Team Rise trains hard to welcome LeBron

There is fever-pitch anticipation in Nike’s House of Rise as a nation awaits the return of basketball superstar LeBron James.

@NikePH tweeted, “Get ready, @KingJames will be arriving to inspire Team Rise and Pinoy basketball to the next level.” 

He returns to Manila to coach the remaining participants of an ongoing basketball reality show. Nike scoured the whole archipelago for 24 street ballers who didn’t have the opportunity to receive the proper training to hone their basketball skills.

LeBron will mentor these contestants, or Team Rise, as well as join Nike in inspiring a nation of basketball enthusiasts. There is a big event on August 20, 6 p.m., at the MOA Arena and Nike is giving away tickets for free on a first-come, first-served basis (register at nike.com/rise).

Meanwhile, hard work and intensive training continues in the House where we spotted another returning American, performance enhancement specialist Jeremy Strom. 

During training gaps, we asked him a few questions.

PHILIPPINE STAR: What seems to be the common physical problem of the kids in their attempt to hone their basketball skills?

JEREMY STROM: The most common challenge is mobility in their ankles, wrists, and mid-back, as well as transitioning from playing primarily on flip-flops to Nike Hyperdunks. 

What can they do to address that?

Rise and shine: US performance enhancement specialist Jeremy Strom leads Team Rise in stretching and recovery sessions at the House of Rise in Sheridan, Mandaluyong.

The easiest way is to perform pre-workout movement preparation drills such as walking lunges, bear crawls, and skipping drills. 

A lot of kids don’t seem to connect physical conditioning to becoming a good basketball player. How can you convince them?

The easiest way to convince them that physical strength and power training will make them better players is to show them players like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and James Harden. These players are very vocal about their off-court training and how important it is to be the best and minimize injury. 

Let us talk about LeBron. Can you relate his basketball prowess to his physical conditioning?

LeBron James is famous for his in-season training and conditioning routine. He believes that he actually gets stronger, more powerful, as the season goes on because of his strength and conditioning off-court regimen.

Why is stretching important?

Stretching and recovery or regeneration exercises are imperative for post-play recovery as well as minimizing the potential for injury. In most cases, recovery is equal or greater to training. 

There is a growing focus on plyometrics. What percentage is its importance compared to strength, cardio, and flexibility?

Plyometrics are an essential part of any basketball player’s training. It is important that it is mostly done in the power phase of a periodized training plan as well as performed only after the stability, mobility, and strength phases of the program. 

How do you balance everything?

Balancing it all together is quite simple with a periodized or systematic approach according to the phases of the season. This periodized plan would include pre-season, in-season, post-season recovery, and off-season. Each season or phase would offer different types of exercises. Off-season would involve stability, balance, mobility, strength, and muscle building. Pre-season would include power, speed, and agility. In-season would be range of motion, maintenance, and injury management while post-season recovery would mean neural reconnection and myofascial training. Combining all these facets will improve both their bodies and their game. 

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Post me a note at mylene@goldsgym.com.ph or mylenedayrit@gmail.com.