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Top 10 Best Supplements For Basketball Players: Yes, They Really Work!


Basketball Supplements Ultimate Guide

By Ball Till We Fall, Last Updated January 1, 2022

Category: Basketball Nutrition & Diet Guides


Welcome to the Ultimate Buyer's Guide to Nutritional Supplementation For Basketball Players

 In this guide we are going to introduce you to a range of readily available over the counter supplements that have been proven to enhance athletic basketball performance.

We will also teach you how to choose the best supplements for your specific budget, performance goals and basketball position. Supplements should always complement a well designed nutritional plan specific for basketball players.

NBA player supplement list

Some people are genetic freaks (like NBA player Zion Williamson). The rest of us have to work hard and supplement smart to get major gains!

Medical Disclaimer: BallTillWeFall.com is intended to be used for educational and information purposes only. BallTillWeFall.com and its editors do not advocate nutritional supplementation over proper medical advice or treatment. BallTillWeFall.com does not assume liability for any actions undertaken after visiting these pages, and does not assume liability if one misuses supplements. This article contains unbiased information backed by science. This article contains material referenced from peer reviewed sources such as NCBI (US National Library of Medicine), and Examine (Independent analysis for supplements and nutrition).


List Of The 10 Best Supplements For Basketball Players

10 Supplements that every basketball player should take

Let's take a look the best supplements for basketball players that have been proven by science to potentially make you a faster, stronger, leaner and more explosive athlete.

1. Pre-Workout Drink/Powder Supplements

What Are Pre-Workout Supplements?

Pre-workout supplements are designed to stimulate your nervous, muscular and cardiovascular systemMany pre-workout supplements contain caffeine, creatine and beta-alanine (we will cover these supplements individually further along in this post). 

Why Are Pre-Workout Supplements Beneficial To Basketball Players?

Pre-workout supplements can help support mental energy and focus during basketball games. Pre-workouts also help improve blood-flow, therefore allowing for more blood to get to the working muscles during basketball games or training. A quality pre-workout powder can significantly boost endurance and power. Some players may prefer a less intense pre-workout option such as coffee and caffeine or energy drinks.


If you are looking to get one up on the competition a pre-workout can be a great way to get that elusive competitive edge.


2. Beta-Alanine

What Is Beta-Alanine?

Beta-Alanine is a naturally occurring amino acid that has been shown to increase athletic performance, enhance power, and promote recovery. Taking beta-alanine may cause a harmless tingling sensation known as paraesthesia. This is completely normal and subsides within a few minutes.

Why Is Beta-Alanine Supplementation Beneficial To Basketball Players?

Beta-Alanine is a naturally occurring amino acid that has been shown to increase athletic performance, enhance power, and promote recovery. This supplement has been scientifically proven to delay muscle fatigue can greatly assist basketball players who must sustain high intensity bouts in the 3-5 minute range. A quality Beta-Alanine supplement will also support healthy organ and muscle function.

If you want to be able to go harder for longer during basketball games and dominate in the fourth quarter then beta-alanine is a great option for you.


3. Creatine

What Is Creatine?

Creatine is a chemical found naturally in the body. Creatine works by saturating your muscles with a high-energy compound called creatine phosphate, and it can be used by the body as an immediate energy supply during basketball training or games.

Why Is Creatine Supplementation Beneficial To Basketball Players?

Creatine promotes better muscle growth, improved strength and power, faster recovery and much more. Creatine also hydrates muscle cells with water, promoting muscle fiber growth. Creatine is proven by science to be the best supplement for basketball players who want to get strong, lean and become more explosive. Learn more about the science behind the benefits of creatine use in basketball players.

Supplementing with creatine has been shown to help athletes run faster and jump higher making it a great option for basketball players who lack explosiveness.


4. Protein Powder Supplements

What Is Protein Powder?

Protein powders are powdered forms of protein that predominantly come milk (casein or whey protein). They can also be derived from plants (soybeans, peas, rice, potatoes, or hemp) or eggs. 

Why Is Protein Powder Supplementation Beneficial To Basketball Players?

Protein supplements can be taken by basketball players to help promote muscle growth and repair.

Whey Protein Isolate is the most highly consumed protein supplement in the world. The leading protein companies make some great tasting varieties.

Plant based protein options are also available for vegan or vegetarian basketball players.

Of course you can always try to get all of your protein through food, although this can be very difficult for active athletes. We created a recent post highlighting the top 5 high protein foods for basketball players.

Studies have shown that athletes require much higher intake of protein than regular people. Often it can be difficult to get enough protein in your diet through foods alone.


5. Glucosamine

What Is Glucosamine?

Glucosamine plays a vital role in building cartilage. It occurs naturally in the fluid around the joints, in animal bones, bone marrow, shellfish, and fungi. Glucosamine increases the absorption of water into tissues, which decreases stiffness in joints and improves their shock-absorption capability. 

Why Is Glucosamine Supplementation Beneficial To Basketball Players?

The running and jumping involved in basketball can be very harsh on the knee, ankle and hip joints. Supplementing with a quality glucosamine supplement can help competitive basketball players increase joint cartilage growth, repair and lubrication.

Many smart NBA players take Glucosamine to help keep their knees healthy and ultimately extend the length of their career.


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6. Collagen Peptides

What Are Collagen Peptides?

Collagen supplements are made from the tendons and ligaments of animals. By ingesting collagen supplements we are able to use the collagen ingredients to synthesis our own tendons and ligaments.

Why Are Collagen Peptide Supplementation Beneficial To Basketball Players?

By ingesting a high quality collagen supplement basketball players are able to use the collagen ingredients to synthesis their own tendons and ligaments. Overtime this supplement helps to strengthen tendons and joints which may help prevent injuries and promote longevity in the game.

Basketball players need to have strong ligaments and tendons in order to stay injury free. Collagen supplements is a must have supplement for any serious basketball player over the age of 25.


7. Multivitamin

What Are Multivitamins?

Multivitamins are supplements that contain many different vitamins and minerals, sometimes alongside other ingredients. Multivitamins help bridge some nutrient gaps so you can meet the recommended amount of nutrients.

Why Is Multivitamin Supplementation Beneficial To Basketball Players?

Many people wonder should basketball players take vitamins and do they hurt or harm performance? It is very hard to do harm with multivitamins if adhering to product guidelines. High intensity exercise such as basketball can deplete the body's nutritional stores. Multivitamins are a combination of different vitamins normally found in food sources. They are used to provide vitamins that are not taken in through your diet.

The vitamins and minerals in a daily multivitamin can ensure that basketball players are performing at their optimal levels.


8. Greens Blend/ Supergreens

What Are Greens Blends and how can they help basketball players?

Basketball players often live a very active life and can find it difficult to consistently eat well. Many basketball players suffer nutrient deficiencies which can result in depleted on-court performances. Supplementing with a high quality greens blend provides a very simple and convenient way for basketball players to get all the nutrients they need to dominate on the court.


9. Omega 3 Fish Oil/ Krill

What Are Omega 3's?

The Omega 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA are involved in regulating various biological processes such as the inflammatory response, various metabolic signaling pathways, and brain function.

Why Is Omega 3 Supplementation Beneficial To Basketball Players?

Basketball players find omega 3 supplementation helpful in reducing joint inflammation and improving recovery after games and training. Omega 3 also keeps basketball players mind sharp and may improve basketball IQ. There are a range of quality omega 3 supplements available on the market.

Athletes utilize this popular supplement for its anti-inflammatory properties. Some people believe it may boost muscle strength, improve range of motion, and provide numerous other benefits.

10. Exogenous Ketones

What Are Exogenous Ketones and how can they help basketball players?

Over the past decade more and more basketball players are choosing to follow a low carb lifestyle.

Many pro basketball players are following a Ketogenic Diet which encourages the use of fat as fuel. By restricting carbohydrates in the diet the body begins to produce ketones which act as an alternative energy source to fats and carbohydrates. 

It can take weeks to months to enter ketosis however Exogenous ketone supplements can provide the instant benefits of going keto without having to be fully fat adapted.

Exogenous ketones act as an alternative energy source for the body during intensive exercise.


Final Thoughts On The Use Of Nutritional Supplements To Enhance Basketball Performance

Let's be honest, supplements are not going to turn you into an elite athlete overnight.

However, supplements do provide many performance benefits that are supported by science. 

If you train and play hard, but feel as though you need a little extra boost, then supplementing with one of the top 10 basketball supplements listed above may be a great option for you.

Most NBA players are taking a number of the supplements featured on this list to keep them on top of their game.

If you are undertaking regular strength training and would like to maximize your results in the gym then supplements such as creatine and protein can help you get the most out of your training. 

If you are playing representative basketball then the chances are that your competitors are taking supplements to help boost their basketball performance.

Supplements provide a small yet very significant role in sports performance. 

Please don't be ignorant to the fact that even a 1-5% boost in performance can make a massive difference on the court.

Nutritional supplementation is a smart option for any high level basketball player who wants to gain a competitive edge.


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Our goal is to provide basketball enthusiasts with free access to the content, skills, and gear they need to level up their game, basketball I.Q and on/off-court swag. It doesn’t matter if you’re new to the game or if you’ve been ballin' out for decades, we have everything you need to get your basketball fix.

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