him to the hospital for infusions.

"But they found out he ordered Domino's pizza in the hospital," Ainge said, "and they had to put security outside the room."

Barkley also played with Miller. , "When we were playing away games, we would see pizza boxes stacked outside his room," Barkley said. "I can't understand why people can't keep their mouths shut when they make so much money. I think it's crazy."

< p>Ainge is now the president of basketball operations for the Celtics, and has also encountered players with Miller problems: "Big Baby" Glen Davis (his contract with the Celtics has a weight clause), Ja Reed Sullinger. Former Georgetown big man Mike Sweetney, who Ainge believes has the skills of a 10-year NBA veteran.

“First of all, I don’t think any fat person wants to be overweight,” Angie said. “They also want to be in good shape, and most people put in varying degrees of effort. A lot of big guys like Oliver and Big Baby are even overweight. Playing well, too. That's part of the problem, they can be efficient, but in the end, it kills you."

But it's not as simple as losing weight. My body has become lighter, but many times I am not able to perform at my best.

For example, Roy Hibbert was asked by former Pacers head coach Jim O'Brien to lose 30 pounds to adapt to the faster pace of Qifeng. O'Brien thought a leaner Hibbert would play better (and he did). But when Frank Vogel took over, he asked Hibbert to gain weight because Vogel liked a confrontational, tough style.

At that time, Hibbert often ordered the hotel's fatty food late at night. When Russell took over, he advised Hibbert to gain what nutritionists call "net weight." Russell's principle revolves around one question: Can you eat the same thing in two hours? If not, Russell said, that's too much.

"The hardest thing is to keep your mouth shut," Hibbert said now, "so I leave it to others."

Today, Russell will arrange for Hibbert to All of Burt's meals were delivered to the team's hotel when he played away games. Occasionally, Russell would let Hibbert get a little wild. For example, he invented a healthy cheese hot dog, which contains chicken, 3 grams of fat and 8 grams of protein, ground beef, low-fat cheese and high-fiber wheat bread. Russell also designed healthy lobster macaroni and cheese

Even the best nutritionists can't keep their eye on health.

“There is no low-calorie red velvet cake,” says Russell.

Like ordinary people, NBA veterans also encounter the same problem: the older they get, the more they have to pay attention to their diet.

Gone are the good days of Jefferson's youth where he ate steak three nights a week on the road. He said he also couldn't have Stereo Crisps (a Pepsi-fried treat) in the house. "I'll be 36 in a few weeks," Jefferson said, "and I can't stand these things."

In 1988, when Brian Shaw was a rookie with the Celtics, the pregame meal was There are Big Macs, French fries and sodas. In 2014, then-Nuggets coach Shaw was surprised to see pizza and nachos in the locker room before a game. He blamed the greasy food for dragging down the team's start to the season. Shaw threw the food in the trash and replaced it with chicken and salad.

McLanghan said his client Derrick Rose also started to like fast food. "Derrick loved Burger King the most before the game. He wouldn't even look at a salad in the first two years, but now that he's older, it's easy for him to accept it."

Pacers chief strength and conditioning coach Sean Wendell Say, break those habits and let the players take a good look at their on-court performance, which is a by-product of their gluttony. "I have this conversation all the time with our players: 'I had pizza before the game and I got 25 points, tell me what difference would it make if I had salmon and broccoli?'" Wendel said. You try to explain to them that the physicality and energy of the game are different. Or pizza may not affect the statistics tonight, but it may be tomorrow."

Even if LeBron is in Game 3 of the Finals. Qian also admitted that as he got older, he also adjusted his eating habits. The latest change is to say no to junk food.

“But when you are at home with three kids, and they put junk food in front of you, it’s hard to say no,” James said. “Occasionally I’ll eat a few bites to make them happy, but I’m actually happy. It's me."

Mavs head coach Rick Carlisle said that he has learned one thing after spending 27 years in this league: Don't draw conclusions based on a player's size. For example, Raymond Felton's eating habits are much stricter than Russell Westbrook's, but you can't tell from his appearance. Two players may eat the same food and train at the same intensity, but their bodies and skills may be completely different. This is determined by genes.

Russell said that LeBron's "genetic talent" allowed his so-called "low-carb diet" in 2014 to take effect so quickly and with amazing results.

“They were touting it as a low-carb diet plan, which it wasn’t at all,” Russell said, noting that James was not a client. “His ‘low-carb’ meal had mangoes, chutney, and Carbohydrates and sugar. But this is normal, nutritionally speaking, even the most wealthy and resourceful people can eat poorly."

Genes definitely play a role in diet and weight gain and loss. . The temptation of the away game is an unquestionable challenge. Nightlife is a terrible health barrier during the season. Alcohol and nightlife go hand in hand, it has calories and players inevitably end up eating junk food late at night and skipping breakfast the next day. Two team general managers interviewed admitted that amateur life is the most difficult bad habit for players to break. "If we could get our players to stay honest after the game, we could win five more games," one Western Conference general manager said.

“He eats like a female bodybuilding champion wearing a bikini,” Jefferson snickered. Although Cavaliers players like to joke about Love, Love has also won their respect by adhering to a strict diet to maintain his body shape.

Love weighed more than 270 pounds when he was at UCLA and would get out of breath after running a few steps on the court. When he first came to the NBA, Love did not dare to go to the low post because he was worried that he would not bounce well and would not be able to get rid of his opponent and shoot.

McLanghan said Love is now more explosive and can create space for himself with step-back jumpers and dribbling. This is a direct benefit of better mental focus and a 30-pound weight loss.

During offseason training, Love was able to hold on for 60 minutes, which was a huge difference from the UCLA and Timberwolves days - when he had to change into a T-shirt and shorts every hour because he was sweating too much. .

"When he first came to the NBA, he couldn't last until the end of the game," McClangerhan said. "Now he has the physical strength. Kevin has put in a lot of hard work, and he sees this as The investment has now paid off (a $114 million contract)."

Love has been counting almonds for 5 years, and Bogut has given up sugar for 11 months. But still craving Cadbury chocolate and Australian Mars chocolate bars. Green was initially very uncomfortable with the low-carb diet, but it has now become part of his daily routine. "Just like I was used to eating junk food," he said, "I'm used to eating healthy food now."

As for LeBron, chutney or not, low-carb or not, whatever helps his game , there is a platform for "low-carb" plans.