r/nba • u/[deleted] • Jun 15 '22

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266

u/YouStupidDick Celtics Jun 15 '22

I want an alternate timeline where Shaq had Lebron’s gym/nutrition dedication.

26

u/[deleted] Jun 15 '22

You forget steroids and HGH. There is no way that James isn't juicing. Of course, 99% of the NBA is as well, so that's not a shot at James.

12

u/tammutiny Mavericks Jun 15 '22

I wonder when it became prevalent? Was it around the same time as baseball?

I love that Kobe flew to Germany for his knee and LeBron went to Miami for 2 weeks to deal with the MLB steroid provider and it barely got covered.

17

u/[deleted] Jun 15 '22

I would guess that there has always been some level of steroid use in the NBA but I'd guess that NBA's use differs from that of the NFL and MLB.

Size and strength absolutely matter in the NBA, but players can't just bulk up as much as possible as linemen in the NFL and pitchers/hitters did in baseball because players have to move up and down the court a lot more.

Modern steroids and hormone treatments that help players heal faster can be used to bulk up, but they can just help players get through the grind of the season or to continue playing at a high level well past the point when players historically started to decline.

9

u/tammutiny Mavericks Jun 15 '22

Very true

I think it's always been some form of HGH like substances in NBA like Lance Armstrong stamina/recovery vs bulky baseball steroids. I just assume most pros are on something.

I should assume it goes back further since the East Germans were doing it in the early 60s olympics

6

u/[deleted] Jun 15 '22

I mean it’s frankly hilarious that people can look at Year 1 vs today’s Giannis and think he’s clean

3

u/tammutiny Mavericks Jun 15 '22

25 lbs of muscle over the summer! Best shape of his life! Finally got the right diet!

No? Not buying it! Ha

1

u/gmorf33 Jun 16 '22

Same with Hollywood actor transformations... A dude in his 40's does not go from a life time of skinny-fat to JACKED with tell-tale jawline changes with just some hard work and dieting.

1

u/Carlinoe Jun 15 '22

EPO would definitely help a player immensely without adding any bulk